Challenge and Change
We have a significant shortage of healthcare providers, as 51% of doctors born and trained in Kenya work abroad. 40 of the 47 counties have less than 1 doctor to 10,000 compared to the recommended ratio of 1:1000.
We long to see healthcare professionals practising, modelling and mentoring competent, compassionate medicine, but doing so in places where they will influence unreached people groups for Christ.
For many years healthcare professionals wishing to be involved in cross-cultural mission in Africa have been encouraged to partner with church health care providers. However, the church/mission hospital paradigm is less applicable these days and alternative models are increasingly appropriate. This might involve partnerships with governments or other NGOs, basic community health work or a variety of creative alternatives. The need for this kind of health ministry is everywhere – we don’t aspire, however, to trying to meet that need anywhere, but more strategically among unreached people (directly or indirectly).
Often it’s more appropriate to go to a place, live there and figure out, in conjunction with the local community, how to be involved after one arrives. The idea that you can take a pre-determined programme or plan and simply implement it may exist in the popular Western mindset (all these needy people need the help that we can offer), but we aspire to more than simply doing things for people and communities.
We have a significant shortage of healthcare providers, as 51% of doctors born and trained in Kenya work abroad. 40 of the 47 counties have less than 1 doctor to 10,000 compared to the recommended ratio of 1:1000.
As healthcare providers we continue to serve and share Christ’s love whilst always longing for the day when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.
I love being a doctor, and using medicine to demonstrate the love and compassion of our Saviour, especially in places where he is not known.
We asked one of our missionaries serving in healthcare in a creative access location to share about their experiences.
Becoming a Christian aged 21, Alexandra is excited to serve God using her profession. She works as a doctor in a hospital in Vevey, Switzerland, and is considering further mission work in the future.
Ann works in northern Chad, seeking to share the gospel and to demonstrate God’s love and power through her medical work. She shares more here.