Wikipedia

Pediatric Foundation of Kimbondo

The Pediatric Foundation of Kimbondo (meaning "Fondation Pédiatrique de Kimbondo"),[1] colloquially known as Mama Koko Orphanage[2][3][4][5] or Pédiatrie de Kimbondo[6][7] and denoted by the acronym FPK,[1] is a non-profit organization that provides free housing, medical care, sustenance, and education for sick, abandoned, and orphaned children. It is strategically located in the Kimbondo neighborhood of the Mont Ngafula commune, 35 km from Downtown Kinshasa in the western region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1][8][9][10]

Pediatric Foundation of Kimbondo
French: Fondation Pédiatrique de Kimbondo
Mama Koko Orphanage
Formation1989; 35 years ago (1989)
FounderLaura Perna and El Padre Hugo Ríos Diaz
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersKimbondo, Mont Ngafula
Location
Origins Congolese
MethodsAid
Official language
French and English
OwnerEl Padre Hugo Ríos Diaz
LeaderEl Padre Hugo Ríos Diaz
Websitehttp://hubforkimbondo.it/index.php/en/

Description

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The FPK is a healthcare organization with pavilions for assorted medical disciplines such as "general medicine, cardiology, pulmonary and skeletal tuberculosis, laboratory diagnostics, ultrasound, radiology, and [blood] transfusion".[11] Additionally, it encompasses domiciles dedicated to the reception of abandoned and orphaned children. Approximately 60 people, predominantly parents with their children, solicit outpatient medical aid at FPK.[11] The facility offers 200 beds for prolonged care, catering to patients with tuberculosis or cardiovascular diseases. It is the most prominent general hospital within the Mont Ngafula II health zone. The orphanage hosts nearly 500 children and adolescents.[11]

History

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Established in 1989 by Laura Perna, a retired Italian university professor,[12] and Chilean father, El Padre Hugo Ríos Diaz from the Claretian missionary,[13][14][15] the organization began with a small free pharmacy and food assistance for needy children and families.[16] Overcoming challenges and with donations from friends and small associations, Hugo and Perna transformed the pharmacy into a fully-fledged orphanage-hospital, locally named "Mama Koko Orphanage" in homage to Perna.[16] In 2002, the orphanage gained legal personification and recognition as the Pediatric Foundation of Kimbondo (Fondation Pédiatrique de Kimbondo; FPK) in adherence to Congolese jurisprudence.[1] Authorization for medical training was granted in 2000, and FPK received approval for its societal and eleemosynary operations in 2001.[1]

Donations

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Donations, such as two cargo containers from Ms. Hettinger in March 2005 and a substantial rice donation from the Italian governmental entity in May 2005, supported the hospital.[17][18] In 2008, the Aid to Disadvantaged Children in Africa (AEDA) from Finland furnished the hospital with sacs of rice, sugar, and dairy products.[19] Elikia Na Biso, a Congolese-Swedish non-profit entity, supplied disabled equipment in November 2012.[20][21] In April 2014, the Swedish NGO Elikya delivered a copious consignment of medical equipment, notably consisting of a fully-equipped surgical theater, an assemblage of approximately one hundred wheelchairs, reclining chairs, and an additional 500 items tailored for people with disabilities.[22] In December 2017, FPK inaugurated a 100-kilowatt photovoltaic installation funded by the Terna Group and numerous other corporate benefactors, valued at over £500 thousand.[23]

Services

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Over time, FPK expanded its area and services, featuring four main areas. These include the hospital, which offers 200 long-term accommodations for children with tuberculosis or cardiovascular diseases.[24][16] It also has shelter houses accommodating approximately 500 abandoned or orphaned kids.[25] The institution boasts the Saint Claret School, constructed in 2009, offering free education from daycare to high school level for the little hospital guests and underprivileged children in the Mont Ngafula commune.[26] The Pediatric Foundation of Kimbondo also manages a 900-hectare agricultural area, divided into crop production (500 hectares) and an animal farm (400 hectares), providing food for children in the hospital, school, and shelter.[27] The river dividing the area supports the cultivation of crops, including corn, manioc, ananas, beans, sweet potatoes, as well as an experimental area for Artemisia production.[27] Additionally, there are accommodations for farmworkers and structures for processing manioc into flour.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Perna, Laura. "Fondation Pediatrique de Kimbondo" (PDF). Hubforkimbondo.it (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  2. ^ Lydie, Manzu (December 23, 2019). "Fête de Noël : Béatrice Lomeya donne la joie aux orphelins de la Fondation Pédiatrique de Kimbondo" [Christmas party: Béatrice Lomeya brings joy to the orphans of the Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation]. ouragan.cd (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  3. ^ Masela, Nioni (September 10, 2015). "Mama Koko, la mère Teresa du Congo, à jamais gravée dans les cœurs". www.adiac-congo.com (in French). Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  4. ^ "Visite de réconfort de la ministre du Genre à l'orphelinat "Mama Koko" de Kimbondo" [Comfort visit by the Minister of Gender to the "Mama Koko" orphanage in Kimbondo]. ACP (in French). 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  5. ^ Kinshasa, U. S. Embassy (2016-07-07). "Community Service at Mama Koko Orphanage". U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  6. ^ "Voyage à la Pédiatrie de Kimbondo" [Trip to Kimbondo Pediatrics]. Opusdei.org (in French). March 31, 2016. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  7. ^ "Kinshasa: la pédiatrie de Kimbondo dotée des matériels hospitaliers - Democratic Republic of the Congo" [Kinshasa: Kimbondo pediatrics equipped with hospital equipment]. Radio Okapi (in French). 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  8. ^ "La Fondation Pédiatrique de Kimbondo remercie RAWBANK" [The Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation thanks RAWBANK]. www.mediacongo.net (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. May 10, 2018. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  9. ^ Dibonga, Yolande. "Fondation Kimbondo, 28 ans au service des enfants orphelins". AfricaNews RDC (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  10. ^ Lydie, Manzu (September 30, 2020). "L'orphelinat de Kimbondo remercie Béatrice Lomeya" [Kimbondo orphanage thanks Béatrice Lomeya]. ouragan.cd (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  11. ^ a b c Perna, Laura. "Fondation Pediatrique de Kimbondo" (PDF). Hubforkimbondo.it (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  12. ^ Bola, Joana; Pomme, Miriam; Ngonga, Hornella (March 11, 2019). "La journée internationale des droits des femmes célébrée par l'AFT-CENCO dans la solidarité avec les orphelins de Kimbondo" [International Women's Rights Day celebrated by AFT-CENCO in solidarity with the orphans of Kimbondo]. Caritasdev (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  13. ^ "El Padre Hugo – El milagro para los niños del Congo". Kimbondo.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  14. ^ Bustos, Nataly Valeria Sanchez. "Hugo Ríos El padre de los niños". cl.socialab.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  15. ^ Mahamba, Lucie (2017-12-04). "un ouf de soulagement pour les malades et travailleurs de la pédiatrie de Mama koko" [a sigh of relief for the patients and workers of Mama Koko's pediatrics]. Geopolismagazine.net (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  16. ^ a b c "Pediatric Hospital of Kimbondo". hubforkimbondo.it. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  17. ^ Musangu, Fidèle (March 21, 2005). "Congo-Kinshasa: Mme Hettinger fait un don de deux containers à l'hôpital pédiatrique de Kimbondo" [Congo-Kinshasa: Ms. Hettinger donates two containers to the Kimbondo pediatric hospital]. Lephareonline.net/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  18. ^ Tshibuabua, Espérance (May 28, 2005). "Congo-Kinshasa: Le PAM en appui à la pédiatrie de Kimbondo" [Congo-Kinshasa: WFP in support of Kimbondo pediatrics]. Lepotentiel.cd/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  19. ^ "Congo-Kinshasa: Ongd basée en Finlande - L'AEDA vient à la rescousse des orphelins de Kimbondo" [Congo-Kinshasa: NGO based in Finland - AEDA comes to the rescue of Kimbondo orphans]. Laprosperiteonline.net/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. November 4, 2008. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  20. ^ K., Véron (November 20, 2012). "Congo-Kinshasa: Mont-Ngafula - Du matériel pour enfants handicapés à la pédiatrie Kimbondo" [Congo-Kinshasa: Mont-Ngafula - Equipment for disabled children at Kimbondo pediatrics]. Lepotentiel.cd/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  21. ^ Mupompa, Donatien Ngandu (December 12, 2012). "Congo-Kinshasa: Les dons de l'Ong "Elikia Na Biso " aux enfants handicapés bloqués par la douane" [Congo-Kinshasa: Donations from the NGO "Elikia Na Biso" to disabled children blocked by customs]. Lepotentiel.cd/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  22. ^ "Congo-Kinshasa: Kinshasa - La pédiatrie de Kimbondo dotée des matériels hospitaliers" [Congo-Kinshasa: Kinshasa - Kimbondo pediatrics equipped with hospital equipment]. Radiookapi.net/ (in French). April 27, 2014. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  23. ^ Inana, Kevin (December 3, 2017). "Congo-Kinshasa: Kinshasa - La Pédiatrie de Kimbondo inaugure une installation photovoltaïque de 100 Kw" [Congo-Kinshasa: Kinshasa - Kimbondo Pediatrics inaugurates a 100 Kw photovoltaic installation]. Laprosperiteonline.net/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  24. ^ "Hospital". hubforkimbondo.it (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  25. ^ "Shelters". hubforkimbondo.it (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  26. ^ "Saint Claret School". hubforkimbondo.it (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  27. ^ a b c "Agricultural Area". hubforkimbondo.it (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-22.

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