Dr. Foster was born near Mukinge, and after completing his medical training at the University of Toronto and an internship in Toronto, he felt God’s clear call to return to his birthplace to provide medical care for the Kaonde people. He returned to Mukinge in 1950 and supervised much of the construction of the hospital buildings himself. By 1952, the new hospital was commissioned by the British Governor-General and the local church officials, who were thrilled to have their prayers answered. Dr. Foster was able to recruit the needed staff for the hospital and the funds to continue the expansion of the facility. (More details on the history of Mukinge Hospital can be found in the biography of Dr. Foster’s life entitled “The Sword and the Scalpel”.) The hospital at this time was called Kaonde Hospital. After Zambian independence, the name changed to Mukinge Hospital. The first buildings erected were a male ward, a female ward, a small maternity section, a kitchen, and a laundry.

Mukinge hospital is affiliated to the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ). It is one of the two General Hospitals in North Western province. It is located in Kasempa District, which is about 800 Km from Lusaka and about 195km to Solwezi the Provincial Capital. The road network from Solwezi to Kasempa is tarred. Demographic Profile Kasempa District covers 21,000 sq. Kilometres the CSO estimated the District indicative population is 65,730 for 2010 census. The District Population growth rate stands at 2.5%. Mukinge Mission Hospital is a grant aided institution. It is funded directly by the Ministry of Health. Other funding sources are CHAZ, the District Community Medical Offices (Mufumbwe and Kasempa for first level services), patient contributions and private donations. The hospital is governed locally by the Mukinge Hospital Management Board, which serves as both a “Management/Advisory Committee” under the authority of the Constitution of the Evangelical Church in Zambia. The services provided include curative, spiritual ministry and training of Nurses. 

“The Purpose of Mukinge Hospital Is to reflect the glory of God by following the Pattern of Spreading the Gospel established by the Lord Jesus namely Teaching, Preaching and Healing”. VALUES Spirituality, competence, honesty, excellence, team-work, professionalism and empathy. Services Offered The hospital has a bed capacity of 202. There are seven wards: Male, Female, Maternity, Paediatrics I, Paediatrics II, Eye and Surgical ward. Other departments include Pharmacy, Operating Theatre, Radiology, Physiotherapy, ART, Dental, OPD, Laboratory and Eye Clinic. The Institution offers a wide range of curative services such as medical, surgical, Paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, Ophthalmology, physiotherapy and orthopaedics. “Local patients” travel as far as 3 days on foot / bike to reach the hospital, with a growing number of other patients coming to Mukinge’s rural / remote setting, from distant cities & towns because of its good patient care reputation.

There are two full-time hospital chaplains at Mukinge, and the hospital has a strong evangelistic emphasis. Spiritual outreach is extended to inpatients as well as outpatients. Operating room facilities include two theaters with a reasonable range of instruments for general, orthopedic, and eye surgery (including an operating microscope). The lab is run by a Biomedical Scientist, three Lab Technicians with two assistants and is capable of doing haematology, culture and sensitivities, serology for HIV, Chemistry, CD4 Count and other basic tests. The hospital has stationary x-ray machine & basic ultrasonography. The physiotherapy department provides whirlpool; plaster casting; rehabilitation; prosthesis; and leprosy follow-up. In addition, there is a pharmacy with basic drug supplies, a kitchen, laundry, workshop, and administrative offices. A mortuary is also available at the hospital which can accommodate up 8 bodies at a given time.

The hospital has a full-time HIV/AIDS services program funded by CHAZ. This is under the Mukinge AIDS Prevention and Care Program (MAPP) a department within the hospital. See MAPP under Hospital Departments. The Eye Program under the Leadership of Jairos Fumpa, who is the current Executive Director has grown and have a special clinic and ward only to screen and diagnose eye problems. See Eye under hospital Departments Vision of the Ministry of Health “providing the people of Zambia with equity of access to cost effective, quality healthcare as close to the family as possible” If You would like to Know more, visit the Hospital or contact the Executive Director on the Contact provided. The Mukinge Nurses Training College was started in 1958 to train medical assistants. In 1964 this was changed to a ZEN (Zambian Enrolled Nurse) training school. The Nurses Training College has trained has over 700 graduates working throughout Zambia and beyond. In July 2013, the Nursing School was upgraded to a Registered Nursing School to offer Diploma in Nursing. Registered nursing is a (3) three year program. The first intake was enrolled in August 2013. For more information go to Nursing School