From Survivor to Savior: Mukata's Journey of Empowerment and Prosthetics

Wivine Kavira Mukata’s life transformed after a bombing in eastern Congo left her an amputee. A decade later, she stands as a guiding light for others, crafting prosthetic limbs at Goma's Shirika la Umoja center. Her work brings hope to those affected by the region's persistent violence.

Mukata’s journey into the field of orthopedics began when she traded her dreams of computer science to become an ortho-prosthetist. Training in Togo, she returned to aid a community disrupted by conflict, prioritizing the needs of those who, like her, sought new independence through prosthetics.

At the center, Mukata and her colleagues cater to hundreds of patients annually, despite security challenges. Their work goes beyond physical rehabilitation, addressing mental resilience by empowering amputees to reimagine their futures. Patients like Melissa Hamuli exemplify this newfound strength, showing that life after traumatic loss can flourish with the right support.