In April of 2018, we opened our third clinic The Arthur and Esther Bradley Memorial Anglican Hospital in Gidan Waya in the Diocese of Kafanchan, Nigeria. Since that time, the patient demand has grown and, at peak periods, there is not enough bed space for all of the patients.
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By Dr. Arome Okeme It was about 10.20pm when they came in. The mother was looking distraught and shaken, while the father, a young man in probably his mid 20s, concealed his emotions, although beneath the veneer of his calmness, I could sense he was frightened. He held the little raggedy looking child in his arms passionately. The two were a beauty to behold. This was their only child and judging from their countenance, they were terrified of the possibility of losing her.
I was wasted, exhausted, drained, famished and fagged out. All I wanted was a shower, something to eat and the warmth of my bed. I had just finished a long stretch of resuscitating the head-injured young man from a road accident. Written by Dr. Okeme Arome Romey
Raymond came to our clinic in Gidan Waya, barely able to breathe. He managed a smile. His feet up to the thighs were massively swollen. My fingers dug deep into them leaving behind their prints. His nostrils flared. When I listened to his heart it was wrapped in a blanket of murmurs. The lung fields, especially the lower parts, were like fine waves from the silent gushes of waters from the sea reaching for the shores in a cool calm thick night. He was drowning in his own fluid.
Leaving a legacy is an important part of any life. A legacy reflects a life lived with purpose.
What does it mean to leave a legacy? It means putting a stamp on the future, and making a contribution to future generations. People want to leave a legacy because they want to feel that their life mattered. Here are some photos from our Faithcare medical outreach mission in Kafanchan Diocese last week. Photos were taken by Dr. Gabriel, an anesthetist with whom we have worked for many years. While looking at the surgery photos, be aware that all of our surgeries are done under local anesthetic. The patients are awake while their finger is being amputated or their appendix is being removed. Wherever there is a crowd, entrepreneurial children arrive to sell food and drink. This is the foot of a young woman (about 30) with a cancerous growth. She is going to have most of her leg amputated. She came to our free medical outreach in October. Why didn't she go to the doctor before now? She didn't have the money. This year, we helped 20,000 people like her. Help us help them by sending your tax deductible contributions to Kateri Medical Services at 11 Church Street Tariffville, CT 06081 We all count it an honor and privilege to serve as a medium towards making others smile through this great family faithcare medical team.
In August 2016, Rev. Tom Furrer, President and Executive Director of Kateri Medical Services traveled to Kafanchan to meet with Bishop Markus Dogo and his wife Nana. They have been discussing the possibility of a new clinic here for the past for years, but now it seems that the time is right. Both Bishop Markus and Nana are energetic and zealous to bring the love of God to bear on real life struggles and problems of the people in Kafanchan Diocese. Because of religious riots, the diocese has about 2,000 widows. Nana is developing womens’ training center to equip women to set up small businesses to support themselves and their children. They are also developing housing for widows and orphans. Both Bishop Markus and Nana were orphaned when they were young children. They know the pain and needs of those who have been left behind and they are committed to sharing the love of Jesus with the least, the last and the lost.
In August of 2015, Rev. Tom Furrer met with Bishop Markus Dogo, who is the spiritual leader of the Anglican Diocese of Kafanchan. Along with a diocesan planning team, including two doctors, two clergy and the diocesan financial officer, they reviewed plans for a new clinic. The new clinic will be built in a town named Gidan Waya, about tem miles from the Diocese headquarters in Kafanchan. Gidan Waya is a medium sized city which presently has no medical clinic at all. The new clinic will be located immediately adjacent to St. Mark’s Anglican Church and the Anglican Junior Seminary. The school has 150 students, including about 30 orphans. There is housing at the school for the orphans. The land for the clinic is already owned by the diocese and is in an area which has been spared from violence inspired by religious tensions. Our goal in locating the clinic adjacent to the church and school has may dimensions. First, we are replicating the early missionary model of connecting faith with education and healing. Secondly, we want to build and the reserve of community good-will already fostered by the church and school. We want to minister to a community through faith-formation, education and health care. Thirdly, we want to provide a training ground for students at the school who aspire to become doctors, nurses, lab technicians and pharmacists. Bishop Markus has a vision to eventually develop a larger health care facility here to minister to a wide range of medical issues.
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