Partnership with EPC
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sudan is an indigenous denomination with over 100 churches throughout Sudan. Currently, it is headed by Bishop Elias Taban. With his wife, AnneGrace, he leads a holistic mission to renew Southern Sudan. As an active civil society agency, EPC has developed projects to provide employment, widow's empowerment, tertiary training, as well as orphanages.
Since independence in 1956, Sudan has experienced only 11 years without
violent conflict. For 20 years prior to 2005, there was fierce fighting between Government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
In 2005, a Peace Accord was signed. It promised regional autonomy for
the south and a referendum about independence after six years. There was
also a pledge about sharing the oil wealth; the oil reserves being in
the south.
As a result of the conflict, southern Sudan has almost no infrastructure to speak of. The statistics are appalling:
- at least 4 million people have lost their homes
- 2 million lost their lives
- 90% of people live on less than 60 pence per day
- 1 in 4 children die before 5 years of age
- 11% of women die in childbirth
- life expectancy is 42 years
- there is 1 doctor for every 100,000 people.
Achievements
Medic Assist International, with WorldShare, have co-funded the building of the basic Health Centre facility (£80,000).
WorldShare and Project Hope have supplied three container loads of medical equipment to Goli.
MAI has funded the internal finishes of the Out Patient Department and almost all of the In Patient facilities (£71,000).
We have funded the drug and staff costs of the Out Patient Department which has been treating an average of 800 patients a month.
We have funded the operating costs of clinics at Morobo and Lora.
Most of these funds have come from individuals, though we have been assisted in addition by the Souter Foundation and the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation.
Future Plans
The next phase will be to provide staff funding for three years from the opening of Goli In Patient facility. In addition, MAI will work with our partner to evaluate the potential of a primary healthcare network associated with the Goli centre, in support of the UN Millennium Goals.Visit the News section for the latest information.
Our Goal
Our aim has been:
- to enable the building of a 50 bed Health Centre at Goli (in conjunction with our UK partners on this project, WorldShare)
- to support primary health care clinics at Morobo and Lora
- to fund the staffing costs for the Health Centre for three years from the opening until income generating plans come to fruition
The Out Patient Department is now operational and the In Patient facilities are nearing completion.