The Cavango Clinic

     The hospital in Cavango was originally built to care for people with leprosy before 1976 before the civil war in Angola. Since then, it has been rebuilt and transformed. What began as a small clinic for outpatient consultations and emergency cases - with only 3 to 5 patients per week - remained open thanks to a loyal and dedicated staff. About 13 years ago, the Kubackis arrived in Cavango. Speaking with Dr. Tim, he shared that it took years to build trust within the community, which had previously relied on government hospitals or spiritual healers for care. Through consistent, compassionate treatment and word of mouth, more and more patients began to seek help at the clinic. As the demand for services grew, so did the need for larger space. Over time, the facility expanded into the hospital it is today.
    Now, it's a 120-bed hospital with inpatient wards, an ICU, emergency area, maternity room, and four outpatient consultation offices. There's also an airplane available to transport patients to the city for surgical cases when necessary. A general surgeon and an ophthalmologist visit periodically to provide specialized care, and the hospital is currently recruiting a dentist to join the team. In addition, the hospital includes both outpatient and inpatient pharmacies and a cantina where patients and staff can purchase food and medical supplies. In keeping with Angolan culture - where families typically cook for thier hospitalized loved ones - a 'villa' was built. These apartments allow families to stay close by and prepare meals during their loved one's hospital stay. Many of the current hospital staff travel from cities located more than four hours away, so an apartment building has also been provided for them to stay in while they are working.

Daily flow:

• morning rounds on critical patients
• palestra - public health education to community
• inpatient consults
• outpatient consults
• evening rounds

My thoughts:

    Walking through the hospital grounds and hearing its history filled me with admiration. I was struck by how a once-tiny clinic serving just a handful of patients a week has grown into a lifeline for an entire region. What resonated most with me was Dr. Tim's story about building trust over the years - how healing is not just about medicine, but about showing up, listening, and caring consistently. They aimed to build a hospital equipped with all the essential resources and tools to provide quality care, while keeping it simple enough to create a comfortable and familiar environment for the local community. Their goal wasn't to make anything fancy, but rather something that felt like home. I was genuinely impressed by how different the hospital system is from what I'm used to in the U.S. - there's a simplicity to it, yet it's remarkably effective. It was eye-opening to see how resourcefulness and community support can create a healthcare system that works beautifully for the people it serves. Seeing the families in the villa, cooking and staying close to their loved ones, reminded me of the deep interconnectedness of health, family, and culture. It made me reflect on how healthcare in underserved areas requires not just clinical skills, but also cultural sensitivity, patience, and long-term commitment. The place is more than a hospital - it's a testament to what compassionate, community-rooted care can become.