Mother of Mercy Hospital Update - August 2022
Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan serves as the backbone of the healthcare system in this fragile region. The main referral facility in Gidel and its string of community clinics serve over 150,000+ patients year. The local staff performs operations, battles cancer and preventable diseases, and brings new children into the world.
Photo provided by Dr. Tom Catena
Magdalene’s Story
A few times a year, the hospital’s medical director Dr. Tom Catena shares a story of one of their patients or a member of the local staff who is leaving a lasting impression on the team:
As I sit down to write this, all I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your continued support has provided people in the Nuba Mountains with an abundance of hope and health.
I want to share a story with you about one of our current nurses, Magdalene Ali, who came to us first as a patient. The compassionate care she received from our team inspired her to become a nurse.
“I was attracted by how the nurses spoke to me and how they did their work,” Magdalene shared with me. Her work gives her a sense of purpose and fills her with hope as she cares for others. “I feel good when a patient comes in needing help, and after a time, they are recovering and talking with me and smiling,” she beamed. “I feel I have done something good.”
Watching healthcare providers like Magdalene use their gifts to serve others brings me great joy and hope for the future of Nuba. Their passion, gentleness, and respect for our patients mean everything. Being able to speak into the lives of both patients and medical professionals here in Nuba excites me.
Every day, more and more people arrive at the hospital—some travel extremely long distances to receive treatment. And as the area becomes more accessible with the relative peace in the region, the need for more resources continues to grow. With your gift, you can help ensure the hospital in Nuba has what it needs to serve patients with a high level of care.
For Magdalene, the nurses who cared for her helped shape her future. Today, she and her coworkers are doing the same.
Photo provided by Dr. Tom Catena
Recent News
2022 has been another busy year. The fragile ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains continues to allow for better freedom of movement. People are even coming from as far away as Khartoum for help, a testament to the high quality of care and reputation of the staff.
In July, the hospital wrapped up a multimillion dollar capital campaign to fund the construction of new medical training center and a number of other updates to the hospital’s infrastructure. Dr. Tom believes that with these improvements, the hospital will be in a stronger position to thrive for at least the next 20 years!
The opening of the clinical school is now right around the corner. This has been a dream project for the hospital’s staff for years, allowing for the training of local Sudanese nurses, midwives, and physician assistants locally. More healthcare workers are desperately needed in the Nuba region. The new facilities and trainings will help alleviate the healthcare worker shortage over time. The first cohort of 20 new clinical officers has already started their orientation and construction projects remain ongoing.
Operation Broken Silence is managing funds for a multi-org project that is bringing new batteries, building materials and tools, and other resources to improve the power infrastructure at the hospital and get the clinical school up and running. These are items that can’t be sourced locally that will have a major impact on daily operations. They will also help with several other upcoming construction projects in the area. Critical items are being secured and shipping plans are being put into motion now.
This has also been a difficult season at the hospital. Several weeks ago, there was a break-in and major theft on hospital grounds. This caused disruptions to the hospital’s services as staff were pulled from duties to be questioned by the regional government as part of an investigation. Thankfully, over half of what was taken has now been recovered, and generous donors have taken care of the rest!
We missed adding this piece of good news in our last update. Earlier this year, an eye team from South Africa visited the hospital to perform over 100 cataract surgeries and assess more than 700 patients with eye complaints. This also meant that the rest of the hospital was exceptionally busy, as everyone who came with an eye issue also brought a relative who had health issues or COVID-19.
This is a but a small snapshot of the life-changing work done every day at the hospital. To make sure you never miss an update, sign up for our free email list!
Photo provided by Dr. Tom Catena
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are one of several nonprofit organizations fundraising for Mother of Mercy Hospital.
This critical healthcare facility is funded by private supporters from around the world. When we all do our small part, the hospital staff, trainees, and the Nuba people thrive. The fastest and easiest way to help is to make a quick one-time donation online, or setup a small monthly gift to help provide the team the consistent support they need.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Hospital in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
