InterSection: College News

Items of interest to students, alumni and friends of Alliance schools. (Last updated 10-31-08)

Nursing Students to Leave the Democratic Republic of Congo

Due to instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, two student interns (Kate Manske and Benjamin Lawson) of Crown College’s nursing program are being brought home from the Heal Africa Hospital in Goma.

“There has been quite a bit of political unrest in the area over the past year,” said Tim Bristol, director of nursing at Crown. “We have been in constant contact with Kate and Ben and the hospital concerning safety issues in the region, especially over the past few weeks.”

On Sunday October 26, 2008, rebel activity became stronger and Kate e-mailed Dr. Bristol to note that the fighting has escalated and gunfire could be heard around the hospital. Workers of the hospital were sent home, and Kate and Ben were staying at the home of the medical director. Independent news reports confirmed that the rebels had begun a push south towards Goma from their position in the north.

According to an October 30 Reuters press release, “The fighting has sent tens of thousands of civilians running for their lives in North Kivu province, where aid workers say two years of violence has forced nearly 1 million people from their homes despite the end of Congo's broader 1998–2003 war.”

The situation for the interns was reassessed based on news reports and phone conversations with the interns and their hosts. With the information available at the time, the decision was made to have Kate and Ben leave Goma and travel to Kigali, the capital of neighboring Rwanda. They are in Kigali at this time, awaiting a return flight to the United States; the soonest available flight is next week.

“We would like to ask you to pray for Kate and Ben while they wait and for a safe flight back home to the U.S. They are quite saddened by the state of affairs in Goma and sad that they have to come home,” said Bristol. “This is a great time of need for the Congolese and workers of Heal Africa.”

Crown College is a private, four-year liberal arts and Bible College that offers nearly 40 majors in areas such as communication, business, nursing and ministry. Undergraduate, adult, graduate and online degree programs are available. Call 1-800-68-CROWN or visit www.crown.edu.

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