Since our work is finished we have reflected on our time in Cameroon and the St. Martin de Porres Hospital and the people in rural Cameroon. There is so much need for medical care and there are so many challenges to the average person. Poverty definitely adds another dimension that in many instances is the root cause behind many illnesses and complicates care and access to care. Medical personnel are tremendously outnumbered and most have a real sense of dedication to their patients and their country. Many more people are needed to service the overwhelming demand for basic medical care. The most basic items for medical care including dressings and medications and access to a pharmacy are often in short supply or totally lacking. Once you leave the area of the hospital these items are completely unavailable .
Our local hosts the Franciscan Sisters and St. Martin de Porres Hospital were there to help us deliver reconstructive surgery services to these people who rarely have the opportunity to have this type of care. We greatly appreciate their support. We also want to thank our local contacts from the USA who were there for us in so many ways. We are referring to Dr. Brent Burket and his wife Dr. Jennifer Thoene who are in Njinikom on a 3 year Mission sponsored by Mission Doctors. They are there with their 4 children who are attending the local school and supplementing that with home schooling. Christopher is the oldest followed by Elizabeth then JulieAnn and Nicholas is the youngest. The children are a delight to be around and keep their parents busy when they aren’t in the hospital. Drs. Brent and Jennifer met in Portland during their training years and both had a love for medical mission work that was a common bond that has grown even stronger with time. They have worked in Ghana, Guatemala and now in Cameroon to name some of the places where they have dedicated 3 years of their lives to the people of each of these countries. Their deep Catholic faith sustains them in the difficult task of being a full time medical missionary. They also have the help and support of family and friends. There certainly are many challenges to a missionary including a life of financial struggle and self denial as well as the isolation from friends and family. However, they both feel God’s call to help the poorest of the poor and the least of his people who have such a great need for assistance. They are both specialists in Family Medicine which is a basic need for these people. Rosemary and I are in awe of their zeal and commitment.
We are almost home how and continuing to reflect on this surgical mission and praying that we will be able to continue to work in the mission field for some years to come. We are already talking about our next trip to Njinikom and have a long list of items needed for next time and a list of patients to see again as well as new patients needing surgery when we return. Part of that planning includes efforts to get increased funding or grants for the hospital and the services it provides. God has truly blessed us and we only ask that he will provide us with the health and resources to continue to work to help His people. We want to thank all our friends and family for their support during our time in Cameroon. If you have the financial ability to help support mission work please do so. Mission Doctors Association is doing wonderful work around the world and deserves our support.
Until the next time we meet may God Bless You All.
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| Thursday Mass at the Sister's Convent |
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| Rosemary with happy post op patient |
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| Another beautiful flowering tree |
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