El Dorado Nursing School

First Wing Finished with Roof, Doors, Windows, and Paint

The El Dorado Nursing School was initially the dream of Dr. Ivan Mulongo. As the director of the British Brethren Missionary Hospital in Mulongo, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, he was dismayed at the lack of training that nurses had received during the devastating war in eastern Congo. Nurses were given just a few weeks of training and sent into the villages. Much damage was done by these under-qualified nurses. The shooting part of the war is over, but the diseases left behind have kept the death rate at the same high rate as during the war. Nurses are the front line of this “war after the war.”

Dr. Ivan, a United Methodist lay person, established the United Methodist Nursing School at Mulongo, based at the British Brethren Missionary Hospital. From the beginning, it was the intention that this nursing school would serve all and work cooperatively with all denominations, as well as with government health care agencies.

Dr. Ivan has since been elected to the national Parliament in Kinshasa. He remains involved in the hospital and nursing school, but has been followed as director of the hospital by Dr. Serge. Dr. Ivan, Dr. Serge, and United Methodist District Superintendent Joseph Mulongo began the project of building a campus for the nursing school. Dr. Ivan recruited Denver and Robin Thornton of El Dorado, Arkansas, to help fund the construction.

The Rev. Joseph Mulongo brought Friendly Planet Missiology to Mulongo to help with community development. Friendly Planet Missiology teaches communities to identify and leverage the assets of the community, so that the community is deeply invested in the project. As an FPM team leader, Pastor Joseph Mulongo organized the community in making bricks and providing volunteer labor to build the nursing school. Through sweat equity, 80% of the cost of construction has been provided by the local community.

Women Nursing Students

Denver and Robin have not only generously given for construction, they have also funded scholarships for women attending the nursing school. This is a cutting edge social issue. In the past, nurses have all been men. With most health issues in the villages being women’s issues, there has been a grass roots demand for women nurses. The El Dorado Nursing School has been created with the extra mission of specifically recruiting and training more women as nurses. The school’s goal is to have classes of 50% men and 50% women.

The Rev. Joseph Mulongo

“Mulongo from Mulongo” It’s a bit confusing keeping track of the Mulongo’s. Dr. Ivan Mulongo is the doctor and congressman responsible for beginning the nursing school. The Rev. Joseph Mulongo is the United Methodist District Superintendent who has led the project of construction. The two are not related. Mulongo is also the name of the village and the district. Again, no relation to either doctor or pastor. Confused?