Falling Whistles

Dr. Jo is far more vibrant than the colorful photographs that try to capture him. At 67 he is abnormally energetic, a zealous Baptist, an orthopedic surgeon with no plans to retire, and he’ll never pass on cracking a good joke.

The only practice that truly matches Dr. Jo’s enthusiasm for life is his love of medical outreach for vulnerable children.

When war began in Congo’s eastern region, Dr. Jo envisioned a new generation of medical professionals who shared his passion for rural medicine.

Amidst the chaos of conflict, Dr. Jo acted on this vision. He and his wife opened a training hospital in Goma, a city at the heart of the war region.

This project’s survival was never a given. For over a decade, many obstacles have tested the courage of Dr. Jo and his team. Goma’s volcano erupted and destroyed their facilities. They rebuilt the hospital. The global recession hit and they lost funding. They found more.

You bought a whistle. You cast a vote for peace in Congo. And you put $60,000 behind orthopedic surgeries for disabled children.

Dr. Jo and the team at HEAL Africa have now trained 30 young doctors, who have in turn treated thousands of war-affected Congolese.

Dr. Jo is a whistleblower. You can continue to join us in standing him.