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Dear Rotarian friends,
In March 2023, after 39 years of professional life as a surgeon, including 32 as a vascular surgeon at the Centenary Clinic, now AZ Monica, in Antwerp, Belgium, I retired. Staying inactive is not in my genes though and the call of deep Africa made me take up my scalpel again to train surgeons, general practitioners and nursing staff to help people whose lives seem hopeless without life-saving vascular surgery.
Shortly before the summer of 2024, I was contacted to set up a vascular surgery department in a brand new hospital in the center of Bujumbura in Burundi, Africa. The construction of the TANGANYIKA HOSPITAL, as it is called, began in 2018, exclusively with private funds.The hospital is professionally managed by this belgo-burundese surgeon and other committed professionals who have only one goal: to be able to offer quality care to all those who need it in a spirit of solidarity, humanity, quality and modernity. No one should be excluded on the basis of their financial (in)capacity.TANGANYIKA HOSPITAL is not (yet) the largest, but it is the most modern and efficient hospital in the region, far beyond the borders of Burundi. People even come from eastern Congo, Rwanda and western Tanzania to be helped where there are no solutions elsewhere due to lack of capacity and resources, financial mismanagement or corruption. But because the hospital has a lot to offer, it is under enormous financial pressure. TANGANYIKA HOSPITAL continues to grow and expand. A second new wing was built and inaugurated in January 2025, accommodating a total of nearly 200 patients. Three operating theatres, -not enough anymore- , are running at full capacity, 6 days a week, and they are not idle at night or on weekends either. More than 40 specialists and 18 general practitionaries are working there assisted by almost 400 paramedicals.
A vascular surgeon can make all the difference when it comes to an aortic aneurysm, necrosis/gangrene of the toes, foot or leg, cerebral thrombosis, severe varicose veins with chronic open wounds on the leg, AV fistulas etc. But till this moment there are no vascular surgeons in Burundi and the surroundings as far as 400km.
In June 2024, I went to Bujumbura for the first time to gain a month of experience of the situation. In the summer, I decided to embark on this project and set up a work plan in which I would be on site for 3 weeks 4 times a year in order to provide continuing education in vascular surgery for the local doctors, surgeons and nursing staff of Tanganyika Hospital.
Since then I have been there six times. The experience is heartwarming and hopeful. Together, we can make it something promising.
In order to be able to better share my experience and better value this commitment, I thought, as a Rotarian and now the new President of RC Antwerpen Park 2025-2026 District 2140, to create a GLOBAL GRANT with other Rotary clubs. This would make it possible to carry out an even larger project. Participation have already been realised with a local club in Bujumbura (Umuco), several belgian clubs from Antwerp and Namur. There are also our contact clubs further afield in France (Strasbourg) and Germany (Düsseldorf). Finally also two Districts in India have confirmed their support and probably also in Canada and maybe Washington.
What will be the objectives of this project, for which a Global Grant will be requested?
1.To provide doctors and nurses in this hospital, as well as other hospitals or health centers in the interior of Burundi, with the necessary knowledge through theoretical teaching and continuing education to understand what vascular diseases can occur, what treatments exist, and what the consequences are if left untreated. This educational programme will have to be organized not only in Bujumbura, but also in the interior of the country, with the necessary education and prevention campaigns.
2.In addition to the theoretical lessons, there is of course also practical training on surgical techniques that are new to them. Here too, I will intervene personally. In the first phase, I try to operate on what was previously considered incurable and would lead to major amputations, cerebral palsy or inevitable death. The goal is to teach these techniques to local general surgeons so that they can do it themselves in safe conditions after the necessary learning time. In the second half of 2025, a Burundian surgeon who is currently completing his training in vascular surgery abroad will join the current team of general surgeons and will undoubtedly contribute to ensuring the continuity of this project.
3.Purchase of modern vascular equipment: hybrid vascular operating table with fluoroscopy and digitized brightness enhancer to perform more modern and less invasive procedures. This is the most expensive part of the Grant.
All this requires long-term work with my regular presence on site. In addition, a substantial financial budget to be able to guarantee the necessary expenses.
The creation of a Global Grant , under which several Antwerp, national and international Rotary clubs already has been convinced, is expected to raise an amount of $200,000.
Last month, in July 2025, I returned to Tanganyika Hospital for the sixth time. This was the time to do a community assessment, with the Tanganyika Hospital (doctors, nursing staff and management) and the Rotary Club of Bujumbura Umuco.
I would like to thank you all in advance for your interest in this hopeful project that I hope to be able to support for a long time to come.
It would be great if we could work with several Rotary clubs on this project as part of a Global Grant.
I am fully willing to come, if really wished, and present this project during one of your meetings and to share with you the video montage I made during my previous stays. Better than words, this film brings us closer to concrete reality. You can also view it using the link on Youtube. Unfortunately I only have a french spoken version.
https://youtu.be/UJFWr61khPE
With grateful Rotary greetings,
Patrick WILLOCX
Vascular Surgeon
President RC Antwerpen-Park 2025-2026
Belgium, District 2140
E-mail: patrick_willocx@hotmail.com
WhatsApp: +32 475 68 40 33
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