New Children’s Ward Opens in Zambia

Stories | 1 Jul 2024

Some good news for Zambia’s estimated 500,000 children living with severe but treatable disabilities: their wait for life-changing surgery is about to get shorter. The expanded children’s ward at Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia is officially open!

This new, larger space will allow Zambia’s only charitable children’s hospital to provide specialized surgical care and share the love of Jesus with 40 percent more children in need.

Building for the Future

The children and families CURE serves represent some of Zambia’s most vulnerable and marginalized populations. When a child has timely access to the surgical care they need to correct a life-limiting disability, it frees them from a lifetime of persistent poverty, discrimination, and even abuse.

With thousands of vulnerable children waiting for care at CURE Zambia, the ward expansion is one of many strategic projects at the hospital designed to increase surgical capacity—including adding a new comprehensive Cleft Care Center and more surgeons.

The new ward is named the Beit Munro Children’s Ward in recognition of CURE’s partnership with the Beit Trust, which dates back to before the first brick was laid during the construction of the hospital in 2006. The Beit Trust, a UK-based charity founded in 1906 by Alfred Beit, provided initial funding to support the construction of the hospital as a gift for the benefit of the people of Zambia. Sir Alan Gordon Munro, Alfred Beit’s great nephew, served on the Trust for 44 years, including 23 as Chairman of the Trust. Over the years, the Trust has continued to fund key hospital projects, including the new children’s ward.

“What CURE does is invest in the single most important form of capital for the future, which is human capital,” noted Alex Duncan, the newly appointed Chairman of the Beit Trust. “Investing in people is the principle that underpins everything the Trust does, so we are delighted to have been CURE’s partners in investing in people in this way, and moving one step closer to a future where every child living with a disability in Zambia can access safe surgical care.”

A Lifetime of Impact

The celebration is about more than the opening of a new building—it’s about helping more kids like six-year-old Lumbiwe. She was born with a bone condition that caused pain and mobility problems in her right leg. Walking was almost as painful as the bullying she endured at school. While the family searched for a cure for their daughter, they feared they could not afford surgical treatment. Until they learned about CURE Zambia.

Lumbiwe received successful surgery to correct her leg—at no cost to the family. Her recovery in the children’s ward was aided by toys, coloring books, and compassionate care from CURE’s team. Today, she is walking free from limitations!

“CURE Zambia’s expanded children’s ward is evidence of our commitment to provide the highest quality surgical and ministry care to the children who walk through our doors today, tomorrow, and years into the future,” said Justin Narducci, President/CEO of CURE International. “We are grateful to be on this mission with partners like the Beit Trust, the Zambian Ministry of Health, and generous supporters around the world. Together we can create a world where every child, regardless of ability, has access to the medical care they need and deserve.” 

Learn more about CURE’s approach to providing surgical care and the love of Jesus to children in need across our hospital network.