Grand Lac Maternity Center

In 2014, a group of doctors working in a small inadequate hospital in Goma Town began the major undertaking of creating a new hospital facility that would better serve the needs of the population in Goma. The statistics resulting from little to no access to health care, much less proper health care for mothers and newborns are staggering. The idea of a proper facility emerged from a desire to create a hospital which could offer advanced care at affordable costs.

During the next few years an old hotel was purchased and fully renovated into the hospital which is now the CENTRE HOSPITALIER DES GRANDS LACS

Architecturally, the old hotel reminiscent of the Belgian colonization era, was rebuilt in 2004 by local engineers after the 2002 volcano eruption razed the original structure.
It brings a unique and unusual character to a hospital facility, and this existing context within a residential block has become the basis for design.
The hospital opened in 2022 but has quickly outgrown capacity demands. Having had the foresight to future expansion, the group began to add adjacent properties which have now become the current site for the new maternity center. Although an addition to the existing hospital, the new structure is stand alone and connected only with a central reception area. This offers the advantage of no disruption to the existing facility during construction.

Through introductions and experience with the completed maternity center in Mugonero, Rwanda, came the opportunity to work with this motivated and dedicated group of doctors to study the feasibility of a new facility. This is an independent effort by a small group of people, not part of an umbrella organization.

The project is a challenge, on many different levels. For 30 years this region has been subjected to various ongoing levels of modern day conflict, with the most recent being the 2025 occupation, civil unrest and political discord. The hardship of wars, natural disasters, socioeconomic issues and human suffering have been endured to extremes.

Over the past three years this vision has all but become a reality, as programming and a final design are in place, cost analysis is complete, and funding options are in progress. The new Grand Lac Maternity Center is poised to begin construction.