Denis Mukwege is Helping Survivors

Deep in the heart of Africa, down dirt roads, through the jungle, and past the Democratic Republic of Congo, along the border of Rwanda is the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. This is the place where Dr. Denis Mukwege treats survivors of wartime rape, dealing with one of the “bloodiest tribal civil wars ever known”.

Mukwege is a gynecological surgeon, who is a source of strength for the many women that come through the hospital doors every single day. He has taken a Hippocratic oath to help the women in the communities around him, guided by a commitment to justice. Dr. Mukwege has an extraordinary team at the hospital that face a horrific reality, where he can do up to ten surgeries a day.

Dr. Mukwege has specialized in treating women who have been gang-raped by rebel forces. In fact, he has become the “world’s leading expert” on repairing the damage caused by these unthinkable acts. The hospital has helped over 46,000 victims since opening the doors, from young children to women who have been tormented many times.

The masculine name Denis is taken from Denys, which is the medieval French version of Dionysius. The name Dionysius is the Latin form of Dionysios the Greek name taken from one of the Greek gods – Dionysos. The name Dionysos is taken from the Greek name Dios that means “of Zeus” and the word Nysa that probably means “tree”. The name Denis became popular after it was given to Saint Denis a 3rd century missionary and the first bishop of Paris.