st. dominic's missionary hospital

One of DAFA’s key priorities is to provide medical aid and support to the sick and provide hospice care for the terminally ill. Located 18km from the nearest town, Ndola, St. Dominic’s Missionary Hospital caters to a surrounding population of 35,000. Previously a small clinic built on the site of an old beer hall, St. Dominic’s has now achieved fully functioning status and is one of the projects we at DAFA are most proud of. 

The 125-bed hospital facility offers standard health care procedures, surgical and outpatient facilities, AIDS and Tuberculosis laboratories, dentistry services, vaccinations, and even a designated pharmacy. Since 2016, DAFA has funded the construction of significant residential facilities for the medical staff working at the hospital. In the last two years, DAFA has funded the construction and provided the equipment for a much-needed intensive care ward which opened in January 2023.

Support from DAFA has ensured that a critical care ward, as well as male and female recovery wards, will soon be open for patients.

Please see below for an in-depth case study of this project. 

In the mid 1990s a small clinic was established on a site previously occupied by a beer hall outside of Ndola, Zambia; it was called Kavu Clinic. Twenty years later there stands a fully staffed and resourced hospital: St. Dominic’s Missionary Hospital. The specialist medical equipment that the hospital required was sourced from the UK, using surplus equipment provided by the British Army returning from Afghanistan. St. Dominic’s Missionary Hospital was officially opened in 2016 by the president of Zambia and the Minister of Health. Given its remote location 18 km outside of Ndola – a challenge emerged: how to house the key medical staff? DAFA decided to build them appropriate accommodation so that all staff members could live in close proximity.

The construction of this accommodation cost well over £1 million, a major investment that was funded entirely by DAFA. We are proud to say that as of 2017, the seventh residential building has been completed.

DAFA also funds the ongoing costs that are required to keep St. Dominic’s Missionary hospital running effectively. In mid-2018, for example, we spent nearly £100,000 upgrading the pharmacy and mortuary facilities. ominic’s Missionary Hospital has now achieved fully- functioning status and caters to a surrounding population of 35,000.  Most of these patients are underprivileged, unemployed and do not have any prospects of future permanent work. 

Setting up and supporting  St. Dominic’s has been a key milestone for DAFA and we would like to thank everyone involved in this project.