Introduction The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) is currently led by Archbishop Nemuel Babba with over 1.36 million members. To learn more, visit Lutheran World Federation's website on Nigeria. Current Projects Funded by GHM 57-E4501 Nigeria: Adamawa training and development - The church’s evangelism efforts in predominantly Muslim Northeastern Nigeria will provide four wells for local villages and train two nurse midwives. $23,000 57-S0000 Nigeria: Shipping of medical supplies and equipment. $12,150.
The GHM health care survey team that visited Nigeria in December as part of the larger Minneapolis Synod, ELCA companion synod delegation has finished its report and recommendations. Global Health Ministries helped recruit the survey team, led by Gary Sande, GHM's new Project Manager for Nigeria and staff Tom Duke. The report gives observations and recommendations developed by the team as they visited health care personnel and facilities of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria. GHM Team members, L-R, Linda Van Ryn, Gary Sande, Yakubu Bulama (LCCN), Dr. David Thompson, Rev. Tom Duke, Jay Johnson, Dr. Maynard Jacobson. The team found a strong sense of urgency from LCCN leadership to develop the church’s health care program. While it has several dispensaries in outlying areas, the Church is lacking in a central coordinating, training and administering staff function. One hospital (at Demsa) is now being developed to provide both more advanced clinical services/surgery and education, and coordination of commumunity health workers staffing the network of dispensaries. The hospital has recently become operational, with the arrival of one surgeon and supplies and equipment received from a GHM shipment.
New initiatives recommended by the team include arranging for a well and electricity at Demsa, a new shipment of supplies and equipment for the hospital and dispensaries, and developing resources for an expanded wells/water program. While building in maximum sustainability and self-sufficiency, these projects will be pursued in accord with the plans and priorities of the LCCN and in coordination with other partners such as the ELCA and the Danish mission society, Sudan Mission. Following the team's productive mission, the Minneapolis Area Synod (MAS) has now authorized the formation of a Health Care Task. Force to be part of its companion synod relationship with LCCN, and invited the participation of MAS congregations for on-going work to develop ways to be in partnership and support LCCN’s health care program. These plans will no doubt include follow-up visits for face-to-face dialogue and planning for further project development. Team members are ready and willing to offer presentations with video/slide shows. Anyone interested in more information or arranging a pre- sentation may contact Gary Sande at 651-224-9819, or sande973@msn.com.