03/29/2022
William Moore - Current Reflections on Butoke
As usual, Dr. Jean’s latest narrative update is short, gives some data about operations, hits some highlights and offers some insight into current needs or problem areas. Yet as I read it, I felt affirmation that Butoke continues to carry out and fulfill its essential mission for some of the disadvantaged and downtrodden people of Kananga and nearby villages in the DRC.
Sixteen years ago Dr. Cecile and her adopted son Dr. Jean founded Butoke, supported wholeheartedly by 40-50 citizens and leaders within Kananga and Kasai Province. By word-of- mouth, its positive reputation grew, as did its provision of quality care for those who showed up on its doorstep.
As its client needs grew, the need for income through donations and grants grew as well. Friends of Butoke (US) was begun as a way to support raising funds from US donors, to be used primarily for orphan care and schooling, food and nutrition programs, and some social/human service programs. Butoke expanded (through grants from UNESCO and Hope Canada) into organizing village associations to create large agricultural farms (through applying Dr. Jean’s agronomy skills).
Drs. Cecile and Jean continually applied their knowledge in many diverse areas to teach others about how to do things a little differently, to achieve different and better outcomes – groups, villages, families, Mamans and Papas. Importantly, they worked to continually grow the knowledge level and skills of their staff members as well – for without growing the capabilities of that staff, Butoke would not be able to continue to grow in the same manner it had. I point this out now because Dr. Jean (while rarely speaking directly of his staff) often lets their accomplishments speak instead. So when we read, for example, about how many kids are currently in the orphanage and their educational accomplishments, we should be reminded of
the loving and capable staff that has in large measure made this possible. In my opinion, this is one of Butoke’s greatest accomplishments: the growth and maturity of its staff over the years – despite its relatively low wage levels.
Dr. Jean’s narrative about clinic activities and the new schools are also areas that may cause people to wonder how Butoke’s expansions into health care and educational facilities came about. Actually, they were fully in line with the original thinking behind Butoke’s founding. After Dr. Jean received his education and became accredited as a doctor and surgeon, he expressed a dream that Butoke might one day establish a stand-alone med-surgical clinic within the city limits of Kananga proper, one that could continue and expand on the primary medical mission of Butoke. That continued as a wish and a dream because funding for such a venture would be virtually impossible to obtain. Then this seemingly impossible dream became possible when in 2010 a local man (who was employed at IMCK Good Shepard hospital) inherited his father’s house and property. Knowing of the wish, he deeded the property to his youngest brother, Dr. Jean, who immediately began its transformation into the city clinic/surgical center Musue Bantu.
Now, eleven years later, it’s “business model” has stood the test of time, with patients paying fairly for services rendered, on a patient-by-patient individually determined schedule of payments based on an individual’s ability to pay. It’s a fascinating story (but one too long to tell completely, here) of how a clinic such as this can survive as it does on a patient pay-as-you-go individually contracted basis; how doctors are contracted for and paid; and how the staff continues to provide a high level of service while at the same time receiving relatively low levels of wages. I am sure that the “walk-in” patients in the photos included with Dr. Jean’s letter – the young woman who was r***d and the man with the severe burns on his arm – received excellent and appropriate treatment and counseling by being able to walk-in to the Musue Bantu clinic. [Chances are that for each case, had the clinic not been here, the patients would not have received any care, with likely problematic outcomes.]
Dr Jean mentioned completion of the new health clinic in Tshimbundu (provided by grants from Friends of Butoke - UK & Canada, and at low cost with labor and bricks provided by local villagers). This expansion in Butoke health facilities “organically” grew from “customer demand” due to the recent completion and successes in the same area of the two new Butoke schools. The schools were built at low cost, in a similar manner. Now a need has arisen (based on demand) at that location to house pregnant women (who often travel long distances) and wait in the final days before giving birth. This is particularly needed if a woman may be having some difficulties with her pregnancy and there’s a possibility of having birth complications. Funds must be raised for this before construction is possible.
As for the new schools, the idea was a wish and desire of Dr. Cecile, as she fervently believed that providing for children’s’ educational needs is a fundamental determinant in helping provide for a brighter future for all of the people of DR Congo. As with the Musue Bantu clinic, the idea couldn’t go forward until someone volunteered funding or a grant was awarded. (It’s another good story to more fully tell, but not today.)
Butoke has a proven track record of accomplishing its mission, day by day, as well as moving forward to meet new challenges and needs, when opportunities arise and people contribute as generously as they can to help meet those needs.
But as Dr Jean points out, everyday needs continue at the orphanage and nutrition centers for food and housing. These are the traditional programs supported by Friends of Butoke (US). I think it’s important for you, its contributors, to know that Friends of Butoke (US) continues to be able to hold its costs to a minimum as it processes your contributions, forwards them to Butoke (DRC), and maintains correspondence and other ties. FOB(US) has minimal support expenses as almost all activities are fulfilled by volunteers, and the website cost is donated. The single largest expense we incur is for financial transaction costs incurred in sending funds to Butoke in DRC. Overall, these currently run at about 1% of funds donated. Thus, overall, about 99% of all donated funds flow directly as income to Butoke. This means that for every dollar you contribute, almost all of that same dollar ends up providing for food and essential programs in Congo... (and your dollar goes much farther in Congo, especially when comparing it to the average daily income in Congo as being about $1.50).
