Medical Story: Clinic

September 11, 2019

We saw a middle-aged woman who was blind.  She was sitting alone clutching her collapsible white tipped cane.  Occasionally her head would turn slightly in response to noises from babies crying or children playing.  She sat patiently…..quite…..alone. Our hearts sank wondering about her circumstances. After a while, an elderly woman crippled from severe deforming arthritis touched the blind woman’s hand.  The blind woman stood up and held onto the arm of the crippled woman. The two of them walked slowly, holding tightly to each other’s arms. One provided vision. One provided balance. Together they were able to accomplish what neither one could do alone.

– Ed Lankford, MTW Trip Leader

This is just one of the countless incredible moments that came from this week of clinic, and an important reminder of the impact medical teams bring in ways far more reaching than medical intervention.

Many of our teams have been coming to Ethiopia ACT to host clinics for many years, but this was the first visit to Ethiopia ACT for the members of the MTW team. And for many members of the team, it was their first time ever visiting Africa! We were so excited to host them this week. The MTW team served with us from July 25 – August 3. This team was comprised of two doctors, two nurses, and one non-medical team member. They hosted clinic for six days in our two project sites in the communities of Suki and Akaki Kality. During that time we were able to establish a new partnership with a church in a new community called Bethel.

During the six days of clinic, the team was able to serve 331 patients. Most of the patients seen were referred to Ethiopia ACT through the local government who were aware of their need. This referral system creates a very good relationship between the church, community and the government. It also creates an opportunity for the team members and the staff to pray and share the Gospel with most of the patients who came to the clinic. 

Medical clinics are much more than a week of seeing patients. They serve a long lasting purpose in the life of the project. Medical clinics enable Ethiopia ACT to nurture meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with local government, which is vitally important to the future of the project. Clinics also enable the project to establish new partnerships with churches in new communities where they may be unfamiliar with the work of Ethiopia ACT.

These are just a couple of the many reasons why we love medical teams! We are so thankful for the lasting work medical clinics bring to Ethiopia ACT.