Background

A fellow Christian organization has sought the support of H.O.M.E. for its projects in Sudan. This organization has been committed to holding spiritual meetings in different parts of Sudan, after which it provides free healthcare services. In this way, the attendees are touched to receive such care for free, and become more curious to find out the reason behind this sacrificial love. Because of the great medical need in most parts of Sudan resulting from years of war and famine, H.O.M.E. has seen the need to sponsor a full-time physician to accompany the teams on their medical and evangelical outreach. Most of the patients seen are extremely poor families of refugees from the war-torn South and Nubia regions. They generally live in mud houses, and lack access to electricity and other utilities. The poverty of the area is such that they have to use donkeys to bring in fresh water from distant locations and the people can not afford more than one meal a day.

Staff and Activities

The headquarters of the Christian organization is in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Ten Sudanese believers are involved in this ministry and help the spiritual project leader in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of the area. Free medical care is also provided to refugees of the surrounding regions.

The H.O.M.E.-sponsored full-time physician and his team of two other healthcare assistants see a variety of patients to whom they offer free consultations, treatment, and medications.

In addition to these local services, the same teams of spiritual leaders and medical healthcare workers travel to poor villages in different parts of Sudan, mostly in the impoverished South. Following the same approach as in their headquarter location, evangelistic and revival meetings are held, followed by free healthcare services to all the needy people.

The full-time physician also accompanies the spiritual team traveling in the mobile clinic. The mobile clinic goes out approximately every other month and stays on the road for a span of two weeks, visiting local churches in the area and working in partnership with them. During these trips, the physician sees about 50 patients each day, many of whom could not afford medical attention otherwise, and offers them his services at little to no cost. The mobile clinic is equipped with basic therapeutic and laboratory equipment.

When not serving with the spiritual leaders or on medical outreach trips, the physician also volunteers at a mission polyclinic and helps in the pediatric field. Over 25 children are treated daily and given medications free of charge.

Infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal disorders, typhoid, and rheumatic and anemic diseases, as well as more common diseases (influenza, urinary tract infections, tonsillitis, malnutrition, etc.) are the most frequent illnesses treated.

Future Plans and Current Needs

Currently, the full-time physician can only provide medications, certain drugs and basic medical attention to patients. The acquisition of more advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment would go a long way towards more effectively serving a wider range of cases.

X-ray machines, ultrasounds, general laboratory equipment and other diagnostic tools are needed. Because of the wars that leave many crippled and handicapped, supplies such as wheelchairs and crutches are needed in addition to medications. To continue sponsoring this full-time physician and equip him with the necessary tools to help as many people as possible, financial support is crucial.