Day 9: Healthcare in Africa

UMCOR Health works internationally with United Methodist hospitals and clinics to reach out to communities to combat major health issues such as malnutrition, maternal and child mortality, and HIV/AIDS and malaria with education, medication, and preventative measures.

UMCOR supports United Methodist hospitals and clinics in Africa and Asia through the Hospital Revitalization Program. This program provides funds, training, and support to help these facilities assess the needs of the hospital or clinic, and the needs of the surrounding community. The program works with the health care institutions to help them improve community outreach, standards of care, and community-based education and development.

Through the Hospital Revitalization Program, UMCOR Health works with these hospitals and clinics to provide care through a community-based outreach model that sends health workers and traditional birth attendants out into the community. HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Nutrition, and Maternal and Child Health programs are hallmarks of this community outreach focus. Hospital community-health workers provide education through schools and clinics to teach good community health practices. Regular under-five checkups and prenatal care help protect some of the most vulnerable people in developing countries.

The program supports over 22 hospitals and clinics in areas that include Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierre Leone, and Zimbabwe, bringing health and healing to communities throughout Africa and Asia.

Hospital Revitalization Program, UMCOR Advance #982168
Learn more at www.umcorhealth.org

To make an additional donation to this project, click here

Quick Facts

• There are currently 22 United Methodist hospitals in seven African countries, including: Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.

• In Côte d’Ivoire, the life expectancy at birth is 56 years. Côte d’Ivoire has the 25th highest infant mortality rate in the world.

• In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the life expectancy at birth is 47 years. More than 500,000 children under the age of five die each year.

• In Mozambique, the life expectancy at birth is 49 years. More children die of malaria, a preventable disease, than any other disease in this country.

• In Sierra Leone, the life expectancy at birth is 47 years and 30% of the country’s children do not live past the age of 5.

• In Zimbabwe, the life expectancy at birth is 44 years. There are 1.4 million people in Zimbabwe living with HIV/AIDS.

Volunteer Information: For more information on how to volunteer, please contact your regional jurisdictional coordinator.

North Central: Lorna Jost
928 4th Street, Office #2, Brookings, SD 57006
Tel: 605-692-3390;

Northeastern: Gregory Forrester
32 North Church Street, Cortland, NY 13045
Tel: 607-756-7799;

South Central: Debbie Vest
15120 Sunningdale Street, Austin TX, 78717
Tel: 913-568-8826;

Southeastern: Paulette West
315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Suite 750, Decatur, GA 30030
Tel: 404-377-7424;

Western: Heather Wilson
11707 Terra Bella, Lakeview Terrace, CA 91342
Tel: 818-333-6730;