By Edward Mupada
In many places across Africa, the availability of health care is severely limited, especially among the rural populations and urban poor. For example, in Liberia there is one doctor per 75,000 people, and in Ghana there are only 2600 doctors available to serve about 30 million people. Part of the problem is that building medical clinics can be slow and costly.
An international partnership between Navigator doctors in Ghana and a business entrepreneur in Topeka, Kansas aims to address this problem, as an expression of Christ’s love for people in need. This collaboration is a remarkable example of how our Worldwide Partnership—a multinational network unified in Christ—can advance the Gospel by working together.
Dr. Edith Clarke, who has been a Navigator leader in Ghana since the 1990s, has been successfully piloting an innovative design for mobile medical clinics (MMCs) near Accra since 2017. She and her small medical team operate a well-equipped clinic that is situated in a free trade zone where thousands of Ghanaians work. In that context, Dr. Clarke and her team care for the physical needs of many people who would otherwise struggle to find care.
Her MMCs are the brainchild and contribution of Kansas entrepreneur and longtime Navigator partner Tom Petersen. His company, Primary Mobile Medical International, has developed an inexpensive way of converting shipping containers into medical clinics. Tom has entered a contract with the Ghanaian Health Service to place hundreds more of these mobile clinics in underserved parts of the nation, a project for which PMMI is seeking funding. Edith’s work near Accra has proven the feasibility of the concept.
The PMMI clinics can be set up so that doctors and nurses can provide ultrasound exams, blood testing, minor surgeries, EKGs, and many other forms of primary health care. The clinics enable medical professionals and researchers to quickly identify infectious diseases (such as Ebola) before they spread. Moreover, the PMMI primary care facilities can be operational in a matter of months and for far less cost than a building. This enables more Ghanaian doctors and nurses to establish financially viable medical practices in otherwise underserved populations.
Both Edith and Tom believe that the provision of health care is a direct expression of God’s love for the whole person, a holistic Gospel. PMMI is founded on Luke 9:6, which says, “So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.” Edith emphasizes that her work as a doctor gives her natural access to the personal and spiritual needs of people.
“Every day is an opportunity to demonstrate to our patients the love of Christ through relating to them as human beings, counseling them as they go through phases of life, and alleviating their physical pain and suffering,” said Edith.
For example, when a man who came to her clinic and shared that he was feeling suicidal, Edith had the opportunity to counsel him and to explore some practical solutions for his challenges. This interaction helped him see his need for Christ.
Tom also believes that mobile medical clinics can be used as small education centers that are natural platforms for life-to-life discipleship. They can be equipped with TV monitors that show videos about common diseases, public health practices, nutrition, prenatal care, and healthy relationships.
Please pray that God would continue to use this international partnership to advance his love and grace in Africa. For more information about PMMI, you can go to this link: www.primarymobilemed.com.
Edward Mupada is the Navigator regional director for Africa.
