Dr. Juliette “Bijou” Kapinga Kiabilua

Dr. Juliette Bijou Kapinga Kiabilua was born on May 17, 1964 in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Daughter of the late Papa Benoit Kiabilua and late mother Marie-Louise Milambu, she comes from a family of 16 children including 9 boys and 7 girls, she occupies the 6th place in the family.

She completed her primary studies at Matete school where she was taught by her mother, and her secondary studies at Bosangani high school, where she obtained her state diploma in 1982. She then continued her university studies at the faculty of medicine in University of Kinshasa from where she obtained, with distinction, her doctorate in general medicine. She continued her training with a specialization in pediatrics at the University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa. From 1996 to 2000, she worked as a pediatrician at University Teaching Hospital where she contributed to the professional training of several students of the faculty of medicine, trainee doctors and assistant doctors in the course of her specialization.

In 1991, Dr Juliette Kiabilua married her now late husband, the engineer Bonavunture Yanez Iyeleza. The good Lord blessed them with the birth of their daughter Petroneilla Iyeleza and with the addition of Christian Kiabilua, the son of her late brother, as well as Raissa Kiabilua and Joyce Emmanuel Kapinga Mavungu, daughters of her late little sister Myriam Kiabilua.

In 2000, the family decided to immigrate to South Africa and thereafter, they went to Botswana in early 2001. Some time later, Christian Kiabilua joined them. Dr Juliette Kiabilua was hired as a doctor in Francistown, on behalf of the Botswana Ministry of Health. After the death of her husband in 2004, she moved to Gaborone and continued her career at the pediatric clinic in Gaborone before going private, having obtained her License to open her own pediatric clinic "Deliciel". In 2012, she started working at the private hospital Bokamoso, which she left in 2018. After Bokamoso, she worked at the private hospital in Gaborone.

Dr. Juliette worked closely with, and was a member of several international associations, including the following:

She has written and contributed to several scientific articles and publications, in particular for the University Teaching Hospital in Kinshasa, the Nyangabwe hospital in Francistown, Botswana and Panorama Medical 1995.

Dr Juliette always sought excellence in her career, particularly by pursuing additional training in different countries of the world, such as Israel, France, South Africa, Turkey, and Ghana among many others. With all these accomplishments, our mother, sister, and friend left behind a legacy worthy of her name.

Dr Juliette loved to read her bible, she loved to travel the world, and eat seafood, especially "makayabu". She had a pleasant sense of humor and took pleasure in bringing laughter to those around her.

She has been a mother, a sister, a friend, and a mentor. Her passion for family, friends, the church of Christ and community is undeniable. She leaves behind four children, Christian, Raissa, Petroneilla, and Joyce, whom she has always taken care of, and to whom she gave her best. She is also survived by her cherished family, notably ; the Kiabilua, the Milambu family , the Iyeleza, and her lifelong friends from Bosangani, UNIKIN, South Africa, Botswana and her Medical colleagues.