Medical Outreach Focuses On Eye Site, Using Health To Spread The Gospel Of Christ
By Joseph Kerkulah, Kerkulahjoe.rkfm@gmail.com
Liberia is one of the poorest countries in Africa and the World, despite huge deposit of Iron ore, timber, gold, with its soil rich for Agriculture, while this West African nation is among the 10th of the poorest countries in the World.
Liberians find it difficult to meet the daily requirements for its citizens. Liberia stands as the country that contributed to the independence of many nations in Africa and the World. It is known as Africa’s oldest nation since 1847. One major sector that is rife with challenges and difficulties is the Health. Medical facilities presently lack essential drugs and other needs.
Last year, the country celebrated 200 years since the freed slaves returned to settle in this part of the world known today as Liberia. As the oldest nation on the continent of Africa, it is striving to overcome r roads and other social infrastructure deficits.
Amid the huge challenges, some of its citizens at home and abroad have found it very necessary to contribute to the growth and development of their country in many capacities. Many Liberians have chosen to use the Gospel to contribute to improving lives and giving better health services.
One group that recently joined other groups in the health sector is the Christ Vision International Church based in the central Liberian city of Gbarnga City, Bong County. The Christ Vision International Church partnering with Inter-Denominational Christian Mission in collaboration with Great Faith Vision of the United States of America recently launched a medical outreach program for eye service. It is aimed at providing site for many persons are facing some impairment with their eyes.
The initial launch took place in Gbarnga weeks ago with over 300 people benefiting from the first phase of the outreach program, while some were registered pending surgery due to their conditions.
Speaking to Reporters, Rev. Bishop James Paye of the Christ Vision International Church said the Medical outreach will continue to take place on a yearly basis as the church dreams to establish an eye clinic to accommodate by providing treatment for persons suffering from eye illnesses.
He said during the checkups of patients some were treated while others with dangerous conditions are on the standby pending surgery for next month.
It was disclosed that experts from the United States and United Kingdom are expected to be in Liberia to carry on the surgery for those who cases seem grave.
The Bishop said the church is using the outreach as means to evangelize to God’s people in winning souls for Christ, which the program will help to encourage members and expand the church into other communities in Liberia.
He said the surgery is free but the Church is charging LD $500 per person for registration to carry on the procedure and the money will be used to buy data for live broadcasts for donors outside of Liberia to view the event. It is anticipated that the eye clinic of the Phebe Medical Hospital will be used for the exercise.
The registration for phase two has started in Gbarnga and other communities including David Dean Town in Kokoyah District, Bong County. The David Dean Town community is one of the area that host a congregation of the church, it was selected to reach to the people outside Gbarnga as many persons are finding it difficult to travel to Gbarnga for surgery, this will shorten their distance and cost for people who have eye problem but cannot also afford to pay their way to Gbarnga.
Bishop Paye further described the church as a body of Christ sees the outreach program as another way to taking the gospel to the people teaching them about salvations and repentance. He said the church will continue the medical outreach on a yearly basis to meet the medical needs of Liberians and contributing to alleviate conditions of the citizens in the country.
“The church deals with spiritual healing, it is not just the spiritual healing but the physical aspect as Jesus Christ used mud and told people to watch their faces in the pool of Sinai. Jesus used 3 loaf of bread to feel his followers, teaching and spreading the good news of God at the same, this is the earthly Godly miracle that is physically applied to save lives,” Bishop Paye explained.
He maintained that the church is here to continue the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and will lobby with partners in and abroad to reach other parts of Liberia. The Christ Vision International Church is presently partnering with Inter-Denominational Christian Mission in collaboration with Great Faith Vision of the United States to carry on the service in Liberia.
Meanwhile, Bishop James Paye has disclosed that the next face of the outreach will focus on Epilepsy as there is a reported increase in some rural parts of Liberia.
Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, and cause seizures. The disease may occur as a result of a genetic disorder or and acquired brain injury, such as a trauma or stroke. Research says that during a seizure, a person experiences abnormal behavior, symptoms, and sensations, sometimes including loss of consciousness.