LEMOYNE, PENNSYLVANIA (ANS) -- Established in 1998 as Africa’s first orthopedic/pediatric teaching hospital for physically disabled children, the AIC-CURE International Children's Hospital in Kijabe, Kenya was also the first hospital CURE opened.

In celebration of a decade of healing for the disabled children of Kenya, CURE International today announced the 10-year anniversary of the hospital.

A media release from A. Larry Ross Communications says the hospital provides state-of-the-art care for children suffering from clubfoot, cleft lip and cleft palate, curvature of the spine and disabilities stemming from polio, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and other congenital abnormalities.

The hospital also hosts Kenya’s only certified orthopedic residency program for African doctors.

Since its opening, the hospital has performed more than 20,000 surgeries and treated more than 66,000 patients.

“We are very excited and pleased to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of AIC-CURE,” said Dale Brantner, CURE’s senior vice president of spiritual ministries.

“This hospital has grown to become one of the country’s great medical and spiritual resources, attracting patients from all over Kenya and beyond. I extend congratulations to the hospital team for the extraordinary work it has done. AIC-CURE has contributed greatly to CURE’s mission to transform the lives of the more than 100 million disabled children in the developing world through medical and spiritual healing.”

Brantner noted that the hospital’s spiritual impact on Kenya has been as important as the medical.

Along with medical care, patients and their families are also given spiritual counseling by highly-trained counselors. The counseling is always presented in a way that is sensitive to the country’s culture and the patient’s individual spiritual needs.

AIC-CURE’s spiritual contributions to the country have been significant. Since 1998, the hospital’s staff has presented the Gospel to more than 370,300 Kenyans. Almost 45,000 have made an expression of faith.

The hospital is hosting a celebration event on September 5 with special guests in attendance, including CURE co-founders, Dr. Scott and Sally Harrison, Kenya’s Assistant Minister for Medical Services, Hon. Danson Mungatana, CURE donors and former patients of the hospital.

CURE International transforms the lives of disabled children and their families in the developing world through medical and spiritual healing, serving all by establishing specialty teaching hospitals, building partnerships, and advocating for these children. For more information on CURE visit www.cureinternational.org.

NOTE TO EDITORS: To schedule an interview with any of these representatives of CURE International, or make plans to visit CURE facilities around the world, please contact Melany Ethridge at 972.267.1111 or melany@alarryross.com  or Jodi Cunningham at 972.267.1111 or jodi@alarryross.com . More information is available in the online newsroom: www.CUREnewsroom.com