Together Magazine - Autumn 2008

G.Wilson — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:15:41 -0400

A Liberian Adventure

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:17:20 -0400

Read more about Peter's trip to Liberia by viewing the most recent Pastor's Message - A Liberian Adventure

Bangladesh with BMS

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:36:37 -0400

In February 2008 I was fortunate to be part of a 6 person medical team travelling to the south east part of Bangladesh. We were drawn from all corners of the UK (from Kent to Scotland) and had a variety of skills and experiences to bring. I work as a surgeon at Warwick Hospital and I was the only team member visiting Chandraghona for the first time.

CHC is 100 years old and serves the population of a remote area of Bangladesh including the Hill Tract areas where some of the most deprived people live. BMS has supported the hospital throughout its development with long term workers, and, in recent years with one or two short term (2 week) medical teams each year. As well as seeing out patients and admitting those with more serious conditions the hospital has a community outreach programme and has trained a team of Basic Medical Workers who live and work in the remote villages. Travelling clinics visit these areas to provide healthcare and education and we were able to visit one of these clinics and see the work in progress.

Back at the hospital 4 of the team members spent most of our time in the operating theatres and surgical out patients room where we were able to assess and treat patients with a variety of conditions. Most had hernias, gallstones, piles or congenital abnormalities. Although working conditions were obviously different from those in the NHS, patients and their problems are the same the world over and we quickly adapted to our new environment!

The equipment which the church had kindly helped me to buy was put to good use as was the out of date equipment we had collected from our home hospitals.

As well as operating we were all able to provide some training for the staff and students at CHC on a variety of topics as well as demonstrating new techniques. For example, Shyr was able to provide training in the use of ultrasound. In addition some team members were able to bring their experience in management roles to help the staff of CHC, who are under pressure because of their ambitious plans to do more for their community. Hopefully, in this way, we have left a legacy which will persist after all our surgical patients have been discharged.

In all our travel and working we were supported with prayer from our friends and families at home and we were well aware of how much we needed this. Each day also ended with a time of debriefing and devotions to ensure that our work was committed to God who had called us to be part of the team.

We all made friendships with the staff and have plans to help with training and education in other hospitals in Bangladesh and India. Perhaps we will be able to go back again and share once more in the valuable work of Christian Hospital Chandraghona.

CHBC News Feed

Together Magazine - Autumn 2008

A Liberian Adventure

Bangladesh with BMS