Medical and Social Work

Since the beginning of SIM, there has been a special emphasis on medical ministries. That is how in 1947 and 1954 dispensaries were opened in Piela and Mahadaga, which are today medical centers. They first had to gain people’s trust; for the missionaries were bringing medical techniques that people in the villages did not know. Little by little, they managed to prove trustworthy and today they are centres with maternities, pharmacies, etc. Doctors have joined the teams, and we praise the Lord about it. Most of the patients are able to pay their medical fees, but when they cannot, the medical centre pays for them. Otherwise, these people would not even come to the centre to get the treatment they need.

In addition to the medical centres, two handicapped centres were created. First in Mahadaga in 1987, (the Centre for the Advancement of the Handicaped People, CAH), then in Fada in 2015, (the Centre Espoir, literaly Hope Centre).

The French missionary Françoise Pedeau saw the needs of people living with disabilities, and the centres now go into the villages to seek them, welcome them, and offer their help through physiotherapy. The CAH in Mahadaga also hosts a school for visually impaired and deaf kids, so they can go to school as the other children and be integrated into life in the society at large. Once they have finished school, they can learn a trade, tailor, for instance. You can follow the CAH on Facebook: Centre Handicapés en Avant

These different centres are channels to share the gospel in an efficient way, first by meeting physical needs, and then to be able to talk about their spiritual ones. Many have come to Christ through these centres. You can read the article about Maalo here: Maalo, a young blind woman who sees.

To support this project, give to the closer SIM office and notate:

Project Nr. 93 279 (for the CAH in Mahadaga) or

Project Nr. 93 941 (for the Centre Espoir de Fada) or

Project Nr. 82 375 (for the Medical Centre in Mahadaga) or

Project Nr. 88 100 (for the Medical Centre in Piéla).