Chad is situated in the centre of Africa, totally landlocked, its landmass five times that of the UK, its population between 8 to 9 million, just 1/6th of the UK population. It was under French Colonial rule until 1960.

In the MMN magazine November 2004 issue we included an article “Serving the Lord in Chad” by retired missionary Dawn Elliott. In it Dawn wrote of the 24 Health Centres, a work started in 1959 by Janet MacDougall and now run by the local Churches, and “how they are struggling financially, some bumping along the bottom with insufficient funds to renew their medical supplies.” Dawn asked if there was anyway MMN could help them and would we like to visit Chad with her to see the situation for ourselves. (Dawn visits Chad for three to four months each year)

Dawn Elliott

The challenge laid, MMN responded and at the beginning of January Fred Holmes, an MMN trustee and retiredsurgeon and MMN director Bryan Bland began a three week visit to “see for ourselves.”

The Health Centre work of “Assemblies Cretienne” is in the south and centred around the town of Doba. A typical Centre will be under the leadership of a Nurse Practitioner, known as “doc”, who has been for training to either a Government or Mission Hospital and has achieved a Government Diploma. He will be assisted by a “Matron” and “Midwife” who between them run the labour room and ante and post natal clinics, a dresser for wound care, a pharmacist, maybe a laboratory technician, an administrator and each Centre has its “Management Committee” made up of Elders from the local churches. Stocks of medicines are basic and erratic. Several rooms are provided to each Centre where those too ill to return home could be “hospitalised” until they have improved.

Each Health Centre serves several surrounding villages; a population of between 8,000 to 12,000 people. There are no roads, only tracks, and most villages have no four wheeled vehicle transport. Patients walk in, are carried in, or even transported by bullock cart. If there are complications and hospital consultation is required this will often mean a 30 mile ride on a bullock cart or a motor bike. The Centres also operate a children’s immunisation program in the villages in cooperation with the local Department of health.

Patient (in green blanket) being wheeled to clinic in a cart

Good records are kept of numbers attending and treatment administered but also there are records of those that accept Christ or recommit to Christ demonstrating the effective witness of the Centres staff to the saving power of our Lord Jesus. In addition to bringing care and healing there is a real concern for their spiritual well being.

MMN has joined in partnership with these Health Centres and has provided a vehicle to be used for medicine distribution. We have made an annual contribution towards the running costs of the vehicle wages of a driver and coordinator to ensure the Centres have a steady reliable supply of medicines which are subsidised by us at 50% cost. We hope that the Centres, by applying the same modest patient charging policy that exists at present, will build up a surplus of funds which will be applied to maintenance, training, equipment and an improved service. We have also provided a fund to subsidise training programs for existing and new staff.

Village Children

We were impressed, as we travelled to many of these Centres, by the vision and dedication of all those involved who, against overwhelming odds, are providing a good level of health care and good witness of our Lords love and compassion for those in need. Pray for these Centres and health staff and the great responsibilities carried by them, for the opportunities to proclaim the Gospel and for safety for those travelling on dangerous roads. Pray too that the money we have made available for this work will be used fairly and sensibly in the furtherance of God’s kingdom.