Projects Project Archives Projects 2004 Niger
Niger
Written by Michael Kane
Post Project Review
We returned to the Galmi hospital this time with a team of thirteen who carried out the rewiring of several houses.
We learned, in Blue Peter style, how to mount sockets using two pieces of plywood – nothing is thrown out in Niger and creativity is a necessity Other members of the team serviced the local fleet of vehicles, completed joinery work and solved numerous plumbing problems.
This is a team member view of the Galmi hospital that was established in 1950 when SIM approached the government with a proposal to build a hospital. The government, not wanting to refuse such an offer, gave them a barren piece of land (Galmi means bad water) in a remote part of the country. However, this was all part of God’s plan and the hospital now stands on the main road between two major cities. (… God turned into good what you meant for evil… Gen 50:20).
I took every opportunity I had to visit the hospital and understand the plight of the people. I met children who were severely malnourished and heard stories of sever cholera epidemics and high infant mortality. However, I also found a relatively well equipped and well run hospital with a dedicated staff that was concerned not only for the physical wellbeing of the patients but also for their social and spiritual welfare. I heard about the education work going on to teach mothers how to feed their malnourished children and saw the improvement in the quality of life as a result of reconstructive surgery.
Despite the obvious difficulties – the people only come to the hospital as a last resort – I always left the hospital with a sense of hope and respect for the people who have given their time and energies to serve God in this place.
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