Over the last couple of years Janet Stables has assisted at the Chandraghona Hospital in Bangladesh and below is an overview of her last trip. It is with great pleasure that we as a church have agreed to make a gift in response the BMS Centenary Appeal to build a chapel on the site of the Chandraghona Hospital.
Bangladesh a country the size of England and Scotland with a population of 146 million. Where life expectancy is 46 for a rickshaw driver and 1 in 6 children die before their 5th birthday. The political situation was unstable at the time of my visit with a state of emergency, until the elections took place. This is the Christian hospital where we as a team where fulfilling the example in Luke chapter 9 verse 1 'Jesus sent his disciples out to cure diseases preach and heal', we are following that commission.
Bangladesh is a country where water is all around and vital to the economy, in the growing of 3 crops of rice a year. Yet this water is abused, human waste is dumped and millions use the rivers for domestic tasks.
....Even here some of the hospital waste is not being dealt with. I was part of a team of 6 who helped the staff to cure the many diseases that prey on the poor and under nourished. To give encouragement to individuals and boost their confidence in using new equipment.
To train doctors in the diagnostic work. Here in ultrasound, the machine we took out with us two years ago, it is a vital tool now in the maternity unit. Shyr the doctor was returning again last year to complete what he started last time. Here we are updating the hospitals dressings proceedure, by giving them a new pack to work with. This the area I was involved with, by simplifying this procedure the patient care has improved and any infectioin risk has decreased. I hope next time to set up a special cleaning room.
It is fantastic to see the joy that the hospital brings to the people in this area of Bangladesh. Here Nick one of my colleagues is handing over to the hospital director the new computer system he put in last year.
The monies collected last year were wisely spent on equipment as shown here. Again this year the monies raised at the bring and buy went towards equiping the special room. I felt it a great privilege to be able to serve again last year and thank everyone for your love, prayers and support. As well as fulfilling the call set out in Luke it is part of our own church purpose to serve the community and BEYOND.