Mission Partners For Christ literally could not exist without the support and commitment from our medical professionals who give their time and energy to go with us into underserved African communities.
This month, we will be celebrating Doctor’s Day, which is a day to acknowledge and celebrate all that our doctors do. In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic these past few years, it has never been more clear why doctors are such a valuable part of our society and why everyone should have access to medical care.
Why Doctors Are Needed
The ratio of doctors to patients in developing countries is very low. Most people in rural areas have never met a doctor, and mny of the people we meet in our free medical clinics have never seen a medical professional and are left to manage their often crippling health concerns alone.
““You can get there [the hospital] and meet about 50 people waiting to be attended to,” Hassan says. “They said all of their nurses and doctors have been leaving for abroad. Just a few are left.”
In Nigeria, there is one doctor for every 5,000 patients, whereas the average in developed countries is one doctor for about every 254 people.” – The Guardian
“The total stock of health workers was approximately 3.6 million across 47 countries. Among these, 37% of the health workers were nurses and midwives, 9% were medical doctors, 10% were laboratory personnel, 14% were community health workers, 14% were other health workers, and 12% were administrative and support staff. Results show uneven distribution of health workers within the African Region. Most health workers (85%) are in the public sector. Regional density of physicians, nurses and midwives per 1000 population was 1.55, only 4 countries had densities of more than 4.45 physicians, nurses and midwives per 1000 population.”
Seye Abimbola, Editor The health workforce status in the WHO African Region: findings of a cross-sectional study
This is the need that Mission Partners For Christ fills. While many might think that a week of serving isn’t enough time to make a real difference, it can quite literally be the thing that saves someone’s life.
Many of the patients we treat are suffering from conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure and don’t know how to manage their health because they’ve never had a medical professional teach them what is happening to their bodies and how they can care for themselves so they can live long and happy lives.
One woman who came to see us in 2023 had a blood pressure of 225/120, which put her at high risk of heart attack, stroke, and a number of other life-threatening conditions. She needed immediate treatment and education about how to properly care for her body’s needs and maintain a healthy blood pressure.
Many others come to us with parasites, stomach issues, and injuries that require treatment to prevent infection.
Due to the scarcity of qualified medical professionals all across the African continent, you can imagine how the word might spread like wildfire when we arrive and set up our clinics. Every single day, we are seeing thousands of patients, some of whom had been waiting their whole lives to see a doctor.
What Kind Of Doctors Do We Need?
We need doctors of all kinds to assist us in our work!
We primarily seek: Family practitioners, general medicine, mental health, internists, dermatologist, pediatrician, cardiologist, gynecologist, geriatrician, emergency medicine, ophthalmologist, infectious disease, allergist, pulmonologist.
While we don’t do surgery at our free medical clinics, we also welcome surgeons who can help us treat patients.
Here is what to expect:
When you sign up to join us on a medical mission trip, you will get to use your medical skills and expertise to serve God and minister to the underserved and unreached populations of the villages where we’ve been called.
Patients will first be seen by a non-medical volunteer who will document their health concerns and will triage which patients need to be seen by whom.
Once your first patient has been sent to see you, your role will then be to provide general medical care, which includes assessment, treatment and health education.
Many of our doctors will find openings to ask their patients if they would like to be prayed for, and there is an opportunity for our patients to see someone who can share with them about Jesus and lead them in prayer.
There is never any pressure on our patients in any of this, but we always lovingly extend the invitation to those who may appreciate learning more about the God who sent our team to their village.
Celebrating Our Missionary Doctors!
We love doctors – and we want to highlight just a few of the doctors who have joined us in the mission field over the years. Space won’t permit us to show you all of the amazing doctors who have volunteered their time and resources to minister to underserved and unreached African communities, but we feel so blessed to be able to work with all of the amazing men and women God has called into this amazing ministry with us.
Dr. Maisie Isabell (who served with us well into her 70s!)
Dr. Ronnie Archie, Dr. Shanicka Scarbrough, Dr. Andrew White
Dr. Shanicka Scarbrough
Dr. Andrew White with his mother, Ellen White, RN
Dr. Alicia Sanders
Dr. Kimberly Hagerman
Dr. Ronnie Archie
Dr. Jasmine Finch found a friend and mentor in Dr. Maisie Isabell
Dr. Tervicine Delva & Dr. Brittanie Bigby
Dr. Jasmine Finch
Are You Ready To Join A Medical Mission Trip?
If you are a doctor who has been wondering if there is a way to use your skills to serve Jesus and minister to others, here is your chance!
We have multiple trips open for applicants right now! You can learn more about these opportunities on our volunteer page.
If you are interested in learning more, but not quite ready to commit yet, we invite you to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about future opportunities or email us directly with any questions!
