Thanks to your regular contributions CHI were blessed in being able to continue to support 5 nurses in 2024 in Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda CHI supports Francoise, Sophie, and Brigitte at Gikomero Clinic, and in Uganda Prossy and Grace at the Kimwanyi Clinic. Both these clinics serve large rural areas, where traditional medicines are still very much used. Although many herbal remedies can be restorative, there are times when medical intervention is very necessary, and it can be difficult for the clinics to gain the confidence of those who strongly believe the village ‘doctors’ and ’prophets’. All the nurses have a very strong faith in God, and it is this faith which brings many to come back to Christ, when they see the healing and care that He provides.
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Grace and Prossy, Kimwanyi Clinic, Uganda
In Kimwanyi Clinic Grace and Prossy go out into the community on a regular basis and have gained much respect, with many families now accepting immunisation for their children, and treatment (which is free) for HIV.
Nurse Grace, administering a drip to a young child
Grace tells us that many feel forsaken by God because of their suffering but she feels that giving them hope and praying for them is as important as treating them. She says
“But we have challenges in convincing them, for example I received an HIV patient when she has given up taking her drugs, she further told me that she has suffered enough. It was a hard task to deal with because she was ready to even give up on her children. But through counselling, praying and sharing Bible verses with her she is taking the medicines needed. The messages we share for example :
Romans 8 31-39 Which tells us God is with us in all life challenges
Romans 8 26 - the spirit of God helps us in our weaknesses
Psalms 23 - the Lord is our Shepherd, even though we walk through the darkest valley
Jeremiah 30 17 - The Lord will restore our health.
We have found these readings have had a great impact on her and others in the community.”
Grace is the Practice Manager and is a fully trained midwife. She reports that they have had no incidences of fetal or maternal deaths, and have transferred 5 mothers to the main city hospital due to recognising difficulties early in labour.
“ I wholeheartedly want to thank you for enabling me to render health services to the community through the salary you pay me, because I have witnessed community transformation through my service People come in with different faith witness but I thank God that I have been able to restore their trust in God.”
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Brigitte, Francoise and Sophie, Gikomero Clinic, Rwanda
Francoise deals mainly with Hepatitis B, vaccinations, high blood pressure and diabetic patients. She works both in the clinic and travels out into the communities in rural areas to screen patients for HIV and HepB. Whilst out she also gives out information about nutrition and hygiene and how attention to these can prevent so many illnesses.
Above we see Francoise vaccinating a baby and to the right we see Francoise checking the blood pressure of a lady.
Insufficient blood pressure machines and examination beds cause the biggest challenges to the nurses at Gikomero Clinic.
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Sophie deals mainly with family planning advice; counselling on various acceptable methods such at the pill, condoms, implants and inter-uterine device. Family planning is only available to married couples and both partners have to attend the consultation. The government regulations now allows young, single women of 18 years old and above for family planning through the clinic by receiving advice too. The clinic serves 21 single mothers for ante/post natal treatment.
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Brigitte carries out adult consultations for general illnesses such as malaria, diarrhoea, malnutrition and bacterial and viral infections. Her biggest challenge is that many patients do not return for follow up appointments which are booked in. She has also dealt with patients who have pneumonia and others who have suffered convulsions. She enjoys going out into the community and giving advice on how they can fight issues such as heart disease, malaria, pneumonia with good hygiene practise and a healthy diet. Obviously the advice can be given but whether or not the communities can afford the right food, and have clean water is another whole problem.
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The nurses and the communities they serve are very appreciative of the support that they receive, via CHI Nurse+, from yourselves. Your support enables them to continue the good work of healing and helping in their communities whilst showing the importance of our God who heals.
Thanks for the update. Praise God for how he is doing such good work in those communities. They do so much with so little.