Global Health Ministries

Many thanks to St. Philip's Lutheran Church in Fridley for sending a volunteer group to design, build, and pack four large crates of electrical equipment and various medical supplies to be sent to Liberia. This was a big project! Now these life changing items will stay safe and secure on their journey because of these wonderful volunteers! Thanks be to God!

Thank you to the youth from Bethlehem Lutheran Church Mankato for volunteering at GHM during their Service & Sun week! These inspiring young people sorted many medical supplies for our partners around the world. We love it when volunteer groups choose Global Health Ministries for their service projects. Reach out if you'd like to learn more!

Another great report from Magdeline Aagard's time in Tanzania on behalf of Global Health Ministries!

Leo mapema, ofisini kwa mkurugenzi wa Afya na Diakonia wa KKKT tumempokea mgeni Profesa Magdeline Aagard kutoka Global health Ministries (GHM) ambaye ni mdau mkubwa wa huduma za afya zinazotolewa na KKKT. Tumezungumza mengi ikiwemo namna ya kuboresha uhusiano kati ya KKKT na GHM. Tumeshirikishana uzoefu kwenye maeneo ya utoaji wa huduma za saratani, tiba shufaa, program ya kujitolea pamoja na afya kidigitali. Mkutano wetu umekuwa mzuri na wa kujivunia ushiriano wetu.

Earlier today, in the office of the Director of Health and Diakonia of ELCT, we received a guest professor, Magdeline Aagard, from the Global Health Ministry (GHM), who is a major stakeholder in the health services provided by ELCT. We have talked a lot, including how to improve the relationship between ELCT and the GHM. We have shared experience in the areas of cancer care, palliative care, volunteer programmes, and digital health. Our meeting has been good, and we are proud of our partnership.

Elcthealth KKKT Elct Head Quarters
Global Health Ministries Global Health Ministry Global Health Ministries

GHM’s decades of partnership in Liberia continues to see powerful results.

Isaac Canmu was a 3-year scholarship recipient from GHM, studying laboratory sciences. In 2024, he is giving back and discovering a career as the Senior Lab Technician at Curran Hospital.

The County Commissioner met Pastor Doug Cox on the street when he was in Liberia to shower GHM with thanks! His enthusiasm was about the digital x-ray GHM donated to Curran. “Now you don’t have to go far away for an x-ray! And people come from Guinea and other long distances to Curran. Thank you!”

What wonderful reports from our partners in Liberia! Thanks be to God!

Global Health Ministries is seeking volunteer consultants to travel to Liberia, Tanzania and Uganda in the coming months. Serving on a GHM consultation team is a multi-year relationship commitment. Costs associated with travel are covered by GHM. Take a look at our current opportunities and reach out for more information. We'd love to talk with you!

GHM Consulting: Current Opportunities — Global Health Ministries GHM’s consultations are growing! Do you have an interest in making a difference on a global basis? Have you always wondered how you could use your knowledge and experience to assist others? These are our current Volunteer Consultant Opportunities: Liberia The purpose of this consultation is t

Our interim director of consulting, Magdeline Lynn Aagard, is currently in Tanzania meeting with GHM partners. This week she is at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center supporting our MHA student who is doing her residency at the cancer center. On Thursday evening, Magdeline was able to attend a live broadcast at ELCT Radio Station in Moshi with Dr. Theresia, a breast surgeon, Sister Tatu, a nurse, and Jackline, a breast cancer survivor. They talked about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, diagnosis and treatment, patient education, and the experience of being a patient with breast cancer. It is wonderful to hear about this important work and see how it is reaching the community!

Pastor Teneku in Cameroon recently sent an update from the Protestant Hospital of Ngaoundéré. GHM provided funds for the purchase of an ultrasound machine which was received and blessed by the National Bishop of the EELC, Mgr Dr Jean Baïguélé, in the presence of the Director of the Work of Health, Dr Olivier Titus Doka, guests and nursing staff. Pastor Teneku reports the joy was very great! Praise the Lord for the wonderful partnership we share together.

Today we give thanks for one of GHM's greatest supporters, The Seeds of Change Foundation, based in Sioux Falls, SD. Seeds of Change is a strategic partner with a laser focus on community-based efforts. In 2024, we are working together in four countries (The Central African Republic, El Salvador, Madagascar, and Nigeria) and community-based health efforts are expanding in these countries to reach over half a million people! The strong commitment from the Seeds of Change Foundation in partnership with GHM is making a profound impact. We are extremely grateful for our shared mission.

At GHM, we are grateful for the many volunteers who make our mission possible. Special thanks to these friends from Shepherd of the Valley- Apple Valley, MN for regularly helping out in the warehouse. What a gift! Thank you for sharing your time and talents with Global Health Ministries! If you are looking for a place to volunteer, join us!

Pastor Doug Cox, GHM Executive Director, is in Liberia this week and shares this report from his visit at Phebe Hospital:

The passion and commitment to serve people without resources, sets Phebe Hospital apart in Liberia. In the words of the hospital director, Dr. Minnie Ricks, “Phebe is the only place that does not refuse a patient. Even if we are not capable of the expertise needed, we will stabilize you and explain fully why a referral is being made. We do ask for money, but it is not required before service.”

GHM partnership helps make this possible with gifts of every kind, including Operating Room equipment, and a new autoclave to benefit to make it possible for someone like Mary Kolesh to safely undergo a C-Section and welcome her twins into this world. Or Menue, whose successful hernia surgery this week required sterilized instruments and a host of other gifts from GHM. It was a special to see the digital x-ray machine in use, as it is every day, another recent gift made possible by so many supporters who give through GHM. Thank you for your support!

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Global Health Ministries! Our offices will be closed today and tomorrow in observance of the holiday. We hope you have an enjoyable 4th of July!

Our executive director, Pastor Doug Cox, is in Liberia this week visiting some of our medical partners. Here he is at Curran Hospital meeting with Medical Director, Dr. Amani; LCL Bishop Victor Padmore and Board Chairman, Alexander. During their time together, they discussed strategic plans including leadership training and further education for the team. A very productive conversation! Thanks be to God for this blessed relationship!

In the south of Madagascar, the drought continues to threaten daily life for the Androy people. In this context, GHM is delighted to partner with the Lutheran Health System, SALFA, in drilling wells, creating water distribution systems, implementing drip irrigation to bring multiple crops in desert conditions and empowering clinics focused on healthy deliveries and young children. Thank you for your partnership in making possible such positive outcomes for our neighbors in Madagascar!

We join with Bishop Padmore from the Lutheran Church in Liberia in celebrating Curran Lutheran Hospital's 100th birthday! Despite challenges, the dedicated staff at this 100-bed hospital faithfully serve a catchment area of more than a quarter million people, including neighboring towns in Guinea. It's the only referral hospital in Lofa County, providing hope and healing for surrounding communities. Praise God for 100 years of faithful service!

Curran Hospital 100years

We just received word that a 40’ container has arrived in Zimbabwe filled with 2,368 boxes of medical supplies (!) that will support four hospitals (Manama, Masase, Mnene, Musume); three Community-Based Programs (Betseranai, Tariro, Thusanang); and a Health Centre (Burure). Included in this GHM shipment: 10,343 rolled bandages, 423 hospice kits and 634 newborn kits! All in all, 20,828 pounds of life saving medical items were sent by Global Health Ministries with a value of $339,690! Praise the Lord and thank you for your partnership!

We are excited to welcome our new executive assistant, Chloe Nauman. Chloe served as an intern at Global Health Ministries and recently received her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She is looking forward to serving the mission of GHM and meeting friends and partners here and around the world. Welcome Chloe!

Today we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States and pray for those still enslaved throughout the world. May we continue to be strengthened together to be agents of freedom, healing, and hope

Twice a year, a group of volunteers from Our Savior's Lutheran in Menomonie, Wisconsin, travels to GHM. Along with delivering donated medical equipment from their local VA Hospital, they spend the day assisting in our warehouse wherever the need is greatest. These faithful, helping hands are such an encouragement to us at Global Health Ministries. Thank you for your friendship and partnership in making our mission possible!

Thank you to the NE IA Women of the ELCA for inviting Kim Dickey to speak about Global Health Ministries at their synod gathering this weekend. It was an honor to be with you!

Kim Dickey from Global Health Ministries talking with us about the mission of GHM.
Go here if you want more information

https://www.ghm.org/

We received an update from Samuel Magok, Administrator for Juba Health Centre in South Sudan: "Yesterday we distributed items received from a GHM container to our community members who came to the health center. The distribution included bed sheets, buckets, blankets, mosquito beds, soap, mats, and blankets. God bless you and everyone at GHM!" We praise God for this beautiful report!

It was exciting to welcome a group of 9 youth and 3 chaperones from Pursuit Community Church in Mounds View on their first mission trip! Thank you for spending your morning volunteering in our GHM warehouse. We are so proud of you for stepping into this opportunity to love and serve your neighbors!

Thank you, Grace of God Lutheran Church, for your generosity in assembling newborn kits for our global medical partners! A great example of the amazing volunteers and congregations who help the hands that heal!

Today GHM is honored to be with the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin - ELCA as 191 congregations gather for their annual assembly. Thank you for inviting us to share about Global Health Ministries as we serve our neighbors throughout the world together.

We had a lovely time yesterday at our annual volunteer appreciation picnic! Thank you to everyone who was able to attend. We even celebrated Roger Livdahl's 90th birthday together. Roger has volunteered 8,521 hours at GHM over the past 15 years! WOW! GHM would not exist without the countless volunteers who make our mission possible each and every day. We are very grateful and thank God for all of our faithful volunteers both near and far!

We had a great time with a very fun and productive group of volunteers from St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield! Along with bringing many donations of quilts and health care kits to share with our partners overseas, this group spent the morning helping out in the warehouse. Thank you for your partnership and friendship with GHM!

In El Salvador, our GHM health partners are focusing on the use of traditional herbal health supplements. These efforts include teaching and equipping their neighbors about gardening best practices. This educational program benefits almost 5,000 people as a part of health education that includes first-aid, nutrition, family planning, disease prevention, and more! What a great report to share!

Sustainable health development includes access to clean water. Just today we received updates on new wells in Nigeria being drilled in May. The hand dug wells (really big holes) were completed in four new villages (Yapokko, Yalluri, Wakka Tappare and Kirti), while boreholes were completed with a power drilling rig in four more villages this year (Dimaska, Ko'ota, Chetere Gabun and Hinna). These villages partner with GHM to provide the first 30% of the costs involved in surveying, digging, and installing a hand pump or safety covering for villagers to use a rope and bucket to safely retrieve water. In partnership with each village, well committees are recruited and trained to maintain each well. Typically, GHM sponsored wells are still working even after a decade of service. We praise God for the impact this makes on health in tens of thousands of lives every year in Nigeria.

We received an incredible update from Nuwayina Briska, a Community Health Coordinator in Nigeria, with these photos from a recent training of Village Health and Development Committees and Village Health Workers serving many communities in rural Northeast Nigeria. Nuwayina shared: “There were about 350 participants!” This is a ministry of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria supported by Global Health Ministries that mobilizes volunteers who serve over 60,000 people in Nigeria with health education impacting a host of issues from malaria to maternal and child health. Praise God!

Yesterday we were very touched when Suah, her husband and friends delivered 593 newborn kits for Phebe and Curran Hospitals in Libera given in honor of her parents, the late Rev. James and Anna Vankpana. Suah's mother was a midwife at Curran and her father was a Lutheran pastor in Zorzor. These carefully packed barrels of newborn kits will be added to our next shipping container for Liberia. Thank you, Suah, for this most generous and thoughtful donation to GHM!

It was 6:00 a.m. when this wonderful group of volunteers from the Mason City, IA, area boarded a bus at Trinity Lutheran Church-Mason City to travel to GHM and spend their morning volunteering in our warehouse! Wow! How blessed are we to have friends who care so much. Thank you for your faithful service at Global Health Ministries. Your work will greatly help our partners around the world!