March 2020 Mother of Mercy Hospital Update
In October 2016, Operation Broken Silence launched the Heart of Nuba Campaign. This online fundraising movement provides support to Mother of Mercy Hospital in the oppressed Nuba Mountains of Sudan.
Here is latest message from Dr. Tom:
It’s been busy here in Nuba and I wanted to send you a quick email about one of our patients, Nidal.
Her story is just a single glimpse into the life-changing impact you are making every single day by supporting our team here at Gidel Hospital.
Nidal is only 11-months-old but already this little one has experienced a lot of pain. Her mom, Zahara, brought her to us after an unsuccessful trip to a local clinic didn’t solve her baby’s swelling stomach.
"The swelling made her cry often, and she refused to breastfeed. Whenever she ate anything, she vomited and ended up malnourished,” her mom said.
Nidal was diagnosed and treated for SAM (severe acute malnutrition) and is improving. She’s back to eating regularly, has gained weight, and Zahara can sleep at night now knowing her baby girl is ok.
She wants to send her thanks to the people who send such essential medicine for her child and other suffering kids like Nidal.
I wish you could see firsthand the result of your generosity: the smiles and Zahara’s relief when she was able to get medicine and treatment for her daughter. The look on her face when she realized her baby was safe. The way families are restored and reunited through the medical care our team provides.
At the end of a long day, I go home at night knowing families here in Nuba are getting the help they need because of the dedicated support of people like you. We couldn’t do this without your kindness and compassion.
Thank you!
Dr. Tom Catena
Mother of Mercy Hospital is the only medical facility for hundreds of thousands of people in the Nuba Mountains. Without this critical healthcare institution, people would have nowhere else to go. Here are three effective ways you can help support the work at Mother of Mercy Hospital:
Finally, Dr. Tom was recently on the podcast Crazy Amazing Humans to talk about his work and the hospital. You can watch the interview below or listen here:
About The Nuba Mountains Of Sudan
The Nuba Mountains are home to roughly 100 African tribal groups who have lived there for over 2,000 years. The one million Christian, Muslim, and traditionalist Nuba people live in harmony together.
Sadly, the Nuba way of life has been in danger for decades. People living here have been subjected to emergency conditions since June of 2011, when Sudan's military regime launched another genocidal war against their communities. The regime banned all aid and media organizations from the Nuba Mountains in an attempt to cover up their war crimes and increase suffering on the Nuba people.
Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a military coup in April 2019. Sudan now has a fledgling transitional government that is seeking to move the country toward civilian, democratic rule. In October 2019, Sudan’s Council of Ministers granted permission for the World Food Programme (WFP) to visit Kauda, the opposition capital in the war-torn Nuba Mountains region, for the first time in more than eight years. Sadly though, this new government has not yet lifted the humanitarian blockade on the Nuba Mountains, nor has a permanent peace been achieved.
Right now, a fragile ceasefire is holding together in the Nuba Mountains. There have been several targeted attacks by regime forces in frontline areas over the past few months. No aerial bombing has been reported though.
In the heart of the warzone sits Mother of Mercy Hospital, the only referral hospital in the region. This life-saving facility is led by American Dr. Tom Catena and an incredible local Nuba staff. They refuse to leave and do their best to save lives, sometimes treating over 400 patients a day. Access to basic medical supplies is extremely limited and the hospital is regularly short on funds. Mother of Mercy Hospital depends entirely on private fundraising and giving.
