Efficient MAF flights support the exciting expansion of Béré Adventist Hospital in Chad, and a possible partnership with visiting surgeons.
“The hospital here is a 105-bed facility,” said Project Manager Charles Ichu, as his colleagues from Adventist Health disembarked an MAF aeroplane at Béré.
“However, we treat far more patients than that, sometimes even under the trees. The hospital serves the people of Béré, but people come from as far as Sudan to get help here. MAF has been a great partner!”
The MAF flight brought Miriam and Milomfa Ayite, serving with Adventist Health International, from the national capital N’Djamena to Béré.
The hospital in Béré is under expansion to become a multi-purpose hospital, including the building of four new operating rooms, pre-op and post-operative areas.
“I’m project manager at Adventist Health International,” said Milomfa, who comes from Togo and had just arrived from Mozambique.
“I function as the eyes on the field. Wherever there is construction happening, I make sure that what they want is actually being built, and to see the progress of the project.”
“We started three years ago with the construction,” added Miriam, who comes from Nigeria. “We come here to help finish the project. We stay for three months, as we try to avoid the rains as much as possible, and the whole project should be finished by November.
“This is the second time we have flown with MAF. The last time we were here, we came by road, and we went back with MAF. So now, we are coming with MAF and hopefully we will also return with MAF!”
“The road is not very good,” said Milomfa. “Particularly during the rainy season, it is really, really bad, so it is better to fly. When you get here by plane, you are strong. You are not so tired and exhausted.”
“By road, it is almost a whole day,” added Miriam. “You first travel to Kélo, where you arrive in the afternoon, and then from there you continue by motorbike to Béré.
When you get here by plane, you are strong. You are not so tired and exhausted.
“If the roads are okay, it is about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Kélo to Béré, but if the rain is there, it goes up to 4 hours.”
Having said goodbye to Miriam and Milomfa, the MAF flight crew welcome some new passengers from the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS).
Doctors Keir Thelander, Elvam Asaph and John Tarpley arrived in Béré two days earlier, having flown with MAF from N’Djamena, and they board their return flight today.
The mission of PAACS is to train and disciple African surgeons and specialists to provide care to those most in need, by living out the Gospel and ministering to the sick. The team visited the hospital in Béré to see whether a partnership is possible and whether the hospital could become a new training location for surgeons.
“At the moment, there are approximately 40 surgeons for the whole of Chad, with a population of over 19 million people,” said Keir. “This means that there is less than 1 surgeon for 400,000 people! It is only 1/20th of what it should be according to international standards – that is, 1 for 20,000.”
Having saved another full day of travel by road, Keir and the team returned by air to N’Djamena – with hope that the coming expansion of Béré Adventist Hospital could support a future partnership with PAACS.
The MAF leadership team in Chad were excited to support these expansions for an already far-reaching ministry, a great blessing to the people of Chad and beyond.