With the help of Northern Idjwi’s King, Katonda was chosen as the location of AGW’s first health clinic that launched in December 2010. Since the opening, the clinic has treated more than 5,000 patients and continues to see more than 100 patients on a daily basis. Katonda is accessible by road and water from the Northern or Southern tips of Idjwi as well as from Goma, Bukavu and other cities on the mainland.
Currently, our staff is composed of two volunteer physicians: Dr. Jacques Sebisaho spends three weeks every quarter, and Dr. Michael Mudekereza who spend 6 days a month at the clinic. In addition, there are two staff nurses, one lab technician, three Nutrition Program leaders and three support staff, along with many volunteers. Our AGW Health Committee, composed of 10 members, makes certain patients’ rights and clinic obligations are respected.
AGW’s clinic in Katonda was built by the community over the course of the past year. The clinic is also the center for AGW’s Nutrition Program, feeding 120 children nutritious protein supplements twice per day.