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Dear Family and Friends,
As I sit at my office desk to write this newsletter, I looked up (for inspiration?) and found myself looking into the eyes of a spider! It was suspended from a long strand of web and was slowly lowering itself down to my desk (hopefully not landing on my head!). Anyway, I began to reflect on the work of a spider. They seem to be hard workers that show a great deal of persistence and perserverance. We have a lot of spiders around here and we are continually clearing away webs. However, before we can turn around again it seems that new webs have been spun. This reflection draws tight parallels to our work here in Life Abundant Primary Healthcare (LAP).
We are training village health workers that are making significant strides in their villages. Busy health centres are impacting lives and leading people to better physical and spiritual health. However, change comes slowly. While steps forward are being made, some of the steps are going backwards. Our “webs” are wiped out and we need to repeatedly rebuild. Sometimes village health committees have disagreements, village workers disappoint and neglect their work, traditional healers warn patients away from a health center, basket doctors (people with no training selling from bags of expired pills or inappropriately recommended drugs in the markets), impassible roads, inadequate numbers of staff, and lack of equipment and supplies all impact our work.
We are part of a team of LAP staff, which are usually referred to as the LAP family. This family is committed to the work and the mission of LAP, which states LAP seeks to glorify God by promoting knowledge of His saving grace by teaching sustainable spiritual, physical and mental health. We are thankful to be a part of this persevering family and have the privilege of contributing to the mission.
Vaccinating Chickens
Craig was tasked with developing a new tracking and ordering system for the supplies and medications in the rural health centres. He has been having the staff who will be using this new tool review it and the initial responses are favorable. This new method will reduce the amount of time it takes for staff to inventory and order drugs and other supplies. It will also make tracking of the drugs and supplies easier. Craig meets with each of the field supervisors and nurses monthly when they come to place their orders. He has learned so much about the challenges they face through these one-to-one discussions. Next week Craig will be traveling to some of the PHCs to further assess the situation.
Excited Graduating Students October 27, 2017
Maureen just finished coordinating the 8-week classroom portion of training for village health workers who are called Promoters. These students had to work very hard as a vast amount of material was covered every week and there were weekly tests as well. The training included Bible lessons, anatomy and physiology, infection and disease processes, treatment and prevention, how to take vital signs, how to follow standing orders, sanitation, health teaching methods, care of domestic animals, and more. Now the students are out in rural health centres for 4 weeks of practical experience. Maureen will be visiting the 12 students during this experience to encourage them and evaluate their progress.
In the months ahead Maureen will be working on training programs for health care nurses, field supervisors, and coordinating training for traditional birth attendants as well.
Unrest in the NW and SW regions of Cameroon continue. This impacts what days travel in taxis is permitted or if a travel ban between areas is imposed. It also impacts what days markets and shops are open and whether we have internet service or not. While many secondary school students have returned to school, the reports we hear indicate few primary school students in our area have returned to school. Please join us in prayer for a peaceful resolution to the problems.
Thank you for your faithful prayer support and your partnership with our work here in Cameroon!
Craig & Maureen