Overview History OF LEMERA hospital
The roots of what is known as Hospital Lemera may be traceable after the arrival of the Swedish Pentecostal Missionaries in Lemera, even if it took them 24 years to build the first clinic, which gradually grow up to be declared officially Lemera Hospital Lemera by the Rev.. Pastor Ruhigita Ndagora Bugwika in 1971.
1921, Arrival of first Swedish Pentecostal Missionaries of the Swedish Free Mission (MLS) in Kashekebwe (Uvira). Some sources say that the arrival was in 1922, but many sources agree on that first date (1921). These missionaries eleven in number, were called: KARL Lemuel, DAVID and SVEA FLOOD, JULIUS and RUTH ASPENLIND, RUTH Jonasson, BERTA and JOEL ERIKSSON, HARALD HONSSON, RUTH Aronsson, ARTHUR BERG
1923, Suddenly and tragically an unknown disease claims the lives of 4 missionaries whose Madame SVEA Flood the 05/1923; madame RUTH Jonasson the 9/12/1923; madame BERT HAS ERIKSSON the 10/12/1923 and, mr. JOEL ERIKSSON the 14/12/1923. There are still theories that these missionaries were poisoned by the natives, described as resistant to their gospel at first, but these theories have never been substantiated. What followed is that the survivors of this affliction seemed to have immediately suspected that the weather of the valley posed a serious threat to their survival. Therefore, the need to find a place that has a weather more conducive to their survival was no longer an option.
1924, The first missionaries (Julius and Ruth ASPENLIND) settled in Lemera. Without doubt, the climate of this place seemed to have been one of the main factors that played hard in his selection. It should be added that the political climate between the administrators in Uvira and the traditional chief of Lemera might have had also something to do with this choice.
Mikererezi summarizes this aspect of policy this way: The Swedish missionaries arrived in South Kivu in the midst of colonial occupation. This colonization was characterized by conflicts between traditional leaders and administrators. This was the case for MUKOGABWE SIMBA (Mwami of Bafuiiru) and the Administrator of the territory BRADIER. To counter this situation, BRADIER granted permission to missionaries to occupy Lemera. Un another author is quoted as saying:
"Because of the wickedness of this Mwami that the Administrator did not hesitate to grant Mr. ASPENLIND final authorization to settle in Lemera. He believed that the missionaries with their preaching, would convert this Mwami to Christianity and thus reduce his wickedness and cruelty "
1948, Some 24 years after the arrival of missionaries of MLS in Lemera, Miss GOTH Petersson and Mr Simon Petersson opened the first clinic. Before the opening of this clinic, these missionaries had already established a successful system that allowed indigenous people to realize the importance of going to consult them in mornings and evenings for drugs when they were sick. This means that these missionaries administered drugs to patients from their own homes. "When they met with patients, they asked them to go home for review of care" (Mikererezi). The same system will continue later in a different form after the birth of the clinic except that this time encounters between peoples and missionaries began to take place in a building designated. Since then, the clinic began to expand its services constantly to meet the growing demands of the community.
1955, some seven years later, construction of maternity services in Lemera was launched. It was also another initiative of Miss GOTH Petersson.
1960, Pastor Jean Ruhigita Ndagora Bugwika became Legal Representative of the 8th CEPAC. He was promoted to this important position, after two decades of hard work as an evangelist, teacher and school inspector for EAP, ESAM, BAMS and UMPBGJ. It was also in the context of political changes created by the wave of independence movement that forced the Europeans to give responsibilities to the Congolese nationals
1965, The Maternity experienced a considerable expansion in occupying the building formerly used by the Pedagogical Institute of the Protestant Kivu (IPPKI) known today as Institut Bwindi Bukavu. The uncertainty of the Mulele war in 1964 forced the school to close its doors in Lemera where it was specializing in training teachers not only for South Kivu but also Burundi and Rwanda. Students from countries like Kenya and Tanzania, were also invited to attend IPPKI. It seems that the need to use the buildings abandoned by the school had also made easier the rapid expansion of Lemera Hospital.
In 1971, Launching of official Lemera hospital by the legal representative Ruhigita Ndagora. The primary responsibility of this hospital was Miss Ingegerd ROOTH. She first worked as a nurse and then returned to Sweden to finish her medical training and finally returned to work as physician in charge of the hospital. She was highly respected and loved by all who passed near her. She really had a lot of friends at the hospital and in the entire community. Among other Swedish physicians who worked for the hospital during this period include Miss MARGERTH Halldorf and others (their names will be added later)
In 1978, Dr. Reinikainen VEIKKO joined the hospital in Lemera. He worked there until 1981 and continues to this day to make regular visits to the hospital, even after its wicked and criminal destruction. The first black physicians among many others include RUNYAMBO, MUSAFIRI, NDOMBE,. It is possible that there are other and their names will be added in due course.
In 1980 The Swedish Free Mission signed a contract with the Congolese government to ensure that each clinic should be under the responsibility of nursing Swedish medical training.
In 1981 At the request of Reverend RUHIGITA NDAGORA, SIDA (Swedish International Agency Developpment) granted the money to build more rooms and hydro electric dam. This dam provided electricity and water for Lemera Hospital and residents of Lemera.
In 1988 Francois Rubota Masumbuko became the Manager Administrator of the hospital, a position he occupied until the destruction of the hospital in 1996. It is worth mentioning that he was the first black to occupy this position.
In 1989, Dr. Mukwege moved to the hospital Lemera and focuses later on the services of gynecology / obstetrics, his specialty. He became Medical Doctor of the hospital in 1992. He held this post until 1996, when the hospital was destroyed.
In 1994, Dr. Mwanza joins the team of doctors at the hospital Lemera shortly after completing his training at the University of Lubumbashi. He was among the first homegrown doctors who worked for the hospital. He worked there until its destruction in 1996.
In 1996, This hOSPITAL was completely destroyed in total disregard of the Geneva Conventions after being used as a launch site of the war that brought President Laurent-Désiré Kabila to power
In addition to its regular activities, Lemera Hospital also oversaw seven (7) clinics located in the following places: Kiliba, Kadutu, Sange, Hombo, Bunyakiri, Chai, Kabara. More importantly, the Lemera Hospital had a mobile team that took care of prenatal care issues, immunization of children, malnutrition and other issues related to public health such as leprosy in remote villages of Lemera. The mobile team worked closely in collaboration with churches and local authorities (pastors, leaders) to remind parents of schedule tours of the latter in their respective villages.
If you want to comment on the history of the Lemera of Hospital, or if you want to suggest additions or corrections, please contact us via this e-mail: info@hopitaldelemera.org