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Moringa Associates partnering with HEAL Africa

In April and May, Moringa Associates Inc. will be partnering with HEAL Africa in Goma, D.R. Congo.

David Cohen is going for 7 weeks, and Kathi Cohen for 5.

David’s major responsibility will be teaching and encouraging the 48 key Nehemiah Committee teams (all in French!). Kathi will be helping doctors with their English, as they prepare to do their graduate medical studies in Tanzania; teaching women of the community; and working in the Nehemiah agricultural project gardens where Moringa trees are grown as a controlled nutritional experiment. We are amazed at the Moringa tree (our charitable association name) link as our international work develops!

These Nehemiah Committees serve as HEAL Africa’s ears, eyes and hands in the broader community. Each faith-based committee of 10 is gender balanced, representing different tribes and religions. They connect HEAL Africa to the wider community. The committees pass on agricultural training they have received, identify women who have been raped and are in need of medical attention or surgery, introduce HEAL Africa-trained counsellors, update staff on security situations and mobilize the community to participate in health education seminars, while partnering with HEAL Africa in development projects.

The HEAL Africa Centre in Goma is the first contact most people have with its ministry – the most visible part of their work. The main areas of surgery are Orthopaedics and vesico-vaginal fistula repair. In 2007 the surgical teams completed 375 orthopaedic and 294 vesico-vaginal surgeries. The hospital is integrated into the national health system and is a Tertiary Referral and Training Hospital.

The HEAL Africa website (www.healafrica.org) effectively describes the diversity and vibrancy of the organisation. We are excited by the prospect of working again with our friends Dr Jo and Lyn Lusi in northeastern D.R. Congo, where David lived in Goma for 15 months (from 1994-1996) and where we have returned together 4 times since then.

India Mission

Read about the team from our Parish who have completed a mission in Hyderabad, India. Their blog can be found at the Sydney Anglican website here