HISTORY OF GABKUL FOUNDATION
The GABKUL Foundation is the product of the dream of its founder Mr. Gabriel KULEMFUKA, after a long reflection on how to effectively deliver quality orthopedic and prosthetic services to those who needed it most.
THE FOUNDER
Mr. Gabriel KULEMFUKA, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, fluent in Kikongo, Lingala, kimbala, French, and English as a second language, is a trained medical doctor, focusing on orthopedics and the use of prosthetics (Ortho-prothesist).
Obtaining a scholarship from The World Health Organization (WHO), Mr. Kulemfuka was able to attend a specialized training in orthopedics in Lome, the Capital of togo where he received a Diploma in Orthopedics. On returning to the Congo DR in 1981, Mr. Kulemfuka founded the “Zairian Association for the Rehabilitation by Orthèsis and Prosthesis (AZAÏROP), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in need of surgery and prosthetics.
Several years later, in 1985, Mr. Kulemfuka won a second grant/ scholarship again from the World Health Organization (WHO) for training in Orthopedic Technology at the Belgian Center of Orthopedic (CEBELOR) in Brussels until 1987. Returning home once again in 1987, Mr. Kulemfuka founded a private medical clinic, the “Medical House Kin Orthopedic”, located in Kinshasa/Kalamu.
THE FOUNDER 'S WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION
Based on past successes of AZAIROP and CEBELOR; the International Red Cross lent its financial support to the Kinshasa/Kalamu Medical House.
In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Mr. Kulemfuka has traveled extensively around the world appearing in seminars and meetings of professionals, such as the Guinea-CONAKRY, Congo-BRAZZAVILLE, Ethiopia-ADDIS ABEBA, Guinea-BISSAU, Equatorial Guinea, Togo-LOME, Nigeria-LAGOS, France-PARIS, Belgium-BRUSSELS, Netherlands, and in the USA.
In 1990, He attended the second seminar in Lomé (Togo) with focus on technical aids and care of patients, and then he also participated in the same year, this time to the Sovereign National Conference (CNS) until 1992 where he represented the Association of orthopedic technicians of Zaire (ATOZ) currently known as "ATOC". Expressed his wish to see the orthopedic technicians organize around an association at a continental level, he then created "FATO” a Federation of African orthopedic technician, that has its headquarter in Burkina Faso; Fruit of his initiatives.
In 1996, Mr. Kulemfuka was invited by the Executive Committee of the International Red Cross to speak on orthopedic polypropylene components at its meeting in Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia. The next year, he delivered the results of his study of the impact prosthetic aids had, not only on the people living with handicap (amputees, congenital malformation etc) but also street children, elderly men, women, demobilized soldiers, the orphans of the AIDS, and widows. Also notice that Mr. Gabriel KULEMFUKA (Ortho-Prothesist) is the initiator and pioneer of the orthopedic center of KALEMBE-LEMBE (A national orthopedic center) created in collaboration with the Red Cross and the Committee of the International Red Cross).
Driven by what he viewed as humanitarian needs, Mr. Kulemfuka proposed to concretize his dream through the GABKUL FOUNDATION. Founded in January 15, 1998, the Foundation’s mission marries the need for scientific research in the field of orthopedics, and the ability to deliver a better, mobile quality of life to some of the least among us without regard to nationality, race, sex, age, religion or political view. Basically, GABKUL FOUNDATION is dedicated to improving Health, Education, and Life of vulnerable people. If you feel that you may have something to give, please feel free to contact us.