Too Young to be a Doctor, Too Young to Face Rebellion in His Home Province. Just Too Young.

Considered too young for his job by a rural population used to seeing old white-bearded physicians, Pierre makes his way all the while dodging rebellion. 

From 1964 to 2004, the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences more than four rebellions. Pierre is born right after the first one; he is raised by a financially secure family but one that ends up in poverty after many years of mismanagement of the country by President Mobutu’s government. Yet Pierre’s parents encourage him to continue his education. 

Returning home from the Kisangani Medical School, the 47-day trip back to his province Kivu is heartbreaking. The truck that carries him takes a slow pace because the highway is muddy due to a long rainy season, and the government has stopped the maintenance of national roads because of the public treasury has gone bankrupt.  

Becoming the first physician in Northern Idjwi Island, Pierre then faces the threat of armed militia, invaders from Rwanda-Uganda and the government army, all of whom create hurdles to his medical profession and to his life. This is Pierre’s journey and the story of many Congolese physicians who work to help people and save lives in the insecure and hostile environment of their own country. 

Eventually leaving his home country for his safety, Pierre now resides in Malden, Massachusetts where he is pursuing his Master’s degree.

 

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