During her trip to Africa last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited a $30-million private hospital established by Congolese basketball star Dikembe Mutombo. The former athlete has turned his attention to the issue of health care, one of Africa's most pressing problems.

Boys in dried-grass skirts welcomed Secretary Clinton to Kinshasa's Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital. The 300-bed research center and hospital opened in the capital's Masina neighborhood two years ago focusing on maternal and child health with a 70-bed Women's Health Center.

Secretary Clinton visited the pediatric wing accompanied by founder Dikembe Mutombo. She told university students after the visit that Mutombo's commitment to public service stands as an example for the Democratic Republic of Congo and for Africa.

"This continent and this country have seen humanity at its worst, but you have also seen it at its best," she said. "You see it in the many acts of kindness between people who help each other even though they themselves have so little. You see it in a man who did so well in America, but decided to build a hospital that treats 100 patients a day and has created hundreds of jobs in the country he calls home."

One of the university students asked Mutombo why he used his money to build a hospital instead of going into politics.

"Everybody wants to do politics. But who is going to do business? Who is going to take care of the health care? Who is going to do work in the social system? Right now in Congo, 73 percent of the population in Congo is under the age of 24-years-old. Including all of you guys in this room," said Mutombo.

Mutombo said the poor quality of health care is the biggest challenge facing Africa, especially for the continent's next generation of leaders.

"If we don't provide good health care for you, how are you going to work? How are you going to practice politics, whatever you want to do? So that is why I went and built a hospital. But the most reason is was because of my mom, who died here in Kinshasa because she could not reach the hospital," added Mutombo.

Mutombo's parents lived eight minutes from a hospital in the capital, but because of a 1998 curfew in Kinshasa, his mother died before she could receive treatment.

"So that kind of pushed me a little bit to realize that a hospital would be a wise choice, that if I can do this, there is a chance for me to save thousands and thousands of lives, and to give Congolese people, which is my people where I came from, a hope," continued Mutombo.

Mutombo played 18 seasons in the U.S. National Basketball Association. The 2.18-meter center was the league's top defensive player four times and was an eight-time All-Star before retiring this year with a knee injury in the first round of the playoffs.

Before his basketball career began at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Mutombo was a pre-medical student and worked as an intern at both the World Bank and the U.S. Congress. He eventually graduated with degrees in linguistics and diplomacy, but never forget his first dream of becoming a doctor.

That led to this hospital and his concern for a generation of Congolese who he fears are losing hope in the future of their country.

"You are losing hope and you are thinking that there is nobody who is thinking about you," said Mutomobo. "If there is nobody who is thinking about you, what have I been doing coming every year in this country?"

Secretary Clinton met Mutombo's mother at the White House in 1994. Standing in the hospital dedicated to her memory, Clinton told Mutombo that his mother would have been proud of this tribute to the values with which he was raised.

The hospital has an emergency room, three surgical suites, 12 intensive care beds and comprehensive laboratory and radiology services. It not only focuses on maternal and child health but also addresses diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

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2. • U.S. Financial Bill Will Require Disclosure on Conflict Minerals - Hillary Clinton (July 22, 2010)
3. • The United States seeks a new era of partnership with the DRC - Hillary Clinton (June 30, 2010)
4. • Belgian King Arrives in Kinshasa for Congo's Independence Celebrations (June 28, 2010)
5. • President Barack Obama Praises Dikembe Mutombo for Humanitarian Work (January 19, 2010)
6. • Dikembe Mutombo to serve as NBA global ambassador (November 18, 2009)
7. • Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Contributes State of the Art Medical Equipment to Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital (October 1, 2009)
8. • Clinton Pushes UN Resolution to Curb Violence Against Girls (September 25, 2009)
9. • African development needs more actions, less words (August 15, 2009)
10. • Congo Defends China Mineral Deal (August 12, 2009)
11. • Clinton, Congo President Discuss Security in Country's Eastern Kivu Region (August 12, 2009)
12. • Student's question lost in translation 'struck a nerve' with Hillary Clinton (August 11, 2009)
13. • Clinton: US Committed to Good Governance in Congo (August 10, 2009)
14. • Hillary Clinton: the United States stand ready to assist the government to promote human rights (August 10, 2009)
15. • Hillary Clinton to tackle Congo conflict (August 10, 2009)
16. • Voter Registration Extended for 15 Days in Kinshasa (August 4, 2009)
17. • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Visit Africa (July 27, 2009)
18. • DR Congo Celebrates Independence Day (June 30, 2009)
19. • Fans in Kinshasa Reflect on Michael Jackson (June 28, 2009)
20. • Voter registration preparations underway (May 5, 2009)
21. • Video: Dikembe Mutombo talks to CNN about Barack Obama and the humanitarian situation in Congo (November 6, 2008)
22. • President Bush praises Dikembe Mutombo during State of the Union Address (January 23, 2007)

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