Dr. Mugisha Aimé
General Surgery Resident
SIM Galmi Hospital
Niger
At just 12 years old, amidst the chaos of a civil war in Burundi, Dr. Mugisha Aimé narrowly survived a shotgun attack on his village. In that life-defining moment, he felt God’s protection and fully surrendered his life to Christ. Throughout the war, his aunt served as a beacon of hope as a nurse in a mobile clinic. She managed to provide essential care to up to 150 patients daily, operating under stark conditions and limited resources. Her unwavering commitment left a lasting impact on Dr. Aimé, especially after her untimely death in 1999. Her legacy ignited his passion and purpose, compelling him to vow to continue her work.
Fueled by this promise, Dr. Aimé pursued medical school, aiming to serve the under-resourced community of his hometown. It was upon his return that he encountered the harsh reality: patients with surgical needs often traveled great distances due to a critical shortage of surgical expertise in Burundi.
This pressing need pointed him towards the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS). Initially encountering PAACS during an internship at Kibuye Hope Hospital in Burundi in 2015, and reminded again when a classmate joined PAACS in 2018, Dr. Aimé found his calling. Now a third-year general surgery resident at SIM Galmi Hospital in Niger, PAACS has not only refined his surgical skills but also deepened his perspective on surgery as a ministry. He is learning to integrate his faith into his medical practice. "Through PAACS, I have learned that I am God’s feet and hands, touching both the physical and spiritual aspects of the patients God places in my path," Dr. Aimé reflects.
His stories of healing are deeply impactful, with one encounter particularly memorable. A 42-year-old man arrived at the hospital battling a severe necrotizing soft tissue infection that extended from the chest wall to his upper left limb, complicated by sepsis and kidney failure. During his month-long hospital stay, he underwent serial debridement, received broad-spectrum antibiotics, and needed 12 units of blood transfusion. Exposed to gospel films and preaching from evangelists during his stay, he gave life to Jesus Christ. Recently, he returned to visit Dr. Aimé, sharing how he continues to remember how God healed him. This meeting vividly reminded Dr. Aimé of his own survival as a child, reinforcing his faith-driven commitment to continue the work of his aunt.
Dr. Aimé remains determined to return to his native village in Burundi, dedicating his life to serving the community that shaped his early experiences and inspired his surgical career. By doing so, he intends to let his light shine, demonstrating how God transformed his pain into his passion and purpose.
