Mputu (Esperance) Kambondi, 21, and Nnama (Marie) Kabuesu, 25, both of Moma, will begin their medical studies this month, thanks to donors to Friends of Moma Hospital.

Marie Kabuesu (left) and Esperance Kambondi.

Both women will be attending the Institut Superieur Des Techniques Medicale (ISTM) in Tshikaji, which is 10 miles south of the provincial capital of Kananga. ISTM is a university-level school with programs in nursing and laboratory technology.

Ms. Kambondi began her studies in pediatric nursing last fall. But like so many of her classmates, she had to stop out because of the lack of funds to continue. Her situation was brought to our attention and now she is back in school.

Ms. Kabuesu will be studying to be a lab technician.

ISTM is part of a larger medical complex in Tshikaji called the INSTITUT MEDICAL CHRETIEN DU KASAI (IMCK). IMCK was founded in 1954 as a nursing school at the Presbyterian mission station of Lubondai. Today IMCK is made up of Good Shepherd Hospital, the ITM high school, the ISTM college, and the PAX Clinic in downtown Kananga. (Read more about IMCK at http://imck.org)
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