Friends of Kibimba Hospital, Inc.

Stacey D. Wheeler | EFC-MAYM Director of Communications and Church Planting Support

On Sunday, March 2^nd, Dick and Lorna Long traveled to Chandler, Oklahoma to share about Kibimba Hospital and give an update about progress being made on their new maternity building. Dick spoke on Sunday morning during the service at Chandler Friends Church. Later in the day at the area gathering, he described how the Kibimba Hospital non-profit was formed and explained they exist to help the people of this area in Africa to have adequate health care. Dick is currently the chairman of the 501c 3 board.

Kibimba Hospital, a private hospital, is located in the Gitega Province in Burundi, Africa serving a population of 62,014 people. It was founded by American missionaries in 1952 and is a faith-based hospital. In 2006, Dr. Elisee’ Nahimana, the main doctor, had only six nurses on staff. By 2019, he had fifty nurses and five doctors as well as a maternity block and pediatric block.

According to their Facebook page at Friends of Kibimba Hospital, Inc., the charity has been blessed to help purchase necessary equipment and see the light of Christ encouraging the people there. Among many other donations, here are a few to highlight:

• The Kibimba Hospital received funds to roof one third of the maternity/pediatric and office building. The morgue has found its permanent home, complete with a Register Book. The Xray equipment has a new table!

• Last March, Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, visited the new three-story maternity/pediatric building in progress and distributed food to the poorest patients.

• Pastor Butoyi Levy is the Hospital’s chaplain. He visits patients daily and since the beginning of the year, he reports 186 patients have received salvation this year, averaging one per day! Some of them abandon witchcraft and burn their paraphernalia. When someone comes to Jesus, they receive a book entitled “The Heart of the Man” to strengthen their faith. How we praise God for these blessings.

• Fourteen computers were donated to the hospital, made possible by the David Kellum Memorial funds.

As well as providing necessary equipment and funds to build new buildings, the Kibimba Hospital non-profit helps pay Dr. Elisee’ Nahimana’s salary to ensure a qualified physician is overseeing daily operations and surgeries.

For more information about how to give to this organization, please email Dick or Lorna Long at [email protected] or Gary or Connie Young at [email protected].

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matthew 9:35