The Important Building You Never Think About
Last post, we shared the exciting news about the construction of our new outpatient building—a project that will help us care for thousands of patients for years to come.
But there’s another transformation happening in Kapsowar that most people will never see.
Most people don’t think about the kitchen when they imagine a hospital.
They picture doctors, nurses, patients recovering in beds.
But here in Kapsowar, the kitchen quietly touches every single one of those stories.
Every day, it prepares meals for more than 130 patients—many of them fighting to regain strength—and over 100 staff who are caring for them.
And yet, that kitchen is more than 75 years old.
Click to watch this video , which was taken in 2024, when we first shared the need for a new kitchen. Today, because of the generosity of donors, the story is changing.
Meals are cooked over open fires.
Firewood must be gathered and purchased—contributing to deforestation in the surrounding area. The smoke fills the space, making it difficult—and unhealthy—to work in for hours each day.
There are no ovens. No refrigeration.
And because of these limitations, food has to be prepared in large batches—making it nearly impossible to tailor meals for patients who need specialized nutrition to heal.
But that’s about to change.
This is our current kitchen. Large open pots over coal fires—but it’s no longer safe, efficient, or sustainable for the needs of today.
Cooking over firewood has been the only option. But it comes at a cost—smoke-filled air for those working long hours in the kitchen, and ongoing strain on the environment. It’s not the future we want for the people who serve here every day.
Construction is underway! This is what change looks like right now. Walls going up. Foundations being laid. A new space beginning to take shape the north side of the maternity and pediatric building, next to the nursing school.
Because of the initiative and fundraising efforts of a generous donor, the hospital now has the funding to build something entirely new:
A modern kitchen designed to serve both patients and the people who care for them. This new space will transform daily life at the hospital.
Commercial refrigeration will allow food to be stored safely—something we’ve never had before.
Gas ovens will replace open fires, making cooking faster, safer, and healthier.
Baking capability will open the door to more nutritious, varied meals.
Flexible meal preparation will make it possible to prepare smaller, specialized portions for patients who need specific diets to recover.
This is the future of the hospital kitchen. A space designed for safe food preparation, better workflow, and the capacity to serve patients well—every single day.
This project will also create something entirely new for Kapsowar: a cafeteria space.
A place where staff can sit, rest, and eat together. Where caregivers—often staying for days or weeks—can purchase a meal. A place where conversations happen, relationships grow, and community is built.
Because care doesn’t just happen in hospital wards. Sometimes, it happens around a table.
This new kitchen is expected to be completed by October. And when it is, it will quietly—but powerfully—change hundreds of lives every single day.
Not just through medicine. But through something as simple and as essential as a meal.