MEDICAL PROJECT

The Redeemed People’s Mission Rural Medical project started like a Macedonian call from a people group in Katsina Ala area of Benue State of Nigeria in April 1999. Much of the area has no medical facility in place by the government and a lot of people were troubled by what is generally known as “river blindness” which has incapacitated and devastated a number of communities.

The medical team has made several trips to remote communities, namely: Damsa, Shikan, Puur, Iiv, Ayaga and beyond. Over 3,000 persons have been treated of various diseases. In addition, over 500 people have also surrendered their lives to Christ.

Medication is given entirely free as the people are not in any position to pay for medical expenses. Redeemed People’s Mission spends an average of 700 to 800 pounds sterling on each trip, 90 per cent of which goes into purchase of drugs and 10 per cent goes into transportation, feeding and accommodation.

The project, like the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ is wholistic, aimed at meeting the physical, spiritual and psycho-social needs of the individual. We go out armed with the Good News, clothing, drugs and counsellors to meet these needs. The Word of God says in Job 14:1 that man’s days are few yet full of troubles, so are the problems we encounter which can easily be attributed to lack of potable drinking water, poor sanitary conditions, poor nutrition and general poverty which make it difficult for parents to treat early simple ailments that subsequently become complicated. Lack of access roads also compound the problems as accessibility to medical services becomes almost impossible.

These and many other inherent cultural problems greatly reduce the life expectancy of the average village child.

Below is a list of some common problems we are faced with on the field during the medical outreach:

1. Plasmodiasis
2. Helminthiasis
3. Ricketts
4. Onchosohiasis (River Blindness)
5. Tinea capitis and corporis
6. Tuberculosis
7. Allergic skin reactions (Pruritis)
8. Rhinitis
9. Broncho-pneumonia
10. Pharyngitis
11. Anaemias
12. Carditis, cadiac failure, arrythmias
13. Scabies
14. Asthma
15. Urinary tract infections
16. Salmonella infections
17. Hypertension
18. Diabetes
19. Peptic ulcer disease
20. Cellulitis
21. Furunculitis (boils)
22. Dysentary
23. Diarrhoeal disease
24. Rheumatic heart disease
25. Rheumatism
26. Arthritis
27. Vitamin deficiencies
28. Conjuctivitis
29. Otitis media
30. Fungal infections
31. Dermatitis
32. Schistosomiasis

Remedies for this ailments are a great welcome as health education is on-going with the field co-ordinator ever on hand to assist in areas of difficulty and need.