The Swedish free church federation Equmeniakyrkan has funded a week-long family-planning course in Semendua, in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Mai-Ndombe province, bringing together 32 health workers from 18 health facilities. The course was taught by Dr Adolphe Biakabuswa, director of Luyindo Hospital in Kinshasa, and focused on skills for reducing maternal and infant mortality. Many participants travelled for hours by motorcycle over poor roads; a group from Oshwe spent two days on the Lukenie River by boat before continuing overland.
Equmeniakyrkan, one of Sweden's larger free church bodies, has supported health work in both Congolese republics for years, and the training belongs to its long-running partnership in a province where poverty and weak infrastructure leave clinics short of trained staff. Dr Biakabuswa said a single week is "not really enough" but gives participants a foundation; the group will stay in contact through a WhatsApp group, and each participant received written documentation. Those who took part asked for further courses, he added.
The same mission newsletter announced a new three-year programme against HIV and AIDS at the IME regional hospital in Kimpese. It combines testing, treatment and a psychosocial component in which local congregations are helped to speak openly about HIV and to support people living with the disease. The initiative is a partnership with the Disciples of Christ in the United States and Canada — one of the hospital's founding missions in the 1950s — and the World Council of Churches; the Disciples are the main funder, the WCC contributes expertise and some funding, and Equmeniakyrkan coordinates reporting, follow-up and evaluation. "Do not stop the support," Dr Biakabuswa urged supporters in Sweden, describing conditions in Mai-Ndombe as very difficult.
(Originally published in Swedish. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Equmeniakyrkan — equmeniakyrkan.se/halsa-for-kongo-okt-26/
