Dear Elba:

It was wonderful to be with you on Wednesday night.

In researching the maternal health initiative I came across a very interesting website. It highlights the proceedings of a conference held in 2000 for ministers regarding health and the Church’s response. There were eleven countries and three continents represented.

Their statements make me want to sing as they acknowledge the Church’s need to promote health care.

“The healing ministry of the church is part and parcel of the church’s mission to healing and wholeness in accordance with Christ’s mandate: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen. (Luke 4: 18,22)”

They name maternal health as an issue the Church must address.

“Aware that the she is the largest actor in health besides governments, the church knows that this is not the time to sit back contemplating past achievements. More than a billion people are still struggling in abject poverty. Although health care is a basic human right, health services are scarce, often not available, nor appropriate or affordable. When looking at basic statistics of life expectancy, child mortality, maternal mortality, the need for great efforts to further improve health is patent. Investing in health care as well as in social economic advancement have to proceed together. Moreover, the HIV/AIDS epidemic exacerbates the situation and threatens past achievements. Evidently, there is still a lot of work to do and the church is determined to continue to be active.”

You can read the entire statement by pasting the following address into your browser: http://www.medicusmundi.org/Kampala2004/09.doc

Hopefully I will hear something soon from our friends at Global Health Action. I am anxious to find out where and when they want us to send the birthing kits.

Please continue to pray for our efforts and our future partnership sites.

Yours truly,
Suzanah