Nobel Prize winner DR Mukwege runs for president

The Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege is running for the presidency when the Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls in December 2023. The announcement has been shared with PMU and conveyed at a press conference on 2 October. Thus, Mukwege is temporarily leaving his role as chief physician and responsible leader of Panzi Hospital pending the election results. At Panzi Hospital, Mukwege has served vulnerable women and children for over 20 years.

− We at PMU would like to thank Denis Mukwege for the fantastic work he and the entire team have done at Panzi Hospital. We wish him all the best and God's rich blessings for what lies ahead, says Niclas Lindgren, director of PMU.

Doctor and Pentecostal pastor Denis Mukwege is internationally known for having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 based on his efforts and hard work for women who have been subjected to brutal sexual violence in eastern DR Congo.

After initially working as a gynecologist at the hospital in Lemera in the province of South Kivu, Denis Mukwege took the initiative to build the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu in 1999.

The hospital was financed with support from PMU, Läkarmissionen and Sida and inaugurated in 2002. Since the beginning, the hospital has been operated by the local Pentecostal movement CEPAC. PMU provides continued stable support to Panzi Hospital with the help of private and institutional donors, such as ECHO (the EU's humanitarian aid).

Sexual violence is used as part of warfare in eastern DR Congo. To date, more than 85,000 women have received treatment for serious gynecological injuries at Panzi Hospital, of which over 65,000 are survivors of sexual violence.

Dr. Denis Mukwege's dream and goal is that the hospital would no longer have to treat raped women, but that it would be a regular hospital where women can come and give birth to their children safely and securely. Unfortunately, the need for the hospital's special expertise in caring for victims of sexual violence has only increased and today Panzi Hospital's role in eastern DR Congo is more important than ever.

− When we started working with Panzi Hospital, we treated mainly adult patients. However, we have seen a change. More than 15 percent of those we treat now are children. Last year, children under the age of 5 came to us. People believe they can do whatever they want with no consequences. We must get justice in this region, nobody can accept this, said Denis Mukwege during his visit to Sweden at the Pentecostal conference for pastors (Pingst Pastor) in January 2023.

Denis Mukwege’s announcement that he is entering politics as a candidate for the presidency also means that he is leaving his role as chief physician and leader of Panzi Hospital, pending the election results. During a press conference, Denis Mukwege explained his decision. He described that the time has come to renew the country and bring back democracy.

− I have cared for the sick for 40 years. […] Our country is sick, very sick. […] I want to embody your hopes, and save the country together with you. Let us choose between slavery or peace, said Denis Mukwege.

During the years at Panzi Hospital, Denis Mukwege has built a strong team and good management that will not give up the fight for the rights of women and children, and PMU will continue to support the efforts being made.

− We at PMU would like to thank Denis Mukwege for the many years we have been able to work together and for the fantastic contribution that he, together with the entire team, has made at Panzi Hospital. We wish him all the best and God's rich blessings for what lies ahead. The good work to heal and rehabilitate women and children who have been subjected to sexual violence via the Panzi Hospital will continue moving forward, says Niclas Lindgren, director at PMU.