Click on the newsletter image to read or download the latest edition of On Call

On Call is a quarterly publication from World Medical Mission written to those who support our work with doctors and dentists in hospitals around the world. In each issue we include stories of how your support helps us to "bind up wounds and bring healing to the brokenhearted." You can also see a list of mission hospitals asking for help and consider volunteering your services if you are a doctor in one of the listed specialties. Read each issue here by downloading the Adobe pdf file.

Notes from the Field

Kenya
Dr. Raymond Lyrene and his wife, Allyson, served for a month at Kijabe hospital

Daily rounds are always exciting and challenging. The dark cloud of HIV hangs over many of the patients, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. Many cases are complicated by malnutrition and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Rickets is especially common. Malaria in this part of Kenya is quite unusual due to the high altitude, where the transmitter, the Anopheles mosquito, is unable to survive. But the other big killers of children— pneumonia, diarrhea, and tuberculosis—are seen in abundance.

We have seen a few children with congenital heart disease, but surgical repair is unavailable for most patients. Every fall there is a visiting pediatric cardiovascular team from Vanderbilt that comes to Tenwek Hospital and spends two weeks repairing broken hearts, but that is about it. We lost a baby last week who simply could not hold out until the Vanderbilt team arrived. And today we have another child with congenital heart disease in intensive care who may not make it until the team arrives.

Although this sounds gloomy, there are many miraculous stories of healing that continue to encourage all of us. Perhaps the biggest gift that Allyson and I can offer the staff here is to encourage them and to provide some relief from their daily duties so that they can be refreshed, physically and spiritually. In return, God has been gracious and blessed us with new friendships and many wonderful memories.

Rwanda
Dr. James Robinson served for five weeks at Kibogora hospital

Kibogora Hospital is located on Lake Kivu and serves a large population in southwestern Rwanda. This was my first overseas missionary experience.

During my time, I cared for patients in adult medicine, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, and outpatient consultation. I also gave lectures to the medical staff on diagnosis and treatment of common diseases and on EKG interpretation.

My time at Kibogora was unbelievable. The people are extraordinarily friendly. I enjoyed my time at the hospital so much. It has really helped restore my love of medicine. Patients are so extremely appreciative. I feel like I have truly made a difference in the lives of some of the people here in my short time. I only pray that I have been able to help in ways that will last after I am gone.

My time at Kibogora not only allowed me to grow as a doctor and a person, but I feel I probably grew the most as a Christian in my time there. It is amazing how much time you have for prayer and personal reflection without high-speed Internet, TV, etc. I hope to return again soon.