Launches Medical Outreach Focusing On Eyesight
By Joseph Kerkulah, Kerkulahjoe.rkfm@gmail.com
Liberia with a big population of Christians is one of the poorest countries in the world, though it has huge reserve of mineral resources including iron ore, timbers, gold and fertile soil for agriculture production. Yet, this West African is currently among the least developed countries of world.
Liberians find it difficult to meet the daily requirements for its citizens. On July 26 this year, this country is marking its 176th Independence Anniversary as Africa’s oldest independent black African Republic since 1847.
Nearly two centuries on, this country continues to be faced with huge challenges in all sectors including health and agriculture. Hospitals and clinics lack essential drugs and medical supplies, while the nation is yet to be self-sufficient in food production, including its staple–rice.
Last year, the country celebrated 200 years since the freed slaves returned to settle in this part of the world called Liberia. As the oldest nation in the continent of Africa it is challenged, the country remains backward when it comes to infrastructural developments.
These basic social needs and responsibilities deficiently the encounters, based on the above, citizens found it very necessary to contribute to the growth and development of the country in many capacities affecting the different sectors of the country. Many Liberians have chosen to use the Gospel to contribute to improving lives and providing better health services.
One group that recently joined others intervening to provide relief in the health sector is the Christ Vision International Church based in 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; aim at providing site for many persons are facing some impairment with their eyes. The launch took place in Gbarnga weeks ago, over with 300 persons benefiting from the first phase of the Outreach program while some were registered pending surgery due to their conditions.
Speaking to reporter, 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 maladies.
After the diagnoses for patients, some were treated while others with dangerous conditions are on the standby pending surgery for next month.
Bishop Paye said 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 Christ Vision Internationa Church Bishop disclosed that 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 that is less than US$3 per person for registration to carry on the procedure. According to him, 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.
Phase 2 registration already underway
The registration for phase two has already started in the central Liberian city of 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.
Describing the church as a body of Christ, Bishop Paye 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,” said Bishop Paye.
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 phase 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. Scientific research says that during a seizure, a person experiences abnormal behavior, symptoms, and sensations, sometimes including loss of consciousness.