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| Health - Burundi's new crop of health workers |
 As we walk into the newly completed health centre block in Nyenkanda, Burundi, the first person to welcome us is Egide. As we shake hands, he ushers us into a large room full of patients and other hospital staff. They all turn to look at us as our entry seemed to have drawn much of their attention.“I have worked here for six months,” he says. “It is such great joy to serve this people.” he adds pointing at a number of men, women, and children seated in rows at the waiting bay. Egide is the nurse in charge of this new heath centre. He would have gone to work in Bujumbura, Burundi’s Capital were it not for his love for God and the passion he has for this community. He chose to work here, despite the best urban facilities including good and well-paying hospitals being only 27 Km away. “The people in this community struggle to even foot their own medical bills.” he says. As he shares his story, we couldn’t stop praising God for Egie’s sacrifice and energy to serve in this rural place. The hospital started on a very low scale, but now through the support of the Church Mission Society, (CMS) and the Anglican Diocese of Gitega, the hospital now treats an estimated, 1000 patients a month - with the common conditions being Malaria and respiratory ailments. However, he says the main hurdle still dogging this new ‘miracle community baby,’ is lack of adequate supply of essential drugs. The government subsidizes medical costs for children and pregnant women, but the rest have to pay for themselves which is very difficult.  As CMS, CMS Africa, and the church in Burundi celebrate the completion of this noble project, stories of Egide and others who have been transformed by this facility continue to lift our spirits. Our prayer is that through people like Egide our story will continue to unfold, as many lives are changed. |