Congolese doctor awarded Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work
Founder of Panzi Hospital and Foundations strengthens partnership with Canadian NGO
Make Music Matter, plans to expand music therapy program for survivors of sexual violence
Winnipeg, Canada (October 5, 2018) – Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and founder of Panzi Foundation USA and Panzi Foundation DRC, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He is recognized for his humanitarian work with survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Since founding the Panzi Hospital in 1999, Dr. Mukwege and his staff have helped care for more
than 48 000 survivors of sexual violence by providing medical treatment, legal support and
psychosocial services.
The award comes on the heels of the successful implementation of the Healing in Harmony Program, a unique form of music therapy in partnership with the Canadian NGO Make Music Matter, Panzi Foundation USA and with support from the Humanitarian Innovation Fund. This innovative initiative implemented at Panzi’s after-care facility, Maison Dorcas, as well as at more remote sites in Mulamba and Beni with even more sites opening beyond the DRC in November, uses music to support psychosocial healing for survivors of sexual violence. The program moves beyond traditional music therapy techniques by treating each participant as a true artist and integrating songwriting, production and performance of music into the treatment pathway.
“We congratulate Dr. Denis Mukwege, the Panzi family, and the resilient women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on receiving this year’s Nobel Peace Prize,” said Darcy Ataman, Founder and CEO of Make Music Matter. “It continues to be an honour to work alongside Dr. Mukwege as we use the healing power of music together to help the survivors of sexual violence.”
The goal of the Healing in Harmony music therapy program is to share the inspiring strength of the survivors through local and international dissemination via radio broadcasts and community concerts, and therefore embolden the greater holistic healing model envisioned by Dr. Denis Mukwege.
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