Fri 9th July 2010

GOLI WELCOMES FIRST IN-PATIENTS

GOLI HOSPITAL, Southern Sudan has welcomed its first patients to the recently dedicated In-Patient Department. The Hospital, funded primarily by UK charity Medic Assist International and implemented by local partners, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sudan, was officially dedicated on Saturday 5th June 2010. Monday 5th July 2010 saw the first patients being admitted. Video of the opening

The first patient was an elderly woman, aged 64 years old. She was shortly followed by a three month old baby. Both were suffering from malaria, with the baby suffering from cerebral malaria.

Clinical Officer In-Charge of the In-Patient Department, Timothy Wamuya, said “Recently, we are seeing around 30 patients per day in the Out-Patient Department. When we saw patients who were very ill, we were having to treat them as best we could and send them home, knowing that many of them would not get the medical care they needed. But now the in-patient is open we have been able to admit these seriously ill patients and give them the medical care they need. When this baby came with very severe malaria, she required immediate admission and IV treatment. This type of malaria is particularly common in children and can result in very fast deterioration. The baby has been admitted now for 24 hours and is showing good signs of improvement.”

The hospital also began its first ante-natal group on Monday 5th July 2010. Following advertising in the local community, 20 pregnant mothers attended the hospital for health advice from Community Health Worker, Matthew Bashiir, and Midwife, Joyce Philip. The mothers have also been registered into the ante-natal programme and have been advised to seek regular check-ups.

Bishop Elias Taban of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church said “This is a blessed day for the community that this In-Patient Department is now open. The vision for this hospital came from a desire to help those in the Mundu community who have been disadvantaged for many years. Particularly, we wanted to help the most vulnerable in society; children, pregnant mothers and elderly women. We have seen, with the opening of the In-Patient Department and the beginning of the ante natal care that this vision is becoming a reality.”

"We would love to recruit a UK doctor who would be willing to work at Goli for two to three years," said John Earwicker, MAI Executive Director.  "We have volunteer medics who are committed to regular short term assingments there but real progress in developing staff and treatments would be assisted by a full time doctor who shares the vision of bringing excellent healthcare to the poorest and most neglected peoples of our world."

Bishop Taban of EPC will be visiting the UK in September 2010.

Reported by Thomas McNeil with additional reporting from John Earwicker; 8 July 2010

Fri 9th July 2010

CARE GIVERS GO FULL TIME!

The 10 Caregivers in Embo, supported by MAI, have gone full time.  "There are no words enough to express how grateful we are," said Zama Sibisi who oversees the HIV/Aids project on behalf of his church.

Having recently completed further training that qualifies them to test patients for HIV in their own homes, the Caregivers will now be able to give much fuller support to sufferers and their families.  Close supervision is needed to ensure that clients who are on anti-retroviral drugs are eating a reasonable diet.  This is a challenge in this community where poverty is widespread.

MAI has undertaken to fund these Caregivers going full time for the next three years while the church works on the development of an income generation project involving transport.  Not all the necessary funds are pledged but MAI has decided it is right to go ahead and invites supporters to join their monthly pledge programme for Embo.  Just £10 a month covers the cost of caring for one family affected by HIV/Aids.

Embo is at the heart of the Valley of a Thousand Hills which has received some media attention recently during the World Cup.  We would love for our Partner's work in giving unconditional love and practical care to receive as much profile!

Fri 9th July 2010

COST SAVING IN NIGERIA!

The Guest House and Conference Centre supported by MAI at Vom to generate sustainable funds for the Hospital is working to become greeener and more productive.  It is planned to develop light and power through solar panels on both blocks, which will make a significant saving over the next five years.

MAI is delighted to have received a grant of £20,000 for this project and is seeking the balance of £5,000 from other sources in order that the project can proceed.

Fri 18th June 2010

CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE; TRIATHLON TRIUMPH IN AID OF EMBO!

Steve from Witney broke his best ever time in completing the Blenheim Palace Triathlon over the weekend of 5-6 June, despite some setbacks to his training.

Having met the leaders from the Embo church which serves its Aids devestated community, Steve wanted to gain sponsors to support this outstanding work.  Money is still coming in, so watch this space!

Congratulations, Steve and thanks from your friends in Embo and MAI.

Fri 18th June 2010

KENNINGTON CHILDREN'S WARD WARMLY RECEIVED AT GOLI!

Ten beds for children were part of the opening of the first In Patient block at Goli Hospital, South Sudan recently.

MAI were grateful to the community of Kennington in Oxfordshire which raised over £20,000 to fund a children's ward and staff.

After several delays, this has become a reality and John Earwicker, MAI's Executive Director, presented the Hospital with a plaque acknowledging the part played by this village on the outskirts of Oxford.