UPDATE: 04-APR-2012:
Dear Everyone,
We are safely home from Liberia where we ministered for two weeks in Kakata. The hard data does not tell the misery of patients, but it is a start. The town of Kakata has a population of 83,130. God sent the perfect, wonderful team of three doctors, three nurses, two dentists, one dental assistant, one pharmacy tech, and our treasurer and children’s minister. Together we brought love and healing to nearly 1,500 people. Our host, Dr. Chris Hena, took charge of referrals for follow-up care where surgery is needed. That will take some time, but we did leave money to help make that happen. One patient came in carrying his hernia in two hands, and another needed surgery for breast cancer, but her family refused to allow it. Africa breaks your heart.
There is no dentist in Kakata, so our two dentists worked long hours pulling from nine teeth per person to one tooth. They pulled hundreds of teeth. People who have not been able to sleep because of an infected tooth were able to sleep all night again. One person had a drain out her cheek from her abcessed tooth, and many had infections which untreated contribute to the early death of so many.
The medical people were also busy every minute. They treated very sick people with infections, cardiovascular disease, UTI’s, diabetes, open wounds, and much more.
Data from nine days of clinics in Kakata, Liberia: cardiovascular: 236; PID or UTI female: 142 male: 23; muscular skeletal issues: 151; GURD 156; eye infections or irritation: 154; diabetes: 18; breathing issues: 63; fungus: 46; Malaria: 40; worms: 123; cancer, tumors: 23; hernias: 23; ear infection: 28; medical parents examined: 1,250, dental patients treated with extractions (from 1 to 9 teeth per patient): 328; total medical and dental; 1,488. Additionally, 106 persons were given worm medicine and vitamins. Total persons served: 1,585.
We treated every person for worms, and left over 100,000 abendazole tablets to be distributed in the near future. Everyone has worms which eat 30 percent of the nutrition of each person leaving children and pregnant women especially vulnerable to illness. Common complaints from patients were feeling worms moving and itchy skin. One patient was vomiting worms, and another was coughing up worms.
The next step is to buy land and build a desperately needed clinic in Kakata. Dr. Hena will train local nurses to be Community Health Workers and they will begin to teach the people how to live healthier lives. Medication is needed on a monthly basis, not just when a team arrives, and the new clinic will be able to help with that. Future teams will support the new clinic. Data from this trip shows how to plan for the services in the new clinic.
I am in awe of how much God loves the people of Africa and how much they love him. It is our business to be doing His Healing where it is most needed.
I remain very thankful for a hot shower, clean drinking water, flushing toilets, and clean food.
Yours for Healing the Sick in the Name of Jesus,
Marcella Rejoice Ruch
