Challenges of Medical Ministry
Medical ministries in Africa have changed significantly over the 50+ years since the Wesleyan Church started hospitals in Zambia and Sierra Leone. Recognizing the need to bring a fresh approach to how Global Partners supports medical ministries around the world, Global Partners Health Network (GPHN) was established under the direction of Dr. Diane Foley. This past month we traveled with Dr. Foley to both Sierra Leone and Zambia to assess the medical ministries, meet with leadership, and determine how best GPHN can help support and improve the delivery of medical ministry.
We visited Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital in Sierra Leone first. Because it was rainy season the road was in bad repair and so we arrived "all shook up" after a 4 and a half hour journey from Makeni. Our hospital is the only hospital in the northern part of the country - with the closest hospital found in Makeni. The needs of the hospital are significant, with the need for a doctor being the biggest. They have been functioning without a doctor since mid-August when David and Dahlia Dyer's three month term came to an end. The government has promised to supply an African doctor to serve for a year while the hospital and GP look for a longer term solution.
The hospital also struggles financially - it depends on nominal fees paid by patients to cover salaries, supplies and maintenance. The local population has difficulty in paying even the low fees and as a result the hospital has not managed to keep much of its equipment in good repair and cannot compete with salaries offered in government hospitals.
These challenges have led to stresses and conflict between the community, hospital staff, and national church. However, the reality is that the hospital and church are to be commended for the extent to which they have managed to offer medical services to the community given the massive challenges they face.
Dr. Foley and Bob enter Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital
The next week found us at Zimba Mission Hospital in Zambia. Located on the main road between Livingstone and Choma, this hospital serves as the referral hospital for a large catchment area. Recent infra-structural improvements include a new Outpatient Department, expansion and refurbishment of the maternity ward, a backup generating system, and a new chapel. GP missionaries, Dan & Joan Jones, serve as the doctors for the hospital. The Zambian staff are all employees of the government which pays their salaries. The government also provides a small grant for operating costs. The government support is a mixed blessing: a) the hospital is required to offer its services for free, making it increasingly difficult to cover costs especially now that patient load has increased because of the improved facilities; and b) since staff is posted by the government, all staff members do not necessarily buy in to the ministry focus of the hospital. The church has a medical ministry board to oversee this work, but because of costs it has not been functioning effectively.
Dr. Foley and Bob at Zimba Mission Hospital
These new days for medical ministry present daunting challenges, but the validity of such ministry is not in doubt. Please pray for Dr. Foley, the national church leadership, hospital administrators and staff as they chart the path forward in days to come.
