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On an average day, care is given to 70-80 patients. Twice we have recorded crowds of 110
served. On the quieter days, 40 patients
are seen. The reputation of the hospital
continues to grow and patients are coming from all parts of Guinea. Occasionally we see patients from three
surrounding nations. Many anticipate the
surgery opening later this year. We will
be able to serve a new dimension in the health care needs of the population
when the surgery is completed.
Autumn Ridge Church (ARC) and Mayo Clinic are
assisting in coordinating an unusual form of compassion care for at least one
exceptional case annually to be served outside of Guinea. Such patients are approved
by Mayo Clinic to come and be operated on as a charity case. We assist in
obtaining a visitor visa from the U.S. Embassy and making travel arrangements. The patient is hosted by ARC during medical
care at Mayo. Certainly this requires a high intensity effort but it is a
visible expression of compassion from our staff, Mayo Clinic, ARC and
ultimately glorifies our God.. The young man we are helping through this
program is pictured below with a benign tumor of the jaw.
Mayo Clinic Exceptional Case Patient  |
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Construction Update
Construction of the Surgery Building
is advancing well. Because of the slope
of the land, considerable back fill into the low end was needed but the foundation
is sound and the walls are growing brick by brick.
Foundation Wall of the Surgery Building  |
We are grateful for ARC's participation in funding the surgery
building. Other more minor but important projects have been the painting of all
of the buildings, pharmacy upgrades to give more security, ward cabinetry and
connecting walkways and ramps between the buildings. Finally we are building an
off-load dock to receive our container shipments. Container #9 is being shipped
with a Caterpillar Skid Steer and basic electrical materials for the
infrastructure. Surgical plumbing and electrical materials will be shipped
shortly. Medical supplies accompany each shipment.
The well that we drilled three years ago is serving
the hospital needs but with the increased load of patients and a very hot dry
season we ran out of water on some days.
Upgrading the water infrastructure by drilling another well before the
next dry season is an upcoming need. The cost for a new well is approximately
$9,500. Please pray with us for this.
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Hospital Staff
The Administrative Committee in Guinea composed of Etienne, Dr.
Jean Paul, and Dr. Kristen, make the administrative decisions from month to
month. They receive input from the
Medical Committee, composed of four doctors and four nurses establishing
medical protocol with which the patients are served.
Etienne gives weekly updates on all CEH activities. He recently did an analysis of the monthly
costs and income of the hospital which is very helpful to the CEH Finance Committee.
A monthly subsidy check in the amount of $6,000 for hospital and construction operational
expenses and MIAPE is sent to Guinea.
Thank you for participating with us financially. Each gift, unless otherwise designated, helps
meet this monthly subsidy, which is our first operational priority. We
welcome contributions from churches or individuals who may desire to take
ownership of a month of operation.
Our personnel on the field now consist of 20 people who
serve as construction/guardians, and 30 serving as medical/ administration
staff. Six of these are MIAPE missionaries, with two associated spouses who do
not serve directly at CEH. We anticipate
one more MIAPE couple joining us this fall. Dr Kristen is our only CEH full
time missionary and we are grateful for her faithful service. Both Kristen and
the MIAPE missionaries currently need regular financial support.
It is a priority to maintain good communication between the
staff both on the field and here in the states.
Unity in work and purpose is necessary for harmonious service together
and quality care for all of the patients.
As the staff grows, so does the need for the working relationships to be
strong and supportive. Little things
like a vacation calendar posted to coordinate times away from CEH are proving
to be helpful.
Specific field personnel prayer needs are: - 2-3 Guinean nurses for the wards (5 were
recruited last month)
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5 Operating Room Crew
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2 U.S. registered nurses
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1 U.S. construction leader
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1 Pharmacist (U.S. or Guinean)
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1 Administration (U.S - 1 Guinean recently
recruited)
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1 Surgeon
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Short Term Medical Teams
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Short Term Electrical and Construction crews
(including plumbing)
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MIAPE
(Mission Internationale Africain Pour l'Evangelisation - English translation: International African Mission for Evangelization)
The staff at the hospital is primarily involved in two
evangelical churches in Mamou. One is
the EPE Church associated with the CMA mission
and the other is the new MIAPE cell group which is planting a church, now
numbering close to 60 persons for worship and prayer. The work in the church goes hand in hand with
the work at the hospital and we are grateful for the way that we see God at
work.
We rejoice together in TG's salvation about six weeks ago
and are thankful that she is being discipled by two of our staff. Others in her family are showing interest in
the gospel. Medical and evangelism
outreaches are touching two villages (G, M15). Free clinics were offered and now community health teaching is given in
follow up visits. We have been very gratefully received in these villages.
A corner of the land at the CEH site has been ceded to MIAPE
to build a Welcome/Discipleship Center and a Chapel. The land has been cleared and preparations
are being made to build the buildings. Several supporters from CDI have pledged support of this project. This will remain entirely African in
financial support which shows their maturation in Christ and desire to serve
Him with their resources. The contractor
who is building the surgery will help them build these buildings soon.
Last fall MIAPE missionaries Lacina and Martine were
blessed with baby Grace and just recently Moise's wife Deborah gave birth to
Anne. These lives are truly gifts from
the Lord and the families are rejoicing as they dedicate these children to Him.
Dwight holding baby Grace (Fall 2009)  |
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Guinea News
Politics in the country are closely followed by the mission
leadership and we are all praying for the national elections scheduled for June
27where there are 14 presidential candidates and many for other
elected posts through out the government. Campaigning was limited to May 17
through the elections. If there is no single majority winner, run off elections
would be held July 18. Our missionaries and CEH staff currently feel safe and
we try to steer clear of political involvement as we are there to serve everyone.
Recently the Guinean government gave a salary increase of 40%
to all government workers which put pressure on private institutions to also
give raises. Prices have also gone up for many things. Pray that we will have
wisdom to navigate these troubled financial times in Guinea and be fair with our
workers.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
is sponsoring HIV training courses three times a year in Guinea. We were
invited to participate in this training. We will be sending one doctor and one
nurse to the first session June 7 - 16.
Procuring medications has been a challenge in Guinea but we have now located six sources in Guinea, as well as IDA Pharmaceuticals in Europe. We have our
best medicine supply stock ever. We hope to donate $20,000 per year for several
more years until the hospital is self sufficient in maintaining adequate
supplies. CEH established a revolving fund in separate bank account on the
field to manage these purchases.
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Short Term Trips
In light of the current election process in Guinea, short term U.S. missionaries are advised to
travel after July 20. Ulli and I will be traveling in late August or early
September, for an administrative trip. This trip will include contacts with government offices and with CEH
staff. We desire to send construction teams in August and September, specializing
in electrical and plumbing to contribute to the completion of the surgical
building.
Skilled volunteers are welcome to contact Norm Moran or Debbie
Slater through our web site. A pre-field orientation is required for those
who want to serve with CEH, helping us to serve God together better. The first
session will be held at Highland Park Baptist Church
(28600 Lahser, Southfield, MI 48034) July 16 and 17for
those going late this summer.
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