Denis Mukwege

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

It seemed to the Congolese gynecologist, Dr. Denis Mukwege, that he was treating extremely high numbers of women with horrible injuries. It led to a specialized work that he thinks will last the rest of his life.

photo: Mukwege Foundation

Mukwege has earned the moniker "the man who mends women" for the work he and his colleagues at Panzi Hospital have done to treat tens of thousands of women and girls, survivors of rape and sexual violence, which has been used as a weapon of war since conflict began in the east of the DRC in 1995.

"For 15 years I have witnessed mass atrocities committed against women's bodies and I cannot remain with my arms folded because our common humanity calls on us to care for each other."

His work has also put his own life on the line, with Mukwege narrowly escaping an attack on his life in October 2012, in which his guard was killed.

(cont'd in tomorrow's post)