United Methodist Health Volunteers:

Intermittent Treatment After Sever Malaria

2012-01-31T08:24:00.002-06:00

Most of the critical illness and the majority of deaths fromfalciparum malaria occur in young children, and to a lesser extent in pregnantwomen. When children aredischarged from the hospital after treatment of severe malaria withaccompanying anemia, they are at particularly high risk for re-infection. A recent study in Lancet (1)reported a randomized controlled trial following children who were hospitalizedfor severe malaria and received blood transfusion. When they were treated with standard doses of CoArtem(artemether-lumefantrine) or placebo at one and two months post discharge, thetreatment group showed a 30-40%decrease in recurrence of disease, hospital readmission, and death. The authors and the accompanyingeditorial recommend that this approach be considered in areas of high seasonalrates of malaria. Intermittentpreventive treatment with CoArtem has also been used successfully in pregnantwomen in high risk areas, reducing both morbidity and fetal loss. Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT)is a cost effective, relatively simple way to reduce both morbidity andmortality in these two high- risk groups. IPT should be combined with other proven preventive measures such asiron supplementation and regular use of insecticide treated bed nets.

REF: (1) Steketee, et al, Targeting of IntermittentPreventive Treatment for Malaria: Lancet Inf Diseases on line Dec 14, 2011.

Submitted by Roger Boe MD, Medical Consultant

U.M. Mobile Unit Helps Homeless Teens

2012-01-24T19:15:00.000-06:00

Friends,
This is an inspiring video of a United Methodist sponsored project in Phoenix, AZ. This group is reaching out to homeless teens through a mobile clinic. Please watch.

Community Health/Agricultural Development in Cambodia

2012-01-15T15:47:00.001-06:00

Friends:
The United Methodist Church is has a dedicated team of missionaries working to empower communities toward better food security and community health. These missionaries receive VIM teams to help assist them with their ongoing work. Please view the video below.

The 7 Most Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS)

2012-01-09T09:39:00.003-06:00

Friends,
The Global Network of Tropical Diseases has a compelling goal to improve the health of people living in poverty. Their aim is to eradicate the 7 most common tropical diseases: Ascariasis (Round-worm), Hookworm, Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchoceriasis, Shistosomiasis, Trachoma and Whip-worm. You may visit their website and read more by going to http://www.globalnetwork.org/solutions.

A Broader Community Health View for 2012

2012-01-07T21:17:00.002-06:00

Friends,
In the New Year, it is appropriate to reflect on past accomplishments and mistakes as we resolve to make the future better. As a result of personal experience and struggles, I offer the following health volunteerism resolutions for myself and all 2012 Health Volunteers:

1. Health volunteer assignments may be chosen by the volunteer but must be designed with the mission
host's and recipients' input and blessing.

2. Advanced education of a health professional from a developed country doesn't automatically qualify
that individual as an expert in an unfamiliar, impoverished area. Success is only achieved through
mutual learning.

3. Plan to leave something behind; information, a new skill, health training, educational videos. Shot-gun
outpatient therapy only lasts until the last medication wears off and re-infection occurs. Information is
power.

4. Pray for insight for yourself and for the health of your patients.

5. Youth need a healthy start in life. Prepare to educate young mothers about nutrition and children
regarding simple hygiene habits.

6. Never place duties above personal contact. The task, whether, eye surgery, neurosurgery, or hand
washing education isn't as important as establishing relationships. Trust fosters learning and collaboration.

7. Everyone has health knowledge from their culture. Be a student of traditional medicine. Some of it
may be better than western solutions.

8. Weigh medical treatment decisions carefully, considering the poor's access to follow-up care and/or
continuation of therapy after volunteers have left. Solutions must be location and culture specific.

9. Yearn to stay in touch with the community via your UM Host where you volunteer. They need to
know you care when you are absent and may have an Advance Number or an appropriate way to
receive donations for ongoing help.

10. Empowerment should be the underlying goal while working in impoverished communities.

11. Acknowledge and reward each success achieved by the recipients of your service.

12. Remember you are not in control - God is. Love others and collaborate together.

Cambodia Christmas Message

2011-12-23T16:33:00.001-06:00

Friends,Please read the Christmas message from Katherine Parker, U.M. Individual Volunteer assigned to the Community Health. And Agricultural Development (CHAD)in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We are grateful for this project and it's service to the local community.

MDs, PAs, NPs Needed for March Guatemala Trip

2011-12-18T08:01:00.002-06:00

I am a volunteer with ODIM, Organization for the Development of the

Indigenous Maya, a small organization working in San Juan La Laguna,

Guatemala. We are an advance special project of the United Methodist

Church that is hosting a medical mission team from Durango, Colorado in

March of 2012 sponsored by Durango FUMC in Durango, Colorado. The trip is led by Ruth Micikas of Durango.

Trip Date is: March 24th through April 1st, 2012

There are medical professionals signed up for the trip including RNs, Physical

Therapists, and other nonmedical volunteers. We are still in need of MDs, PAs, NPs, and possibly

a dentist to join the group so that we may be able to hold the full clinics.

The clinics include working in San Juan at our base clinic, Clinica Sanjuanerita, and working in the
rural villages for several days.

If interested, please contact:

Ashley Micikas

www.odimguatemala.org

odimguatemala@gmail.com

281-961-9952 (US) or 502-4331-6920 (Guate)

--

WHO Guidelines for Childhood Pneumonia in Developing Countries

2011-12-15T09:59:00.000-06:00

Acutepneumonia remains the leading cause of death in children throughout the world,killing 1.6 million children each year, the vast majority in developingcountries. Some 20+y years ago theWorld Health Organization developed a set of guidelines for pneumoniamanagement designed for community settings in developing countries. The aim was to reduce pneumonia relateddeaths. These guidelines werelater incorporated into the WHO Integrated Management of Childhood IllnessGuidelines., designed both for primary care and hospital based case management.

Theseguidelines call for diagnosis on the basis of three signs, cough, rapidbreathing, and lower chest in drawing or retractions. Cases are then separated into not severe, severe, and verysevere, based on the degree of difficulty. Not severe cases are treated locally by the community healthworker with either amoxicillin or co-trimoxazole. Those with severe or very severe pneumonia are referred tothe nearest health facility for treatment with injectable antibiotics. This approach does not distinguishbetween viral and bacterial causes, nor does it clearly separate pneumonia fromother causes of respiratory distress, notably bronchiolitis in infants, orcroup. Concerns overdifferentiating pneumonia from reactive airway disease (asthma) have persuadedWHO to add a trial of a bronchodilator with those children with audiblewheezing to the guidelines. Widespread use of these guidelines has created a clearer plan for thecommunity health worker. A numberof extensive studies have demonstrated a 25-50% reduction in mortality in thosethird world settings that adopt the guidelines. Some studies have shown that treatment of severe pneumoniaat home with antibiotics under the guidelines is as effective as referral tothe regional center, and resolves the often difficult problems oftransportation and follow-up.

Ref: Graham,S.M. et al. Challenges toImproving Case Management of Childhood Pneumonia at health Facilities inResource Limited Settings: BullWorld Health Org 86, May 2007

Submitted by Roger Boe MD.

Blog Notice Regarding Recruitment Announcements

2011-12-07T14:00:00.001-06:00

Please note that postings regarding team and individual recruitment needs are moved from the main page to the "Upcoming Teams" until the date of scheduled departure.

2011 Special Advent Message

2011-12-06T13:42:00.001-06:00

Mission Volunteers, teams, and individuals…thank you for all the passionate volunteer work you have been part of this year and for allowing God to use you by working with others using your amazing generosity, love, and faithfulness!

As we all know, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. Therefore allow me to encourage all Mission Volunteers to spend this Advent season to evaluate our 2011 volunteer involvement and prepare our volunteer plans for 2012.

2012 is unpredictable, but we need to remain faithful in our volunteer spirit of giving. Giving is when we first give of ourselves to make a difference in God's mission around the world.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you during this special time of the year.

Una Jones
Mission Volunteers
Assistant General Secretary

View Video on New Water Purification Method

2011-12-05T09:41:00.001-06:00

Individual Volunteer Midwife to Camphor Mission

2011-11-29T20:56:00.001-06:00

Deb is a midwife from the Detroit Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Here is how she got connected to Liberia!

When Debra and Jeremiah Johnson asked me to come to Kenya for baby #8, I opened my heart to God and said "if I get to Africa, where else would You like me to work?" Immediately, Nancy Eubanks, trainer for the longterm UMVIM program, invited me to the GBGM Ind. Vol. training in Ark. and while I was there, she told me she knew the perfect place, mentioned Kathy and Camphor Mission Station, and God connected us!

I've worked as a midwife now for over 30 years, taught ICEA (Int. Childbirth Ed. Assoc.) Prepared Childbirth classes, graduated from nursing school in '90, worked in several hospitals a total of 12 years, incorporated the Women's Health Clinic in '83, received federal N/P 501(c)3 status in '85, and over the last 6-8 years, have been exploring candidacy for ministry. That door hasn't opened, but this one did. I look forward to sharing with my sister midwives in Camphor the support and skills that I've been practicing here.

We are so excited that Deb will be at Camphor Mission from February until the end of May! Praise God for answered prayers!
Peace

CDC Cholera Prevention Materials for Haiti

2011-11-17T14:55:00.001-06:00

The CDC has just published cholera prevention manuals for use by local community health workers in Haiti. The manual is available in English, French and Haitian Creole and is on-line at www.cdc.gov/cholera/materials.html. Direct links to the English and Creole versions can also be found at the end of this posting.

The manual covers prevention topics such as hand-washing, oral rehydration solution and safe drinking water. It also features decisions related to caring for those who are stricken. There is a section of community education cards and low literacy posters. An optional power-point presentation is available, if needed.

http://www.cdc.gov/cholera/pdf/chw_trainingmaterialsforcholera_v2.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/cholera/pdf/chw_trainingmaterialsforcholera_creole_v2.pdf

Alabama Honduran Medical Education Network - SEJ

2011-11-09T10:55:00.001-06:00

Fourteen years ago a group of twelve from Jasper, Alabama traveled to Limon, Honduras to serve as short-term mission volunteers. Each year following that trip, the team grew exponentially. Eventually the first team broke into many teams. The group incorporated into Alabama Honduran Medical Education Network (AHMEN), serving under the auspices of UMVIM. This year thirteen teams served. They are estimating over 15 teams will be serving in 2012.

Each team has a general medical component, as that is the basic tenant from which they operate. However, their reach has expanded to eye care, dental services, sewing and woodworking schools, a refuge home for at-risk teenage girls, many feeding kitchens for orphans and widows, a program to supply shoes to children, the creation of fifteen libraries, the construction of schools and community centers, veterinarian services, and most recently clean-water efforts through bio-sand filtration systems.

AHMEN is now collaborating with Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT) on an initiative to train community health agents in issues of empowerment, environment and economy. Dr. Byron Morales is directing over fifty community agents who have committed to three years of quarterly workshops. Examples of the types of workshops include: vision testing, clean water and the prevention of parasites, importance of checking blood pressure and maintaining good health practices, and safety of children
(Excerpt from SEJ Newsletter)

A NEW MALARIA VACCINE: HOPES FOR SUCCESS

2011-11-07T08:31:00.002-06:00

In spite of years of effort, andworldwide investment of billions of dollars, malaria remains a terriblescourge, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Preventive efforts such as treated bed nets and availabilityof safe effective treatment with Artemisinin have somewhat reduced theincidence of clinical disease and mortality. Most recent statistics from the World Health Organization,however, show an annual incidence of 225 million cases and 817,000 deaths,mainly in young African children. For years many experts have recognized that real reductions in incidenceand mortality will require an effective vaccine, but up to now efforts havebeen stymied by the complex life cycle of the malaria parasite. Another factor that increases theurgency for vaccine development is the appearance of resistance to Artemisininin rural areas of Southeast Asia. If that resistance pattern spreads, we will be deprived of the use ourcurrent first line treatment.

Preliminary results of the firstsuccessful large scale vaccine trial have just been released. The RTS.S vaccine shows a 55%protection rate against all malaria episodes in vaccinated African children,and a 35% reduction in cases of severe malaria. Although these results are preliminary, and the success rateis lower that what is achieved currently with vaccines for other diseases,these results are by far the most encouraging ever achieved for a malariavaccine. An excellent New EnglandJournal of Medicine editorial points out that the success of the vaccine willdepend not only on efficacy and safety, but also “on ongoing efforts to makethe vaccine widely available and affordable where it is most needed.”( 2)

Ref:

1. RTS.S. Clinical Trials Partnership: First Results of Phase 3 Trial of RTS,S/ASO1 Malaria Vaccine in African Children. NEJM2011: 1056-65.

2. Rosenbaum,L. A New Tool for MalariaPrevention? A Malaria Vaccine witha Good Shot: NEM 2011blogs.nejm.org.

Submitted by Roger Boe MD.

Camphor Mission Continues Health Projects

2011-10-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

Three UMVIM teams are being organized to travel to Camphor Mission Station! We are taking over 20 people from 4 Conference (East Ohio, Detroit, Texas, and New York) and 14 local churches.
We hope to:
build new relationships and strengthen old ones,
work with the people in Liberia to paint a mural of the world on the school wall, work with Traditional Birth Attendants,
complete the construction on the 3rd unit of the guesthouse,
participate in girl's health education, train a Liberian Librarian,
work with the agriculture staff, tutor students, train teachers, dig at least 8 new water wells in villages without a clean water source,
and more!
We are ambitious but we are empowered by the holy spirit! Who knows what we can accomplish!

Cambodia Community Health Appeal

2011-10-20T09:50:00.001-05:00

Thank you to so many of you who have supported me and the mission here in Cambodia in the past through financial donations at Christmas time. This year you have an opportunity to help spread the word and give others a chance to “buy a cow” in honor of a friend or loved one as an alternative to a material gift. It might seem early, but now is the time to start planning. Would you consider hosting an Alternative Giving Bazaar with your church, UMW unit or other group?

Available now for download on the CHAD program blog is everything that you will need in order to set up and host a bazaar. Check out the post “A Coordinators Guide” to get an overview of what this entails (a more detailed guide will be up later today). There is a catalog to learn about different gift choices, Powerpoint slides to use during worship, bulletin inserts with a space to customize to your local group/church, posters, order forms with how to correctly designate gifts, and greeting card inserts to explain to your loved one about the gift they are receiving all available for download.

Contact me and Amanda King (use altgiving.mmc@gmail.com) with questions, for information or for affordable recommendations about how to print the catalog and other materials.

We work in partnership with The Advance, the designated giving arm of the United Methodist Church. They cover all of the administrative and banking fees in order to ensure that 100% of your gift reaches us here in Cambodia in order to facilitate these ministries. (Ask me if you want to know more about how to track gifts and financial accountability.) But it is about more than money – it is about partnership and communication. Get everyone involved such as by asking the Sunday School kids make hand-made cards to go with each gift.

Please do write back and let us know what you are doing or if there are any additional pieces of information that would be helpful. Don’t forget that there are quite a few videos on our YouTube channel: mmcambodia that tell the story of how your gifts are impacting lives here in Cambodia.

Also up on the CHAD program blog today is information about how you can help with the relief effort for the flooding along the Mekong. I've posted several personal reflections on my own blog recently as well.

New Resource for Medical Missions

2011-10-17T19:02:00.000-05:00

From: Wally Calaway

I was at Resurrection UMC for a mission fair recently and met a representative of Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach. I had never heard of this organization and thought that it might be a good resource for you to know about. This NGO collects hospital supplies from Chicago Hospitals and ships them to clinic in other countries. While they are connected with the Roman Catholic Church, I was told that this is only a marginal connection and that they work with many church and non-church groups. I was also told that a VIM mission trip going to another country could go to their warehouse and pick up medical supplies to transport with them. Also, a clinic or hospital in another country could register with them and get access to their inventory. The clinic could then fill out a shopping list and have the equipment shipped to them. All of this seemed very interesting to me and thought that I should share it in case others were unaware of this organization.

Thank-you Wally!

Twenty-One Individual Volunteers Trained in Boston

2011-10-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

Individual Volunteers & Staff

Class Met at Rolling Ridge Retreat

Twenty-one people, seeking to become United Methodist Individual Volunteers met in Boston October 6-9th for an intensive training session and to learn about possible mission assignments. The group was facilitated by GBGM Mission Volunteers Staff, Una Jones, General Secretary; Malcolm Frazier Executive Secretary and Nancy Eubanks, Individual Volunteer Consultant, Virginia Bell and Jane Dunn. Training sessions are held each quarter in different geographic locations throughout the United States. For more information about joining this program contact:
Nancy Eubanks
Consultant, Individual Volunteer Program
426 Eubanks Rd.
Brownsville, TN 38012
Tel (731) 772-0458
Fax ( 731) 779 9123
E-mail: Indvols@gbgm-umc.org

Medical Appeal in Costa Rica

2011-10-12T19:05:00.000-05:00

Rice And Beans Ministry is another Advance Special (#3021052) and UMVIM work site in Costa Rica and has approval from the ministry of health to work in medical and dental missions in Costa Rica. They have a Doctor, a nurse and a translator working together in the clinics and hospitals along with the local medical commuity also we can serve in the indigent communities. They have had success working with the local medical teams by building relationships that are long lasting. The Medical teams from the USA have been able to help with education opportunities for the Local Medical teams. We need the current license and the education certificates at least 90 days in advance of a team coming. Visit the Rica and Beans Ministry's website or contact Fred Curry, director.

Haiti Grace Children's Hospital Seeks Help

2011-10-05T15:35:00.002-05:00

Supporters of Grace Children's Hospital in Haiti are requesting that volunteers make personal health kits, birthing kits and cloth diapers for use in their hospital. The need is great and many of these items are used every day.

If you or your group would like to take on such a project, please refer to the instructions for making these kits in this blog's left-hand column. Select the item's page and click on it to obtain the information.

Important Message from Kingsway Charities

2011-09-30T13:01:00.000-05:00

For over 18 years, Kingsway Charities International Medical Missions has been blessed to provide almost
2 billion dollars worth of medications & medical supplies. We have been able to provide them,
completely free of charge, to medical mission teams traveling throughout the world. We are humbled about
this milestone and look forward to the progression of our charity for many years to come.

Due to current economic conditions, beginning October 1, 2011, Kingsway Charities will implement a
minimal fee for each order in an effort to recover a portion of shipping expenses. There will be a $25
processing fee, per trip request, and a shipping & handling fee of 0.5% (½%) of the AWP
(Average Wholesale Price) of the total shipment value. This fee will be paid via credit card upon the
placement of your order.

Mission teams interested in receiving container shipments must call for the fee schedule applied to that type
of order. For more information, contact Kingsway Charities International Medical Missions at (276)466-3014
or (800)321-9234 or visit our website atwww.kingswaycharities.org.

We look forward to working together with you, sharing God's love and compassion, by improving the lives
of suffering people in third-world countries.

Kingsway Charities
1119 Commonwealth Ave
Bristol, Va. 24201
1-800-321-9234
1-276-466-3014

Lake Titicaca Border Mission Needs Help

2011-09-22T08:45:00.003-05:00

From the High Andean LakeTiticaca region of western Bolivia and southern Peru: ¡Kamasaki! Aymara, the local indigenous language,for hello, how are you. We survived the Andean winter (here, that’s Junethrough August). We are fully settled into our home, and we’re ready forvolunteers and mission teams. As site hosts and coordinators of the LakeTiticaca Border Mission, the people here need your help …

This is the poorest region in Bolivia, which is the poorestnation in South America. Most indigenous people here survive on less than $2 aday, growing corn and potatoes. A few can afford to buy rice and pasta -- morecarbs. But virtually no one can afford an adequate balance of fruit, vegetablesand protein. A woman inher mid-20’s told us, “Even if I could afford (vegetables and protein), I onlyknow how to cook corn, rice, and potatoes.”

Recently, we met with local Bolivian leaders andresidents to learn about their needs, and how the Border Mission can help,sustainably. Once we get our Bolivian work visas, we’ll be able to visit andassess Peru communities, too. Watch for an update coming soon!

We welcome Marion Stafford,an UMVIM volunteer from Michigan, who will be working with us for three months!Welcome/Bienvenidos, Marion!

People here need hands-on help from individual volunteers, small groups,and teams. Please read the Project Profile below, and others, with photos, onour newly expanded web site, www.misionfronteras.com.Let us know which projects interest you. We can help with travel arrangements, lodging, budgets, insurance, etc.

Copacabana, one ofseveral Bolivian sites; health-related needs:

In this entire region, only a small hospital in Copaprovides “health services.” It’s staffed solely by unsupervised medical internsfrom Cuba who admit to knowing little or nothing aboutdiagnosis and treatment. Localsuse it as a last resort. Instead, familiestend their own, using natural medicines or an herbalistor witch doctor. A gravely ill or injured person mightattempt the 3-hour bus trip to La Paz, if the family can afford the $2.20 fare.

Rural Bolivian communities have a high and rising medianage. Young adults tend to pursue a more lucrative life in biggercities, or other countries. The elders, called “anciens,” have little or noeducation, few if any marketable skills, they speak only Aymara, no Spanish;and many are too old and stooped for farm work. Some anciens depend on the community forshelter, and on the church for food.

Mission Projects inCopacabana, Bolivia

Resident and visiting seniors and district residents want to learn about nutrition (the seniors, virtually all malnourished, count this a priority).
Basic and specialized training of Promotores de Buena Salud (Promoters of Good Health). These volunteers complete a Border Mission-sponsored, certified training in basic hygiene, preventive public health practices, and basic health and medical care, with the promise to train and serve others in their communities.
Occasional, but critically needed vision, hearing, dental, and basic medical clinics provided by visiting U.S. mission teams. (Ideally, teams will bring or send eyeglasses, hearing aids, toothbrushes, or medications.)

To learn more, please email us at jeffandeb@gmail.com, visit our website atwww.misionfronteras.com or www.advancinghope.org project number 3021288.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

2011-09-15T09:33:00.002-05:00

NEW MEMBER OF GBGM MISSION VOLUNTEERS STAFF
(Courtesy of SW Jurisdiction Newsletter)

We welcome Rev. Dr. Malcolm Frazier as Executive Secretary in the Mission Volunteers/GBGM. He will be managing the Individual Volunteer and Primetimers programs as well as other mission volunteer programs. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Frazier is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Prior to joining the Mission Volunteers staff at the General Board of Global Ministries, he served as the Director of the Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and as Associate Pastor at Asbury UMC in D.C.

Malcolm is also an adjunct faculty member at Wesley Theological Seminary. Malcolm transitioned into full-time ministry in 2000 after having worked for twenty-five years at Hewlett-Packard Company in Rockville, Md., and Rosslyn, Virginia. On the Baltimore-Washington Conference level he has served in the areas of youth ministry, children and poverty, volunteers-in-mission and the Board of Ordained Ministry. Having a heart for mission, Malcolm has led and participated in numerous domestic and international experiences. He is a board member for Beyond Borders, a non-profit organization that works on the behalf of Haiti.

RESOURCE BROCHURE AVAILABLE (NEW) An updated brochure of “Find where you connect in Mission Volunteers” has been printed and is available through Cokesbury. Updated contacts jurisdictional offices are included in this update. Stock number #528545. Website: http://gbgm-umc.org/e-store.

NORTHEAST FLOODING

2011-09-15T09:13:00.001-05:00

Note: Disaster Response Information will move to "Pages" in left column of blog 1 week after posting

From Greg Forrester-Director of UMVIM for the Northeastern Jurisdiction: “As you are all aware, disastrous flooding struck the Northeast in the form of Hurricane Irene. I joined one of our ERT teams assisting in mudding out homes in the Schoharie and Middleburgh areas of New York. On Wednesday - we were asked to evacuate due to the rains brought by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. The resulting floods have spread water into cities across New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and New Jersey. Our neighbors are in dire need of your help. As the flood waters recede, we will need you to help neighbors and friends recover. Please prepare yourselves by getting informed as to the proper means of cleaning and sanitizing homes damaged by flood waters. I worked with UMCOM to put together a website to access the information for Cleanup kits and also videos explaining the mudding out process. You can find them by going to this link:

http://www.rethinkchurch.org/article/weekend-help-flood-recovery?fbu=1184247293

The current flooding disasters in the Northeast

will have that same effect on so many families for the coming years. It is our obligation to be a Christian witness to them—reaching out and offering support where we can.” If you would like to make a donation to UMCOR please use Advance #901670 and designate your giving as “Hurricanes 2011”. See: http://www.rethinkchurch.org/article/weekend-help-flood-recovery?fbu=1184247293

CENTRAL TEXAS WILDFIRES

2011-09-15T09:04:00.001-05:00

NOTE: Disaster Relief Information will move to the "Pages" section in left column after 1 week

A note from Bishop Jim Dorff of the Southwest Texas Conference: "The central Texas fires have been devastating to several of our communities and church families. The communities of Bastrop, Cedar Creek, and the Steiner housing development in Austin have been particularly devastated. We are deeply grateful for the prayers and other expressions of support. Our churches and pastors are hard at work providing shelter and support for those left homeless. Our God is present in these communities and renewal will occur." If you would like to make a donation to UMCOR please use Advance

#901670 and designate your giving as “Texas Wildfires”.

UMCOR has issued a press release on the major wildfire in Bastrop County, Texas. It may be found at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives2011/fightingfires/ . Southwest Texas Disaster Response Coordinator Gene Hileman has issued a call for ERTs to help in response to the Bastrop complex wildfire, in Bastrop County, TX just east of Austin. See this link to register as an ERT or ERT Team http://www.umcswtx.org/wildfire-response-registration.You will be contacted with further information and protocols. For updates from the Southwest Texas Conference on the wildfires, see the following link:

http://www.umcswtx.org/umc-disaster-response.html

UMCOR West Depot Seeks Help With Emergency Kits

2011-09-05T10:40:00.000-05:00

On May 31, UMCOR West Office and Depot celebrated its second anniversary. During these two years, groups from all over the United States have come to the depot to volunteer for a week at a time to build disaster relief kits. The kits are then sent all over the world to the most vulnerable populations. This spring and summer, UMCOR West has welcomed record numbers of volunteers, our facility will be filled to capacity until the middle of November. In short, this new ministry here, in the Western Jurisdiction of the UMC, is booming beyond expectation.

With this increase in volunteerism comes a unique problem; namely, our supplies for building UMCOR disaster relief kits are quickly disappearing. It should be noted that all of our supplies come from the generosity of ordinary United Methodists in churches across the country. These supplies are collected at local churches and sent to us at UMCOR West. Congregation members may also give to Advance # 901440, which allows both UMCOR West Office and Depot and UMCOR Sager Brown to buy in bulk.

Please consider helping UMCOR West further our efforts by sending completed kits and partial kits to us at UMCOR WEST, 1479 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT, 84104 or, by supporting our purchasing of supplies by using the Advance #901440 at advancinghope.org. Currently, we are in need of School Kits, Health Kits, and Layette Kits. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

Note: If you are interested in scheduling an UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Team) to serve at UMCOR Depot West, contact your UMVIM Annual Conference Coordinator.

ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN CHILDREN WITH DIARRHEA

2011-08-20T18:19:00.000-05:00

Acute diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of death in children throughout the world. Nearly two million children die each year, mainly in developing countries. Half of these deaths are exacerbated by acute and chronic malnutrition. We need to look no further than our TV screen to see the dire effects of this lethal combination unfolding in Somalia and Sudan. In recent years a multitude of studies have shown a substantial benefit of zinc supplementation in reducing severity, duration and mortality in infants and children with diarrheal disease. This benefit is most marked in areas where on-going zinc deficiency is prevalent. Some localities report an incidence of 75% or greater. Contributing factors include inadequate dietary intake, excessive losses because of diarrhea, and decreased intestinal uptake of zinc, usually caused by chronic diarrhea.

Zinc deficiency causes a destabilization of cell membranes and disrupts the mucosal lining of the intestinal tract. This effect increases the severity and duration of diarrhea. Zinc deficiency also causes impairment of immune function and a delay in wound healing. Chronic deficiency can also cause a stunting of growth.

On the basis of many studies over the past decade, the World Health Organization has recommended that a supplement of zinc be administered to every infant and child with acute or chronic diarrhea who is at risk for zinc deficiency. The dose is 10-20 mg of elemental zinc (usually given as zinc sulfate or acetate), once or twice daily for the duration of the diarrhea.

Administration is particularly critical if the child is malnourished. Occasional increase in vomiting is the only observed side effect. Zinc sulfate is widely available in liquid or tablets, and is very inexpensive. (1) Some question has arisen as to whether infants under 6 months of age, in particular those who are exclusively breast-fed, will benefit from zinc supplementation. Breast milk is a reliable source of dietary zinc, but may not be enough to counter the increased losses associated with diarrhea. (2). A recent WHO report showed a definite benefit of zinc in infants from 2-6 months of age, and recommends its routine use in this age group. (1)

The evidence is overwhelming that administration of zinc should be a routine component of treatment for children with diarrhea in developing countries.

Ref:

Mazunder et. Al. Effectiveness of Zinc Supplementation plus Oral Rehydration Salts for Infants Aged Less Than Six Months in Haryana State India. Bull WHO 88:754, 2010.
Fischer Walker, C et. Al. Zinc Supplementation for the Treatment of Diarrhea in Infants in Pakistan, India and Ethiopia. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 43:357, 2006.

Submitted by Roger Boe MD

Health Volunteers Needed in Mexico

2011-08-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

Willie Berman, GBGM Missionary to Mexico speaks to the North Central Jurisdiction Round-up held in Indiana August 12-14th. He is comparing the 40 days of waiting that the Philistines and Hebrew armies waited before taking action to the waiting that is occurring as the poor in Mexico wait for volunteers to come.

St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis Announces Trip to Sierra Leone

2011-08-16T08:54:00.003-05:00

Marilyn and Don Griffith invite volunteers to join them on a mission trip to Kissy Hospital in Sierra Leone, Africa. There are two trip segments. The first group will go from January 14-28, 2012 and the second volunteer period extends from January 28-February 11, 2012. International travel is from Indianapolis, IN

Opportunities/Needs:

Aid Kissy hospital staff with administrative skill development
Help local staff with maintenance projects
Provide direct patient care

Volunteers on January 28-Feb. 11 trip can also volunteer on a primary education project that includes:

language arts
library science

Cost:

$3500 all inclusive except for travel clinic fees, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis & airport meals

A sample letter to assist you with fundraising requesting tax deductible gift to help with your costs will be provided.

For more information contact:

Don Griffith at drdongriffith@aol.com or Sue Phillips at suejulin@aol.com.

Health Volunteers Needed in the Congo

2011-08-14T15:21:00.024-05:00

For more information you can contact Rukang at Rchikomb23@gmail.com. You may contribute to two different projects in remote Congo through the United Methodist Advance. Project # 08596A supports Southern Congo Wings of the Morning, which flies the isolated poor to health facilities. Project #14959Z provides salaries for on-site missionaries.

North Central Jurisdiction Holds UMVIM Round-Up

2011-08-14T15:13:00.001-05:00

Rukang Chikomb, GBGM Missionary

David Malloy, Annual Conference Advance Liaison

The quadrennial UMVIM "Round-Up 2011" entitled, "Real Situations/Real Connections/Real Faith at Work" was held August 12-14 at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Indiana. About 80 attendees gathered to hear a variety of Plenary speakers that included Rev. Lekisha Reed, Indiana; Rev. Willie Berman, Mexico, Rev. Ed Kail, Iowa and Jane Dunn, Illinois who spoke on "Models of Community Health".

Workshops were led on spiritual formation, disaster relief, UMVIM leader training, volunteer needs in Senegal, Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo, Poland, Camphor Mission and Operation Classroom in Liberia, . Topics on Haiti response plan, homes for Haitians and Haiti Solar Oven Project and UMVIM packing were also shared. In addition to the on-site presenters, plenary conversations were held via skype with Becky Harrell, GBGM Missionary in Costa Rica and Tom Heaton, Indiana Missionary in Guatemala. On Sunday, Rev. Bert Kite impersonated John Wesley at the morning worship service.

This blog will highlight details of health related needs expressed at this conference. Please look for upcoming postings about opportunities in Mexico, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Community Health Excerpts from Dickriedes' Mission Report

2011-08-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

Rev. Kathy and Dr. Danny Dickriede were able to host two UMVIM teams at the Camphor Mission Station.

Team 1 consisted of 10 people from Gay Street, Mt. Vernon, Mentor UMC, Main Street Mansfield and one from the Peoria UMC in IGRC. June 25-July 10, 2011

Clinic: painted Maternal Child Heath Ward, participated in Traditional Birth Attendant training and taught about a water filter system, delivered a baby and participated in a second complicated delivery, traveled with vaccination team for National Polio vaccination campaign. 5 people donated blood to save the life of a local village woman who underwent surgery at the government hospital after laboring in the village and being carried into the Camphor clinic on a hammock with a ruptured uterus.

Mission: whole staff team building workshop, unloaded 20 foot container

Team 2 consisted of 6 people from Mentor UMC, Solon UMC, and Faith UMC, North Canton. July 10-July 25, 2011

Clinic: Tiled the OB and Maternal Health Ward, hung baby scale, visited a newborn baby

Guesthouse: experimented with solar panels, organized a safe and lock box, secured guesthouse, organized interior and exterior clotheslines

The team also visited LAC, the surrounding villages at Camphor and Jordan’s water wells, Buchanan, Annual Conference devotions with Bishop Innis, experienced a boat ride to the chimpanzees in Marshall, and traveled all over Monrovia; West Point, Waterside, Golden Beach, and more.

Harrisburg St. John UMC, Farmer to Farmer Ministry Team 2 visited the area where the Farmer to Farmer Ministry intends to send a 20 foot container of agricultural tools. The team was able see the St. John UMC and the repairs needed on the church building. We were able to visit the destroyed hydroelectric dam. We also met Theo Bass and the community members at their monthly development meeting.

Mentor UMC 20 foot container arrived When we arrived at Camphor Mission on Sunday, June 26 and met the container still on the semi truck that it arrived on Friday, June 24^th. We were blessed with two strong teams who were able to unload and disperse the donated items to their proper destinations. Keys were turned over to the 20 foot container that was sent in November 2010. The mission station will manage and distribute the school supplies and over 300 backpacks that are being stored there.

Lifewater Well Peoria UMC funded the drilling of a borehole in February 2010. We found the well dry when we returned in January 2011. Lifewater returned for an inspection and assures us that the borehole will be operational soon.

Pathfinder Vehicle Repair Nissan Pathfinder has been parked and in need of repair since April. Car parts were sent on the container. New battery purchased. It is an ongoing struggle to manage the vehicle so that it is used for its intended purpose, clinic medical emergencies.

Maternal Health Ward Tied in plumbing in the bathroom and finished the shower.

ROTAVIRUS: IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW VACCINE PROGRAM IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

2011-08-05T09:56:00.001-05:00

On July 18^th, just two weeks ago, the first doses of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine were given to thousands of young children in Northern Sudan. Under the direction of GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, plans are underway to introduce the vaccine in more than 40 countries by 2015, including the six Sub-Saharan countries with the highest mortality from rotoviral disease.

Rotavirus infections are the most common cause of diarrhea in young children throughout the world, resulting in over 500,000 deaths each year, mostly in developing countries. Rotavirus gastroenteritis causes more deaths in children each year than HIV, malaria and measles combined. Transmission is by the fecal-oral route. Treatment is supportive, and consists of re-hydration fluids and more recently by zinc supplementation. Preventive measures include improved sanitation, provision of safe water, and better hand washing. The most effective intervention, and the best hope for preventing the severe complications of rotavirus infection, however, is vaccination. Rotavirus vaccine is currently part of routine immunization in infants throughout the USA and Europe. Multiple trials that have taken place in Malawi, Mali and Kenya, and administration on a large scale in India and South Africa have shown a 50-70% reduction in severe cases of rotavirus diarrhea. This experience has prompted the World Health Organization to recommend widespread administration in all developing countries.

Although there were initially some concerns about the association in early vaccine trials with an increased incidence of intussusception, this problem has not recurred after subsequent modification of the vaccine.

The widespread implementation of the GAVI Rotavirus Initiative has largely been enabled by an offer from Glaxo Pharmaceuticals to furnish 125 million doses of rotavirus vaccine at a 95% reduction in price.

How exciting it is for us to consider that, at this very moment, low cost vaccines are being distributed throughout developing countries that are effective against rotavirus diarrhea and also against pneumococcal pneumonia, worldwide the two leading causes of death in young children.

Submitted by Roger Boe MD

Iquitos, Peru Amazon Mission

2011-08-02T18:14:00.000-05:00

Hello Mission Friends,

The United Methodist Church Wisconsin Conference, International Volunteers in Mission will be taking part in a Women’s Health Project near Iquitos, Peru. The team will be working with DB Peru, a non-profit organization that focuses on health care and education in the Peruvian Amazon jungle. Please see the website: http://www.dbperuong.com/

Mission Dates: February 23^rd to March 8^th, 2012. The first 8 days of this mission will focus on the villages along the Napo River near Iquitos, Peru. We will arrive Friday, February 24^th and return to Lima Saturday, March 3^rd. For the second part of the mission, March 5^th to 7^th, we will be working in the outer area of Lima serving clinics and providing health education for those that have limited health care. (More information will be announced later.) Travel to Machu Picchu or other places of interest is optional.

Team Size: 15-18 (2 to 4 medical doctors: OB/GYN, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners (midwives, OB and pediatric) and family practitioners. RNs are needed for health education and assisting the doctors. We will need translators (Spanish and an indigenous language is spoken in the Amazon).

We will be working with the local medical staff and the Health and Welfare Ministry of Peru. Non-medical helpers are also needed to assist the medical staff. The Amazon mission will be moderately strenuous.

Costs of the mission: Estimated costs per person are approximately $2,200.

We are collecting “gently” used or new bras for the women in the Amazon. We will also accept new underwear for men, women and children. Sunglasses and reading glasses will also be accepted for our mission.

Please contact: Judy Bruun, IVIM leader and Individual Volunteer in Mission for Peru. Email: jbruun6507@gmail.com or cell: 414-530-1448. Our team is limited, so please email or call me to confim a place on the team.

Registration for this mission is through the Wisconsin Conference IVIM. To register, please send $100 (non-refundable) to the IVIM Wis. Conf. Treasurer: Karen Sandstrom; 2581 Bluff Road; Baileys Harbor, WI 54202. Make check out to: WI Conf. IVIM- Peru Mission

Paperwork will be sent to you after you register. Please fill out and return to me by November 1st: Judy Bruun; 14271 Waters Edge Trl.; New Berlin, WI 53151

Please give this mission some prayerful thought and consider joining us. You will experience the wonders of the Amazon and its’ people. You will share your time and talents with those in need and enjoy the benefits of knowing and better understanding your neighbors.

Blessings,

Judy Bruun

Individual Volunteer in Peru

Mission Volunteers Unit of the

General Board of Global Ministries

United Methodist Church

Wisconsin Conference

Jbruun6507@gmail.com

Highland Park Youth Partner with 4 Corners Community Health Project

2011-07-30T21:04:00.000-05:00

Sixty youth from the Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas have just completed two weeks of service in Puerta Viejo, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. While there, the youth dug ditches, poured concrete and laid blocks in the construction of an outpatient health facility.

Health Promoter with Lilliana

The health facility is part of a mission initiative from St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas named "4 Corners Global Outreach, Inc.", a 501c3 non-profit which works to partner with Methodist Churches and local impoverished communities to plant heath facilities, support economic ventures and educate local community health workers. The project in Costa Rica represents the first such partnership.

Rev. Janet Collinsworth of St. Andrews is spearheading the Costa Rican project, which has grown and exceeded timeline expectations. The Costa Rican project administrator is Lilliana Rojas an RN. On July 30, 2011, a group of St. Andrew volunteers will arrive to continue working on construction. Lilliana, Rev. Collinsworth and Jane Dunn RN, MS, GBGM Health Consultant will begin initiation of a Health Promoter Training Course on August 1st.

Youth Helps with Health Assessment

Living Water...

2011-07-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

A story from Irene Mparutsa, GBGM-UMC Missionary, Cambodia

July, 2011

Oum Pak

The Samaritan woman at the well gives the stranger a drink of water and in return she receives the Living Water; freed from bondage, she is the one who proclaims the Christ, the coming of the Kingdom.

Last month, we went to Kampong Thom Province (3 hours north of Phnom Penh, in the interior of Cambodia), to see people who had come to the HIV/AIDS workshop held last October. Oum Pak, one of the participants shared her testimony:

“When I returned from the workshop to my church, I shared what I had learned. I told them how AIDS is not spread. I told them that we cannot catch AIDS by touching people or by sharing food. I told them that it is ok to live together with people with AIDS. Before I went to the workshop, I could not tell anyone that my husband had died of AIDS and that I and my two children are HIV positive; I was afraid that people would not like me. Now my two children and I get monthly HIV medicines at the Kampong Thom Provincial Hospital. World Vision helps us with transportation money to go to the hospital, organizes a support group we go to and gives us school fees so my children can go to school. My life has changed; I find that people are loving and caring; I have hope and I can bring hope to others.”

Like the woman at the well, Pak has received the Living Water. She has gained new freedom, a new life for her and her family. She is becoming a leader in her community; she leads a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS. Like the Samaritan woman, she could not keep the Good News to herself either; she had to share it with her family, her church, others in her village sick with HIV/AIDS, everybody!

This story tells why I am passionate about community-based health care ministries: It shows how we helped just this one Pak and she is going out and helping these many others.

This understanding that we women have in UMW about multiplying our gifts by all working together is one of our great strengths, I think; and Pak shows us practically how our gifts of prayers and support are taken and given over and over throughout a village.

Community Based Health Training Program in Mexico

2011-07-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

For an update on a community health training program that operates in south central Mexico, please visit "Favorite Links" and select "south central Mexico community health". The course is taught in three parts over a period of 18 months. Similar programs are in existence in Guatemala, Senegal, the Colonia area on the Texas/Mexico border and in Panama.

Aid for East Africa Drought Crisis

2011-07-19T15:19:00.002-05:00

UMCOR is advising against UMVIM teams entering the drought area in East Africa (Kenya/Somalia) at this time. Melissa Crutchfield, Assistant General Secretary, International Disaster Response offers the following comment regarding the United Methodist response at the time.

"UMCOR is working through partners in Somalia to address the drought crisis. We have worked with/through the Methodist Church in Kenya (MCK) and the East Africa Annual Conference of UMC in Kenya in the past for numerous relief efforts. I would strongly advise against any UMVIM teams going to this particular area right now in response to the refugee crisis. I do not think it is appropriate in this circumstance to facilitate UMVIM teams going over at this time. We will continue to work with local partners.

Thanks,
Melissa Crutchfield

Assistant General Secretary, International Disaster Response

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)

Note-July 22nd: the United Methodist News Service (UMNS) reported that "....UMCOR is planning with partner organizations a regional response to the growing famine provoked by the severe drought in the Horn of AfrIca. The affected Countries incLude Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti".

Mission to Maua

2011-07-16T07:44:00.000-05:00

As most of you are aware, most of my writing for the Health Care Blog has been about medical diseases and treatment. This time I want to relate a personal experience. My wife Donna and I served as volunteers this May and June at Maua Methodist hospital in Kenya. We participated under the auspices of the Individual Volunteer Program Area of the UMC Board of Global Ministries. Maua Hospital was founded by the British Methodist Church in 1928. The hospital serves a largely rural population of nearly a million in the Kenyan Central Highlands. As you might imagine, the 280 bed hospital is incredibly busy, with 12,000 admissions, 3000 deliveries, and 100,000 outpatient visits per year. In addition they support a variety of outreach programs, including dispensaries, and programs for palliative care and for AIDS orphans. A long-standing School of Nursing, a new intern program and training for clinical officers (like our PAs), provide many opportunities for teaching and training. With the exception of four long time missionaries, two from the US and two from Britain, all of the medical and nursing staff are Kenyan.

When I decided to go to Maua I was faced with a dilemma. How can I best help the hospital mission during my two-month stay? The answer came when the UN and the World Health Organization cited the continued high neonatal mortality in Sub Saharan Africa, a finding that has caused a flurry of articles in major medical journals, and a concerted effort by a number of organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics to address the issue. I decided to devote my major efforts toward teaching newborn resuscitation skills. The problem was that I had not done any newborn care for 20 years. I took several workshops and carefully prepared how I was going to teach. Using small, hands on sessions, everyone had a chance to practice their skills. One session bore fruit within a week when 2 interns expertly and successfully resuscitated an apneic premature infant.

The pediatric ward at Maua was crowded and often chaotic, filled with acute pneumonias, meningitis, malnutrition and malaria, mixed in with conditions that would challenge the expertise of a US tertiary medical center. I was able to serve both as a pediatric consultant, and do a lot of one on one teaching with the interns. The nursery facility was quite primitive by our standards, and at times their capacity to care for sick newborns and premature infants was exceeded.

My wife Donna has no health care training, but she found her niche by participating in some of the many outreach programs supported by the hospital.

We were impressed with the ability of the hospital staff to accomplish miracles of care in the face of severe financial constraints, critical shortage of nurses, antiquated equipment, and limited labs. It was an inspiration and a pleasure to work with them. I certainly learned a lot about acute care tropical pediatrics. In turn, I believe that I was able to help them make some improvements in the care of sick newborns. Donna is prepared to be an advocate for several of Maua Hospital’s outreach programs. Throughout our stay we participated in the many worship opportunities that the hospital provides, and felt guided by the presence of the Spirit in our lives and work.

We can highly recommend Maua in terms of the facility, the provided housing, and the quality of the experience. Their rapidly expanding education program for nurses, interns and clinical officers, and the projected affiliation with an area medical school will provide many opportunities for teaching. The hospital staff is very supportive of volunteer physicians who are willing to teach and consult, particularly in specialty areas.

For more information on Maua, the hospital website is mckmauahospital.org. We have written a blog about our experience, mission2maua.blogspot.com. You may contact us for further information at boeroger@cableone.net, or call us at 208 233 5651.

Roger and Donna Boe

Senegal Wellness Activities Continue

2011-07-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Excerpts from the Senegal Mission Newsletter:

Dr. Bashir leads wellness visits to villages

Village Consultations, are most visible. The wellness team brings medicine and clothes as part of the Wellness Team activities.

News Tidbits:

 We have 19 UMC in Senegal now

 A wellness mission team from Texas visited in May, led by Dr Linda Hearne

 Dr Bashir continues the community health nurse program, inspired by training from Dr.

Carol Meynen's teaching team.

Send your help to Advance #12594A with a designation of which goal you want to support. Check payable to “Advance GCFA” sent to Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068 Thanks for your help!

Hesperian Releases Mobile Device Health Teaching

2011-07-06T14:06:00.001-05:00

Michigan's VINA Community Dental Clinic - Unique!

2011-07-05T19:53:00.000-05:00

VINA COMMUNITY DENTAL CLINIC, Rev. Loretta M. Job, Deacon, First UMC Church,

400 E. Grand River Ave., Brighton, MI 48116, 810-229-8561, loretta@brightonfumc.org. This dental clinic, with two complete dental stations is located on the property of our church, serves the adult population of Livingston County with basic dental care and has a full time front office manager. To qualify for the clinic, adults must be residents of the county, have no dental insurance, and meet an income level at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The clinic relies on volunteer dentists from the county to staff the clinic and have recently hired a dentist to work 1 day per week. We would welcome general dentists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons at anytime. Website: www.vinadental.org. (UMVIM Project # NCJ-DET-1209-01)

Environmental Health Book Now Available in Spanish

2011-07-02T07:56:00.000-05:00

Guía comunitaria para la salud ambiental, the Spanish-language edition of A Community Guide to Environmental Health has just been released. This manual is an excellent reference for those engaged in Community Health Projects within impoverished communities.

Originally published in English in 2008, A Community Guide to Environmental Health is now available in Pashto, Indonesian, Russian, Mongolian, and Khmer, with many more translations in progress. The Spanish edition has been adapted and translated based on extensive review by Hesperian partners in Latin America and the US.

For a limited time, get free shipping of Guía comunitaria para la salud ambiental! Order the title from Hesperian's on-line bookstore and get free shipping. This free shipping offer does not apply to bulk orders.

This unique resource is being used by health and development workers, teachers, environmental activists, community leaders, and others around the world working to improve the health of people and the environment. Using clear explanations, illustrations, activities, and stories, Guía comunitaria para la salud ambiental provides practical, hands-on solutions for communities addressing today’s pressing environmental health problems in both small villages and large cities.

The book’s 23 chapters cover topics including:

preventing and reducing harm from toxic pollution
forestry, restoring land, and planting trees
protecting community water and watersheds
food security and sustainable farming
environmental health at home
solid waste and health care waste
how to reduce harm from mining, oil, and energy production

With dozens of activities to stimulate critical thinking and discussion; instructions for simple technologies such as safe toilets, safe cleaning products, and water purification methods; and hundreds of drawings to make the messages clear, Guía comunitaria para la salud ambiental offers hope and inspiration for people just beginning to address environmental health threats as well as those with many years of practical experience.

View UM Malaria Videos: Appeal Featured in Times Square

2011-06-22T11:24:00.003-05:00

There are several video clips to choose from. Take the time to view them all.

Community Clean-up at Lake Titicaca Mission in Bolivia

2011-06-19T19:57:00.000-05:00

16 June, 2011

Hola y Bendiciones desde el Mision Fronteras a Lago Titicaca!

Hello and Blessings from the Border Mission at Lake Titicaca!

Tuesday, June 14, was a community-wide tidy-up-the-neighborhood day in our section of Copacabana, Bolivia. At least 100 people fanned out through the streets or climbed up the ancient, Incan stone steps to “Intinkala,” known as the Seat of the (regional) Incan empire, or “Asiento del Inca.” The base of the steps leading up to Intinkala is just 15 feet from our front gate. At the top of those steps are several carved stone seats. Historians believe this site was probably a judicial center in Incan times. If you saw the 90-second video we taped for the Annual Conference, the intro showed us perched on those ruins. To see the video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ4siBzVODs.

Bolivian towns are divided into neighborhoods, or barrios. People in the neighborhood elect a president. Yesterday’s work day started and finished with long, passionate pep talks from our neighborhood president, urging folks to work hard, make the area clean and tidy, and try harder to keep it that way.

Among the projects we and our neighbors tackled were trash pick-up. Most – but not all – streets in our neighborhood are paved. Sometimes the concrete pavers crack and crumble, leading to enormous, deep potholes. Jeff and I helped clear and level several of these. We were impressed that the six petite Aymara women on our team wielded pick axes as effectively as the men … and more often!

Hard physical work is especially tiring here, probably because one burns a lot of oxygen in hard work, and at 2.5 miles above sea level, oxygen is pretty thin. We find that in comparison, we appear to have more strength than local people, but they have a lot more stamina than we do.

One of the day’s projects involved installation of garbage collection stands. At each site, five huge oil-drums hang from a heavy pipe. The drums pivot for easy unloading. We and our neighbors are thrilled with this new system. Up to now, garbage collection has happened rather randomly. A battered, rusty dump truck with totally bare tires, carrying a crew of about 6 people in addition to the driver, would signal its arrival by honking repeatedly.

During breaks in neighborhood clean-up day, we had opportunities to talk with our new neighbors. Virtually all of them were clearly surprised and pleased that Gringos were helping them. Of course, we cheerfully explained that it’s our neighborhood, too, and we were quite happy to get involved. Fyi, in photo attachment the salmon-colored house, left side at the end of the street, is ours.

Let us hear from you, please! We miss home, friends, and family!

If you’re tempted to make a trip to Lago Titicaca, shoot us an email. It’s part of our job to help find good airfares, and help plan and facilitate!

Bendiciones,

Deb and Jeff

A Glimpse of UMCOR Health Related Projects

2011-06-16T13:24:00.000-05:00

Kamina Project, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

The Kamina ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo uses an integrated development model. This approach strategically links UMCOR health, agriculture and nutrition, and water and sanitation programs with NGO programs.

Thirty community health workers were identified through the Kamina Health Center community volunteer initiative. They were organized and given orientation on the benefits of agriculture and water and sanitation programs, as well as basic hygiene programs.

Community health workers are learning integrated crop and pest management practices. They have organized themselves to develop a group farm and plan to expand it each year. The community health workers will be further trained in household water filtration units that can be locally manufactured to provide income generation in addition to clean water. Cisterns or borehole wells will also be dug in communities in the future.

The overall, multi-year integrated program is expected to include improved food security and nutrition through sustainable agricultural techniques, livelihood opportunities through increased food production and water

filtration production, and better health through appropriate water and sanitation systems.

Latin America/Caribbean:

Honduras, Mariposa Project in Talanga

This relatively new initiative will expand and integrate existing local ministries. A partnership with the United Methodist Mission in Honduras, this project has a goal to empower single mothers through education, vocational and trade training, health services, and cultural, community, and economic development. The project will be implemented by the local community with support from mission staff and with assistance from existing governmental institutions. Church members will be heavily involved, along with missionary oversight.

Reprinted from "ConnectNMission Newsletter"

News from Maua Methodist Hospital, Kenya

2011-06-14T08:54:00.002-05:00

7 June 2011

The first team of the summer arrived Saturday. Kathie Mann brought a team from Tomball UMC in Tomball, TX which is close to Houston. There are 11 members and we are so grateful for their coming. They will work on the staff flats, paint the outside of the Medical Ward and build an AIDS Orphans home. They have brought us needed medical supplies, a suitcase of sutures, and we are can only thank God for their presence. Kathie Mann has been coming to MMH along with coordinating, training and overseeing all mission work teams that come to Maua Methodist Hospital since 1999. Kathie has done so much for the hospital that we could never thank her enough. The teams have changed the face of MMH and done so much for the community. We thank God for Kathie and her incredible team from Tomball.

Donna and Dr. Roger Boe

At the very end of April Dr. Roger Boe and his wife, Donna, came to Maua. Dr. Boe is a Pediatrician and a friend we met at Individual Volunteer Training in Missouri in 2005. He has been a great help to the hospital, especially with his ability to do training and education for our Medical Interns, nursing and clinical staff. His lovely wife comes with so much experience as a state legislator in Idaho, the mayor of Pocatello along with being on numerous Boards and Committee of the Global Missions. Dr. Boe worked for the Global Ministries at one time and both are committed to mission and caring for the least around the world. What a joy and blessing they have been to MMH and to Bill and me personally.

About two months ago, Linet Wanja came to my office to share with me the fact that she was 7 months pregnant. She did not look pregnant at all so it was a surprise. She was excited about her pregnancy and hoping for a baby girl. Friday night June 3^rd at around 6pm Linet delivered a healthy baby boy, 6.2 pounds, who she has named William after Bill. She has been able to find a close friend/distant relative who is an adult that is willing to take care of her and William. For this we are praising God as in the past she has had primary school girls that helped her in the evening and night and went to school during the day.

Bill, Linet and William

Precious William

Linet will be on maternity leave for the next three months and then will resume her work here at Maua Methodist Hospital as a Customer Care representative. She is very well liked at the hospital and has many friends. She can certainly hold William and is breastfeeding him well. As a single mom, she definitely needs your prayers as she raises this precious baby boy.

“Sometimes we’re strong, sometimes we’re weak, sometimes we’re hurt and it cuts deep. We live this life, breath to breath, we’re all the same; we all bleed red.”

Linet has complete faith that God will take care of her son and herself and her two other sons when the orphanage releases them to her in 2013. Who am I to think I know better when I have been working hard on trusting God more. One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3: 4 & 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, never rely on what you think you know. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” We all live our lives differently but we all bleed red!

In His grip,

"I sought to hear the voice of God

And climbed the topmost steeple.

But God declared: Go down again,

I dwell among my people."

Louis I. Newman THE VOICE OF GOD

Jerri & Bill Savuto

Maua Methodist Hospital

savuto@maf.or.k

Community Based Health Training Program in 3 Colonias of South Texas

2011-06-08T16:11:00.003-05:00

Community Health Promoter 10 week Training Program
The Need:
The Rio Grande Valley has long been known to be one of the four great "pockets of poverty" in the United States; in fact, there is no other place in North America where human suffering affects every facet of life like it does in the rural colonia areas. Poverty and poor health are partners, and each affects the other in a debilitating way. It is clear that this is an area where residents can benefit from development of skills and confidence and a place where human suffering, limited health knowledge and poor access to care offer a supreme opportunity for the implementation of a Community Health Education Program.
Background:

A Community Health Training Program for chosen residents of the Texas/Mexican border area near Pharr, Texas, is an outgrowth of the Pharr Community Outreach Project (PCOP), sponsored and supported by the Pharr United methodist Church. The PCOP later spawned the Pharr Literacy Project (PLP). In 2003 the PCOP received certification to become a "Community of Shalom" with three program areas: Literacy, Health and Wellness, and Faith Outreach. These areas emphasize 4 elements: 1) Make Disciples of Jesus Christ, (2 Strengthen Develop and Renew Christian Congregations (3Alleviate Human Suffering and (4 Seek Justice, Freedom and Peace.

In 2009 the project received a Conference and a GBGM grant that allowed for further program development. By 2010 two project leaders were able to observe an established health promoter training program taught by UMVIM health volunteers working in Panama.

Preparation and Initiation of Community Health Training:
Upon return from Panama, the project leaders trained other local leaders. By October 15, 2010 twenty health promoter students started the first of four training modules. The target date for the first class course completion and implementation in each of three Colonias is scheduled for September, 2011.

Evaluation Tools:
Long-term goals with specific measurable objectives for each phase were developed. They included:

Weekly data collection and electronic data entry
correlation of data with results sent to appropriate staff
Written evaluation of objectives with reports sent to Board and colonia residents
Mid-year and annual reports sent to Granting Agencies

Opportunities to Help:

To be able to complete the 5 year plan, donations are needed. Click here to donate on line.
This site is interested in hosting UMVIM Teams. Contact the project website for more information.

Solar Cookers Recognized!

2011-05-26T08:28:00.002-05:00

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Gets It!!
So does the new Global Ambassador for the Alliance for Clean Cookstoves Julia Roberts!

They know that for nearly half of the world’s population, cooking at home is dangerous. They are aware that some 3 billion people cook their food on dirty stoves or over open fires. These two influential women know this is one of the most serious health risks in the developing world and a profound threat to our collective environment.

Women bend over these smoky fires in poorly ventilated spaces every day, inhaling the toxic fumes which can produce a mix of chemicals that reach 200 times the level that the EPA considers safe to breathe. Consequences for these women can be lung cancer, pneumonia, cataracts, low birth weight, and even death.

Solar cooking is a critical part of solving this problem.

The global solar cooking movement has some work to do. At this time, solar cooking is not considered viable to be a full participant with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

Solar Cookers International is poised to do the work to be at the table.

Solar Cookers International is working to lead a Solar Plus Coalition of global solar cooking organizations to complete a world wide Kitchen Practice Test to meet standards for clean cook technologies. This is a step toward critical inclusion in the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

Solar Cookers International is mobilizing and streamlining the Solar Cooker World Network. This untapped resource of world wide solar cooking manufacturers, promoters and NGO’s need to be drawn together and organized to exchange data, set standards within larger industry standards and commit to on-going testing, map capacity and scale up capability world wide, and use the global experience of solar cooking projects to advocate with one voice.

Solar Cookers International is writing research and development grants to engage with Universities and other non-governmental organizations in the clean cook stove industry, to commit to an improved, low cost, durable solar cooker that lasts 5 years and reduces the number of required plastic bags.

Solar Cookers International does not want to miss this opportunity. The world’s attention is focused on the very reason SCI exists to address.

Solar Cookers International gets it. We understand the direction and work we need to do and we are ready to go there. With your help, we can.
To support Solar Cookers and make a donation go to solarcookers.org/support/donations or send a check addressed to Solar Cookers International, 1919 21st Street #101 • Sacramento, CA 95811. To speak with a representative call +1(916) 455-4499

A Look at the Bolivia/Peru Mission

2011-05-25T19:01:00.000-05:00

This video just in. It was sent by a newly assigned Individual Volunteer Couple now serving near the Peru/Bolivia border. They are preparing to welcome all types of teams, including health related teams.
Take a look and learn about this exciting program.

Learn About UM Medical Missionaries in the Congo

2011-05-22T21:12:00.000-05:00

Healthcare in Africa

2011-05-21T08:57:00.000-05:00

Re-printed from 10-Fold E-mail

Nyadire Hospital, Zimbabwe

About 100 miles northeast of the capital city of Harare is Nyadire, where Nyadire United Methodist Hospital (NUMH) is located. It is a part of the larger Nyadire United Methodist Mission complex, which includes a primary and a secondary school, a teachers college, a United Methodist church, and a cooperative farm.

NUMH staff members strive to deliver quality health care services and improve the quality of life of people in the community. At Nyadire, the most common patient ailments include tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, malnutrition, and hypertension. HIV/AIDS is also commonly seen at the hospital, especially in pregnant mothers.

NUMH has many services to offer its patients and the Nyadire community, but there is still a great need. The primary challenge currently facing Nyadire United Methodist Hospital is the retention and adequate training of its staff.

Salary and taxation issues that discourage doctors, nurses, and aides to work in a mission or other private hospitals compound the lack of housing. At times UMCOR has provided additional salary support for hospital staff to ensure that the people of Nyadire continue to have the medical care they so desperately need.

Supply shortages are a serious issue for Nyadire and hospitals and clinics throughout Zimbabwe. Basic supplies such as gauze and gloves are in high demand. All of the doctors and nurses speak of the need for pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, painkillers, anti-retroviral drugs for HIV patients and test kits for HIV.

UMCOR helps to supply these through Medicine Box shipments and facilitating the delivery of additional medicines and supplies, particularly during hard times.

Nyadire Hospital receives support from UMCOR through the Hospital Revitalization program. You can support Hospital Revitalization by giving to UMCOR Advance #982168.

10-Fold Resources for Healthcare in Africa

Cambodia Health Ministry Update

2011-05-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

CHAD Staff

Friends,
   Last week we had a wonderful visit from a delegation of the Finland Annual Conference (Swedish speaking) of United Methodist Church (aka Methodist Church Finland). It was a young volunteer from Finland, Pontus Fred, who seven years ago thought that we needed to have an agricultural development component of the ministry here and secured the original funding for a Rural Agricultural Development program from their mission board. The CHAD program has grown in those seven years, merging with the health ministries, formation of the Social Concerns Committee, taking on a larger community development and outreach role.  The Methodist Church Finland has been a vital partner, and supportive in our goal to localize the development ministries as an authentic expression of the emerging church in Cambodia to reach out to its neighbors in life affirming ways. Therefore, it was a joy to have the delegation visit us for an evaluation. We looked at several successful projects, as well as those that have struggled and reflected together on the lessons learned during our partnership.

   One of the churches we visited was in the village of Raksmey in Kampong Thom province. They have 4 successful projects running that include both church and communities members (3 are funded by CHAD, 1 is funded by World Vision). While on a monitoring visit last January, Mrs. Sophal and I were inspired by the initiative of this church. She and Mr. Thy returned to write a story about some of the ways this church is reaching out. Last year, UMCOR's Mellisa Crutchfield facilitated a workshop on emergency response for church leaders where she highlighted the importance of having a plan because it is really the folks on the ground who are the first respondors in any situation. One of the stories that came out of our visit to Raksmey is just that, when a cooking fire destroyed seven homes in a nearby village, it was due to the good stewardship of the rice bank committee at Raksmey and the faithful repayment of its members, that within a day, they were able to mobilize 500kg of rice plus a cash offering to bring to these distraught families. We talk a lot about the security a rice-bank provides to ensure food through the hungry season, but it also provides this other kind of security, allowing the community to respond to disaster in their midst.

   There are several new stories on our blog http://chad-cambodia.blogspot.com including the one about Raksmey, a weaving group a Prey Cherteal and hopefully by then end of the week a story about a cancer survivor. Thank you for reading and for sharing in this outreach.

   On a personal note, I am happy to report that my visit to the USA was a wonderful success. I joined the Cambodia Consultation for just one day, but was inspired by the stories and the dedication of so many to support this country. I was also able to successfully submit and defend my masters thesis on Bacterial Contamination of Drinking Water in Rural Ghana. I completed the research three years ago before I was called to Cambodia, but the concluding steps were put on the back burner as I engaged with my work here. I am so appreciative to my adviser Dr. Robert Metcalf and the faculty of the Biological Sciences Department at Cal State, Sacramento, that saw me through the process, encouraged me to continue and gave critical and helpful feedback.

peace,
Katherine

New Individual Volunteers in Place: Hope To Host Future Health Teams

2011-05-16T09:08:00.001-05:00

English Class- Instituto Americano

Debbie with new Aymaran Peers

Note: To access a blog that outlines health volunteer opportunities, click on blog title, above.

Hola Amigos,

We have settled pretty much into our house now in Copacabana, Bolivia. I bought a cellular modem from the largest mobile phone provider in Bolivia (Tigo). It has amazing service in the entire country. A prob is that mountains can make service dead or slow ares. Our house is in a bowl (except for lake titicaca on one side) that brings service down to a couple of ticks. good for email, but bad for uploading to websites and skype.

The boulders and rise of land behind the house is sacred Incan ground, the mountain ridge to one side of the house is a site of one of the last Incan stand-offs with the Spanish. From the front we see the town and the Cathedral which rings its bells at 5:45 every moning as a call to 6 am mass and our wake-up call. the forth direction has a view of Lake Titicaca. Sheep, pigs and cows are herded down our street past our house, and up the stairs through the Incan sacred grounds in the morning on their way to pasture and then in the evneing back again. In our courtyard there are roses and sweetpeas, and geraniums, and poppies. they never go dormant so they are all huge. one rose is about 15 feet tall with a main stem of about 3" diameter. Oh there is an apple tree in our garden that has apples that look unblemished and ready to harvest!

The house is great. 3 bedrooms about 12 x 12 feet each. A decent kitchen. Lr/Dr about 14 x 20. An interior atrium with skylight, and 2 bathrooms. I bought a huge piece of eucalyptus tree and had the guy mill it into 4 planks 8 feet by 12 inches by 1.25 inches thick. I am going to make our table from this. The wood is red and brown with black and yellow accents. Beautiful. Been improvising alot for furnishing. We get wooden fruit crates from the market and stack them under our counters for use as shelving and use the apple tree to hang socks after they've been washed in the basin in the couryard.

Been traveling alot....Puno, LaPaz, Huacuyo. Visiting mission work-sites and making plans for when we get settled in
Copa is an amazing town. Festival capital of Bolivia. Last weekend there was a festival to honor the Virgin of the Lake. The parade of 100s of bands and 1000s of dancers (like Mardi gras on steroids). We have been told to expect this type of festival several time a year.

We are taking Castilian (they dont call it spanish) lessons in Copa three days a week. Oh, we are learning some Aymaran too. Kamisaki = hello, how are you. Waliki = good, fine, doing well. Hikisingama = goodbye. Yospagada = thankyou. Karukama = see you tomorrow. Waliki Hootahra = Welcome! Manka = food (very important). We also learned that that Copacabana comes from Aymaran: Kaha Kahuana and means loosely: lake scenic spot.

On the request of our friend Moises Condori we are teaching English one day every two weeks to 13 to 16 year old students at the Instituto Americano in LaPaz. It has been an incredibly uplifting expierience. One of the student's big questions is "How much does a Nintendo WII cost in the States?"....young people the same the world over. This expierience has really help accelerate our learning of Spanish.
We have been lucky with parasites even though we've had many a communitty meal served out of buckets into our bowls in handfuls and eaten with no utensils and then served pop in a plastic cup that is shared by 8 to 10 people. The communities we've toured have grandiose plans for our limited funds, and we are working long hours every day meeting with communitty and church leaders, going over construction plans and reviewing needs and implementation of training sessions for local peoples. Out of neccesity we are learning Spanish fast. We are becoming known in town so people actually stop and say hi when we are out and about, and business owners are not trying to sell us stuff at tourist prices as often.

As we are yearning for contact with home, and familiar people, we would love to here from you. Also, consider coming down to work with us. We think you would find it an amazing and rewarding expierience.

Bendiciones y chao,

Debbie and Jeff

Senegal Mission Changes and Priorities

2011-05-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

Big News!

Community Health Workers in Training

Paul and Kittie Messer are leaving the Senegal Mission after 2.5 years of service to take an appointment in the North Alabama Conference at Camp Sumatanga beginning, June, 2011. The work of the mission nurtured under Paul's and Joe Bleck's leadership will foster continued growth with new short-term priorities.

SENEGAL PRIORITIES

By Paul and Joe

We have identified these four short term goals as top priorities for the Senegal Mission in 2011:

1) Raise $15,000 to complete purchase of property for Mission Center near Keur Massar, between Dakar and new airport.

2) $5000 per year for next 5 years to educate and train the next generation of church leadership.

3) $4000 to complete construction of Thiadiaye UMC

4) Secure financial support for Wellness Team Village Consultations – cost for a day is $500 for transportation, medicines, food and staff – is the most visible, most productive of our mission projects. $5000 would be HUGE help!

This would have to be on top of our regular support for the Mission Initiative and our outreach ministries already established. These goals met would be a “very powerful emotional boost” and “give them a sense of progress being made”

Paul adds.

" Send your help to Advance # 12594A with a designation of which goal you want to help. Check payable to “Advance GCFA”

sent to Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068 GPO,

New York, New York 10087-9068 Thanks! "

FACEBOOK HIGHLIGHTS!

Pastor Joseph Bleck does wonders with his

computer. Check out the Joseph Bleck

Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1026970598 and see up to date pictures and videos of what is happening in Senegal!

As always, contact Tony Fuller, PO Box 301, New London, WI 54961 Ph: 920-982-6526 senegaltony@gmail.com

Request for Trained Early Responders from Rev. Matt Lacey

2011-05-01T15:34:00.000-05:00

North Alabama Conference:

North Alabama invites UMCOR Emergency Response Trained [ERT}. If you have been ERT trained, here are the criteria which we are asking you to follow:

Team leaders MUST have a valid UMCOR ERT badge in the last 3 years. Team members must have a valid conference or UMCOR ERT badge in the last 5 years. To volunteer, please visit this site to register.

We are taking these criteria very seriously due to the nature of the damage of these storms. Please remember that we are a connectional system, and are going through the proper channels to insure everyone's safety and well-being

If your church wants to give an offering, please give through UMCOR's website or making a check out to the North Alabama Conference labeled with the Advance number 3021326.

I encourage you to follow the conference website, or find North Alabama missions on Facebook.

This is a trying time for many, and we are called to, with God at our side, help to heal a hurting world. We will release any further information as we receive it. God Bless.

Rev. Matt Lacey, Director of Mission and Advocacy, North Alabama Conference

Resuscitation of Newborn Infants: from Oxygen to Room Air.

2011-04-28T07:13:00.000-05:00

About 10% of newborns have some difficulty initiating respirations. Many of these infants respond quickly following brief stimulation. Others require some mechanical help with an ambu bag or anesthesia bag to begin breathing. For many years it has been assumed that using supplemental oxygen, even 100% oxygen, improved outcomes, and was used uncritically wherever available. A recent large study (1), showed that newborns resuscitated using 21% oxygen (room air) had higher Apgar scores, and took their first breath an average of 30 seconds earlier. The most important finding, however, was that using the lower oxygen concentration was associated with a lower mortality. Metanalysis of other studies showed a 30% reduction in mortality when babies were resuscitated with room air. Saugstad(1) points out that this means 100,000 newborn lives could be saved each year by switching from oxygen to ambient air for the initial treatment of newborn babies who require assistance with breathing. These findings are of major significance for those of us who work with village midwives and health workers. We can reassure them that routine use of Oxygen is not indicated for resuscitating newborns at delivery. A better use of resources would be to provide them with simple Ambu bages and train them in their use.

Saugstad, O. Resuscitation of Newborn Infants: from Oxygen to Room Air. Lancet 376, p1970-71, Dec 2010.

Submitted by Roger Boe MD UMVIM Medical Consultant

Lenten Reflection by Paulette West, Executive Director UMVIM, SEJ

2011-04-23T08:57:00.000-05:00

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
April 22, 2011

It is finished...A reflection upon returning home from Haiti

I find Haiti one of the most difficult places to serve. It was hard for me to be there again. Perhaps for me, part of the difficulty lies in facing and acknowledging my own shortcomings, weaknesses and sin. When Jesus spoke those words, "It is finished" - I think to myself, "But it is not finished; just the beginning." Perhaps what was finished was the suffering and death required for new life. I realize that whatever I struggle with, sacrifice or give is nothing when compared to the struggles and sacrifice of Jesus. His mission to show us the depth of God's love and mercy wasn't finished but just the beginning of what He expects of us.

As I reflect back on the week serving in Haiti (April 1-8) and think about Easter approaching, I realize that the only hope for Haiti is resurrection- new life. In the year since I was in Haiti following the earthquake, there is still devastation and rubble in many places, still tent cities, and still the poor masses; but there are also many glimpses of new life taking place. As I think about last week, I am reminded of the places where resurrection is taking place. Life continues around and despite of the destruction. Security walls are being rebuilt; schools and churches repaired. Returning to College Bird, no longer is there a structure ravaged and fractured - the rubble has been removed and temporary classrooms give students an opportunity to learn. A year ago at Grace Hospital, a malnourished infant boy lay in a crib in a military tent because the buildings were crumbling and unsafe. His face remained with me as I worried and wondered if he died. During our tour of the new temporary structures, Roberson shared that he too thought Paulo would not survive; but was thrilled to share that his health improved and the mother that had abandoned him returned to take him back three months later. New life and hope for a future. On Tuesday with the announcement of the new president, you could see the sense of hope in the celebration of the people in the community. A chance for changes where corruption and oppression end and new opportunities and hope may exist for the Haitian people.

Our mission in Haiti was finished; but it is not finished for Haiti as it is not finished for us. When He said "It is finished", Jesus may have only been referring to the fact that his death accomplished the mission that God had sent him. But his resurrection meant so much more - new life and hope! The love I have can never compare to His love for the world yet I know that I am called to share His love with others. So how do I embody and share this incredible love? I'm afraid I don't always do it well. But I will continue to try because I am one of the Easter people.

The hope for Haiti is the resurrected Christ; the hope for all of us is found in His love. May you continue to share the hope and love of the resurrected Christ with others in all you do.

Paulette West, Executive Director

UMVIM, SEJ

Important Notice: Our office will be closed Friday, April 22 and Monday April 25 in observance of Easter. Should you have an immediate need, please email: sejinfo@umvim.org

UMVIM, SEJ
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
www.umvim.org
www.umvimsej.wordpress.com

Donate to UMVIM, SEJ!

Senegal Community Health Training Continues

2011-04-21T10:24:00.003-05:00

2^nd COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAINING COURSE
APRIL 11-15, 2011

Thies, Senegal

All participants arrived in time for dinner the evening before the course started. The training began on the 11th and followed the syllabus, with some revisions, from the previous class that was taught by an UMVIM Team from the North Central Jurisdiction.

The students were encouraged to return-demonstrate skills that were learned in the previous day’s classes. The group performed thèse activities very well.

Two of the students from the first class, Astou Samb and Mamadou Ciss came to exchange ideas and share their experiences with the new group. Their coming motivated the new class to learn and practice hard.

The learning activities of SODIS, Pit latrine and Tippy Tap generated much interest. One of the challenges that the Community Health Workers Face is criticism by the community for being false nurses. This was another serious topic of discussion.

At the end, a drama was performed about snake bite using traditional healing practices whereby a traditional healer spits on the affected area with incantations and puts red, white and black threads around the bitten part to drive away evil spirits. Sometimes, it works but more often than not, many people die as a result of the venom. This method was contrasted with a conventional medical approach where anti-venonm injections are given.

The students were very happy to go home with their kits which contained basic medicines and as well as their certificates. The next training will be from the 13th—17th of June 2011. They gave a vote of thanks saying, they are grateful for this training that is changing their lives.

Nasogastric Rehydration for Children with Diarrhea in Resource-Limited Countries

2011-03-28T14:05:00.000-05:00

Each year an estimated 1.7 million children die from dehydration caused by acute diarrhea. The vast majority of deaths occur in resource-limited countries, where incidence of gastroenteritis is higher, and access to therapy is limited. In the past several decades, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), has been widely used, both in developed and in resource-limited countries, and has markedly reduced the death rate. If ORS therapy fails, or dehydration is severe, the alternative in developed countries is hospitalization and intravenous therapy. This IV option is expensive and often logistically difficult in resource-limited countries. What viable treatment options are available then for the child who fails ORS therapy? A recent review article by Rouhani et. al.(1) evaluates a number of studies that compare several alternative therapies. A number of randomized controlled trials show that administration of fluids by nasogastric tube is as effective as intravenous therapy in patients who fail ORS. Another large study of over 4000 patients showed that nasogastric administration of fluids had an 88% success rate in moderate and severe dehydration, and a low incidence of side effects, mainly persistent vomiting. Only one case of aspiration occurred. The fluids are given at the same rate as for intravenous replacement, 20-25 cc/kilo per hour. This approach greatly reduced the need for intravenous fluids in this large study.
Nasogastric fluid replacement should be considered as a viable, safe alternative to IV therapy for dehydration, particularly in the field, where IV fluids may not be available or easily administered.

Ref 1. Rouhani, S, et al: Alternative Rehydration Methods: A Systematic Review and lessons for Resource-Limited Care. Pediatrics 127, March 2011, pp e 748-e757.

Submitted by Roger Boe MD.

Malaria Lenten Devotional

2011-03-07T16:56:00.000-06:00

Imagine No Malaria Lenten Devotional

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Every day, thousands of families in Africa lose loved ones because of malaria. As we celebrate the season of Lent, we invite you to be renewed through the Imagine No Malaria Lenten Devotional. This spiritual resource will be sent via e-mail and provide a daily centering moment for each of the 40 days of Lent, connecting each of us with the people of Africa.

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Imagine No Malaria is a ministry of The United Methodist Church Global Health Initiative
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