Introduction Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in Africa and in the world. This country, about the size of the state of Texas, has a per capita income of about $250 per year. Poor government over the years has devastated the economy and lead to the breakdown of the country’s infrastructure, including roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, telephone, and transportation. Read more about CAR in CIA WorldFact Book and Wikipedia. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central Africa Republic (EELRCA) has about 60,000 members, a Bible school, and seminary. Even though the majority of the nation's population is Christian, the church struggles to minister to its people by providing educational and medical services that are not provided by the government. The EELRCA is a growing church, in spite of the difficulties.
Updates Click here for August update from Teresa Obwaya, Project Manager Your support is needed now! In addition to general operating support donations to Gallo Health Center-GHM #10GA-P0001, gifts are needed now for the following specific projects. When making a gift, select the project name and note that it is part of the Gallo Health Center program with the name and account number listed. Staff housing: #10GA-C2801 There are three staff houses on the property that need extensive renovations. This is a top priority before the center opens. We hope to get help from the ELCA for one house but the cost of renovating the remaining three houses is about $15,000 each. Additional modest houses (maybe 5-6) will be needed at a cost of about $20,000 per house. A guest house will eventually be needed for visiting volunteers and temporary staff. Water project: #10GA-C2803 A good supply is available on the property but the infrastructure needs to be in place. $25,000 will provide the needed infrastructure – pumps, pipelines, encasement. Solar project: #10GA-C2805 Solar panels are needed to produce enough electricity to run the basic equipment with generators to act as back-up. The cost initially could be about $40,000. With fuel for generators very costly, solar panels, using natural energy produced by the sun, will make the health center more cost effective and sustainable. Generators: #10GA-C2807 The cost of two generators for the property to operate the health center, the staff houses and the water needs is about $35,000 to $40,000. These are essential, especially as back-up, even if the center has solar panels. Medication support: #10GA-6002 An annual support of $12,000 will help greatly to provide medicines for the Center. ASOMESCA, an ecumenical organization formed several years ago, imports medicines tax-free and distributes them widely throughout the country. A good stock of medicines will provide help for a variety of diseases and injuries. Annual training programs: #10GA-E1100 For about $5,000 per year, the Center can provide on-going training of its medical, support and maintenance staff. Teresa has arranged for the Kenyan organization, CORAT, to train the entire staff before the Center opens. Training is essential to maintaining the quality of the services the Center will provide. Ambulance operating support #10GA-P7003 The Gallo Health Center will have two vehicles to use for emergencies and transporting patients to the clinic and to higher care facilities as needed. The vehicles will also transport staff to community outreach programs and provide a means for hauling needed supplies. Regular maintenance and fuel is essential. $7,000 Missionary sponsorships: #10GA-M7515 The Gallo Health Center will provide an opportunity for skilled medical, administrative, and maintenance/construction people from the U.S. and Europe to spend time volunteering and training, teaching, mentoring others. A fund to support this program will encourage people to become engaged personally in this important ministry. $5,000 annually. Architect's Drawing of the Site Plan at Gallo Architect's Drawing of the Gallo Health Center Floor Plan
Current Projects in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic 10GA-P0000 CAR: Gallo Health Center project (as described above). The dream of the Church and community leaders for the people of a region where no other health services exists, a new primary health care center has now been completed. Gifts may be given in any amount. The Gallo Health Center development is a collaborative project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic, Global Health Ministries, Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, and participating members, congregations and synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. From a letter dated February 14, 2008 from President Golike “I remind you that we have our ears inclined toward you. What is preventing the beginning of construction of the Clinic in Gallo? As a result of long waiting, women, children, and men have become victims of illness and death. Put yourself in our place. We have lost family members and church workers to easily treatable diseases. I encourage you to decide to begin the construction now.” ELCRCA President Andre Golike The New Emmanuel Health Center at Gallo A Dream Come True The Women Who Built Emmanuel Health Center Teresa Morangi Obwaya (above left) was called to go and build the Emmanuel Center, assisted by Eunice Olson (above right). Teresa is trained as a nurse-midwife, and has a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. She has been a provider of maternal-infant health care, an administrator of food and nutrition programs for Catholic Relief in Kenya and World Vision in Ethiopia, and a consultant for leaders in Church healthcare in Africa. Most recently, Teresa was CEO for Dodoma Christian Medical Center, a major mission hospital development project of GHM in Tanzania. By December, 2009, Teresa completed the Center’s renovation and construction, program design, and staff recruitment and training. Teresa’s assistant, Eunice Olson, was born in CAR and is the wife of Rev. Tom Olson, a former CAR missionary now serving in Hawley, MN. Eunice is well acquainted with local religious and health program leaders. Fluent in French and area dialects, she was invaluable to the mission. Now, please help keep the Center operating! We’re committed to pay for the operating costs of the Gallo Health Center for at least ten years. Gifts in support of this critically needed program can be made to Global Health Ministries (Gallo Health Center: 10GA-P0001), Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, or ELCA Global Mission, Level II Projects, c/o Rev. Twila Schock, 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2641. Thank you! #10-D1005 CAR: Aids Awareness Program. To provide counseling, self-care training, pastoral care and educate the community about HIV/AIDS and those living with AIDS. Goal: $20,000 Links to Partners in Mission Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry (LPGM) Eastern North Dakota Synod, ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, ELCA TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church in America/Global Mission MSAADA Architects Hope Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Austin, MN Evangelical Lutheran Mission, Germany Mission Africa, Denmark United Nations Food Program Assomesca in CAR Mercy Corps Catholic Mission (Italian) in CAR UNICEF (United Nations Childrens Fund) CoLuREOM (Commission Luthérienne des Relations avec les Eglises d'Outre-Mer) France