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| 16 Jan 2006 Nick |
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| In November 2005 Nick Henwood represented the Network when he visited Uganda, DR Congo and Kenya. His visits were very short, but through them he seeded the beginning of friendships between three Christian health programmes and the Network |
 At Kiwoko I met Moses Sekidde - the head of the community health programme: "From 1981 to 86 there was Civil war in our region. Ian Clark, an Irish Christian doctor worked here from 1987. He had a preventative health agenda. Now we have a 240 bed hospital, community activities for the youth, for HIV / AIDS sufferers (Voluntary Counselling and Testing and home based care for 1000 people) water and sanitation, rehabilitation of disability, epilepsy care, child immunisation and health awareness activities. We have trained 150 health volunteers. There are difficulties, not least working with the tension of seeing both hospital and community work as top priorities. The 'killing fields' have become 'healing fields'.
And how does your faith count in your community work?
"We are ‘called to serve’. We’ve seen God’s faithfulness. We’re encouraged and motivated by visitors. Like the Moses in the Bible we've been delivered by God from difficulties and see his help for us each day."
At Aru I met the team at IPASC - a centre for teaching and learning about community health care where the teaching staff and students are engaged in safe motherhood, Malaria, HIV/AIDS and financial management of small programmes in their neighbourhood. They explained some of the challenges they face as they work to support people with HIV. There is a high rate of sexual partner exchange, so IPASC works for HIV awareness through radio, schools, churches and community events.
As people with AIDS have met with the IPASC team and with others who have HIV, they have increased in self-esteem. A number receive anti-retroviral medications.
I spent some time with field staff looking at how they could share the experiences they have gained, for example in their safe motherhood programme, with other projects. I hope they will share about their programmes with other Network members. In the Network they can be fully open about the way they've looked to God in prayer, and how they've trusted him to supply their needs.
At Tenwek I saw aspects of the Community Health Department which works alongside a modern hospital. A new approach they are developing is to inspire church leaders with a vision to serve the health-related needs of their neighbours as well as spiritual needs - after all, Jesus cared for spiritual, social and physical aspects of people's lives.
While I was at Tenwek, 20 or so head teachers were attending a 'WHY WAIT' course at the programme's training centre. The training challenged these influential leaders in their communities to promote a Christian view of sexuality that encourages young people to wait until they are married before becoming sexually active. Speaking with participants, it seemed that the course was life-changing for them too.
It was great to travel to these three inspiring programmes in East Africa and meet their committed Christian staff. Thank you. I hope that other Network members might be able to spend longer at one or other of them to see and learn more about their approaches. I warmly invite the friends I made during my visit to become Network members and share some of their rich experiences through the medium of the Network.
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