UN SRSG Honours Indian Level III Hospital in Congo
First UN Mission Hospital Gets SRSG Unit Appreciation
Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: In an unprecedented development in the history of United Nations peacekeeping operations, the Indian Level III Hospital deployed with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has received a formal unit appreciation from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of Mission. This is the first recorded instance of a UN mission hospital being conferred such recognition.
The Indian medical unit, originally deployed as a Level III Hospital and now functioning as a Level II Plus Hospital, was awarded the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO Unit Appreciation in recognition of its exemplary professionalism, operational resilience and sustained contribution to the MONUSCO mandate. The citation was formally received by Col Rajesh W. Adhau, Sena Medal awardee and Contingent Commander of the hospital, during the Medal Day Parade held on 29 December 2025. The award was presented by Brig Salil MP, Commander of the Central Sector and Acting Deputy Force Commander of MONUSCO.
The recognition also took the form of an appreciation card issued by the SRSG, marking a historic first for any hospital serving under a United Nations mission. The appreciation acknowledged the hospital’s performance under complex operational conditions and its role in delivering medical support aligned with UN humanitarian and peacekeeping standards.
“This historic recognition is a tribute to the courage, resilience, and commitment of our medical and support staff in challenging environments. It reflects India’s enduring legacy of service and excellence in global peacekeeping efforts,” said a senior official familiar with the mission.
The citation specifically noted the hospital’s performance during the period of intense armed conflict in and around Goma between January and February 2025. During this phase, the Indian medical unit maintained uninterrupted medical services despite direct security threats, managed a large number of conflict-related casualties and responded simultaneously to public health challenges. The hospital’s sustained functioning during the crisis played a key role in safeguarding United Nations personnel and civilians while enabling MONUSCO to continue its operational mandate.
This latest recognition follows the Force Commander’s Unit Citation conferred on the Indian Level III Hospital in March 2025, making it one of the few UN mission medical units to receive successive high-level commendations within a single year. The SRSG and Head of Mission Unit Appreciation represents a rare distinction, elevating the unit’s recognition from force-level to mission-level leadership.
India has been among the largest contributors of uniformed personnel and medical contingents to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide. The appreciation accorded to the Indian hospital in Goma underscores the role played by Indian medical units in setting operational and humanitarian benchmarks within UN peacekeeping environments. The recognition received by the hospital under the command of Col Rajesh W. Adhau is being recorded within the mission as a significant milestone in the history of UN peacekeeping medical services.
– global bihari bureau
