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Mission Doctors Association On-Line Spring 2004 Newsletter

QUICK LINKS:
Veteran Mission Doctor Continues Mission Work From Montana
Retreat / Seminar
Annual Mass and Luncheon
Browns Join Stoughtons in Zimbabwe
Anna Kummer writes from Guatemala
Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.J. Brouwers
Words From Founder
SEE HOW THE WORLD SUFFERS!
The Mission Doctors’ Association
Those needed in Mission Lands

Lent in Zimbabwe

Dick and Loretta Stoughton

As we work our way through the weeks of Lent to approach the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, it also is time for me to try to bring all of you up to date on our work here in Zimbabwe. It would seem that at the present time all of Sub-Saharan Africa, and especially Zimbabwe, is going through a “passion and slow death”, and we sometimes have a hard time looking for a glimmer of any resurrection. HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe continues to be the number one health problem facing the country, although the shortage of food, shortage of fuel, horrendous inflation (200% last year), political instability, and lack of rule of law are all attempting to push the HIV/AIDS problem to second or third or fourth place. Once again, our area has had very poor rains for the growing season. We had some good early rains, then very little for three months, and now way too much in one week, so that there has been flooding, lives lost, crops ruined, and huts damaged. The country will have to depend on foreign support for maize, sugar, flour, and cooking oil for the next several years. Medicines are either not available, or else are quite expensive on the private market. Doctors and Nurses continue to leave the country for “greener pastures” in large numbers, and so keeping qualified staff for the hospital is always a struggle.

AND YET: There truly is more than a glimmer of a resurrection - not only the Resurrection that we know comes with Easter Sunday, but also a resurrection within this very, very resilient country. Where do I see that glimmer?

We have a very dedicated staff, that are truly concerned about the holistic care of our patients. Although they work long hours and although the buying power of their wages has been eroded tremendously by inflation, they still rise to the challenges that are presented every day. We are truly blessed to be working with them.
I have a second doctor since the middle of January. Sr. Dr. Clara, a Dominican Sister, is now here, and what a relief. It is such a difference having two doctors to do the work, and then have time to think about areas that need improvement.
We have an active and successful “Parent to Child Prevention” of HIV program. This has been in place for 1 1/2 years now, and about 80% of our antenatal mothers are electing to be tested. About 25% of mothers tested are HIV positive. They receive an anti-retroviral drug during labor, and the baby receives it shortly after birth. This is reducing the transmission from around 40 to 50% (or higher) to around 15%. The other great side-effect is that we are increasing the knowledge about HIV, and reducing the community stigma.
Workshops were provided for all of our nursing staff, so that they are qualified to give counseling to patients before and after HIV testing. We also are in the process of educating ALL of our non-nursing staff, so everyone will have the proper information about HIV.
We have begun a “Faith Based Approach to HIV/AIDS”, and this year this program will greatly expand. We are having many three-day workshops to educate a large cross-section of the population: pastors and other church leaders; teachers; Chiefs and sub-chiefs and village leaders; school children; business people, etc., etc. It is our goal that in time, ALL people in the area will have had the chance to attend a workshop to become truly educated about HIV.
Working with the “Zimbabwe Association of Church Hospitals” (ZACH) and the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), we have established a network of Church Hospitals that are working together to develop a “best approach” to education, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Because of this program, we will soon have adequate anti-retroviral drugs available to treat those of our staff (and family members) that would require treatment. We feel that it is imperative that we first offer this to health care workers, so that we can assure them that they have “first place” in such a program, since they are providing ALL of the health care for people suffering from HIV/AIDS.
We have a large Home Based Care (HBC) program. There are 90 volunteers who live throughout our area, and help to give care in the home for this living and dying from HIV. This program also helps some 2700 orphans with emotional support, counseling, school fees, and school uniforms.
The support that we continue to get from everyone in the US - friends, relatives, benefactors, etc., etc. It truly is humbling to see all that each and every one of you are doing for us. During this past year, some US $10,000 has been raised. I can guarantee that every cent of that is used for our work, and here is how some of it is being used:

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

Medicines, and surgical and laboratory supplies.

Help with food for the very poor.

School fees, uniforms, and shoes for some of the 2700 orphans.

Assist with the Orphanage at Emerald Hill in Harare. They have 100 orphans, nearly all of whom cannot be in the community because of various types of abuse. They receive less than US $1 per child per month in support from the government, and so depend greatly on benefactors.

The School for the Deaf, also at Emerald Hill, Harare. They have over 230 deaf children who are taught from grade 1 through secondary school. This past year, 15 of these children were chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the 7th World Festival of Children’s Theater in Lingen, Germany, and received many plaudits for their performance. Another secondary student won the National Art prize plus a trip to the United Nations and a meeting with Kofi Anan - quite an achievement! The School for the Deaf depends very much on benefactors, and so we are happy to be of some assistance.

We purchased a much needed piece of lab equipment, and a new computer and printer for the administration office

Besides all of the above, both Loretta and I continue to really enjoy what we are doing. It has always been true that we receive much more than we give, and so it does not feel like any sacrifice at all. The work in the hospital is challenging and always interesting. It seems that we see so much of the “unusual” that it all becomes “usual”, and so I tend not to write about it. Our family continues to support us in what we do, although we truly do miss seeing them. Loretta was back in Connecticut in January so that she would be there for when our daughter Mary and her husband Dave had their third child, Daniel Everett Nichols. Then Loretta was also able to fly to Madison, WI, and see the new grandson that Tom and Sarah had in early January, Joshua Andrew Stoughton. We now are blessed with 15 grandchildren, with one more due in August, to Tim and Sara. In June, we will return to the US for a short visit - we will spend a week with the entire “clan” (some 30 of us!) at one very large house on the ocean at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Then we will spend a week with Mary and family in Connecticut, and then back to Zimbabwe.

We hope that during this season of Lent that all of you will take time to pray for us and for all of the people in Zimbabwe. We continue to depend upon your generous support. The address for tax deductible donations is: Mission Doctors Association, 3424 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

God Bless, and much Love,

Dick and Loretta Stoughton
St. Theresa’s Hospital
Pvt. Bag 7015
Mvuma, Zimbabwe
Email: domhama@mweb.co.zw

Veteran Mission Doctor Continues Mission Work From Montana


Dr. and Mrs. George Mulcaire-Jones served in Cameroon from 1985 - 87. Both he and his wife Mary (and now six children) look back on their experience with MDA with the deepest gratitude.

“Thanks to Mission Doctors Association for what they have done to serve God’s beloved in African and so many places in the world. Our lives were completely changed by our experience in Cameroon. We have a depth of appreciation for the work of the Church in providing health care and education in remote and seemingly unknown places in the world. We see now more than ever that the Body of Christ is not an abstraction or an unreachable ideal, but rather it is the greatest reality - a reality that we must continue to bring to others through the work of organizations like Mission Doctors Association.”

Dr. Mulcaire-Jones continues to be involved with the needs of the people of the missions, and is working to make a difference through Maternal Life International, as the founder and medical director.

MLI is active in three areas of program development,
* AIDS prevention and care
* Maternal Health Care
* Fertility Awareness and Natural Family Planning

For additional information on the work of Maternal Life International, visit their web site:
http://www.maternallifeintl.com

George Mulcaire-Jones, center bottom, with Natural Family Planning training program, Swaziland

Retreat / Sem calendar

inar

The 2003 Retreat / Seminar, for doctors who are considering short-term mission work, was well attended and enjoyed by both candidates and veterans alike. Dr. and Mrs. George Brannon, veteran Mission Doctors who served in Cameroon for three years, noted that they enjoyed the opportunity to share their experiences with others. Dr. Linda Novak attended to learn more about how she could become involved in serving as an ophthalmologist at a mission hospital. She observed “The retreat and the folks that I met were each very inspiring - I feel very blessed to have been able to participate and to be able to meet some folks who have common interests in mission work. Thank You so much.”

Dates are already set for the next Retreat / Seminar - March 19 - 21, 2004.
It is never too early to make a reservation!

Annual Mass and Luncheon

A full chapel at the Claretian Renewal Center celebrated the Annual Mass of the Mission Doctors Association. Those in attendance included candidates, veterans and members of the Board of Directors and the Auxiliary.

Dr. Ed Malphus, MDA Board President thanked Rev. David Ayotte for celebrating the Annual Mass and everyone for attending. He acknowledged the doctors who are considering Mission work, the veteran Mission Doctors in attendance and others who had made the day possible.

After the Mass, Auxiliary President, Mrs. Toni O’Malley-Liz presented Dr. Ed Malphus, President of the Board of Directors of MDA with a check for $35,000; the proceeds of the 2003 Annual Benefit.

Mary Lou Malphus and Margaret Liautaud announced that they had accepted the position of Benefit chairpersons again for the 2004 Auxiliary Benefit, an statement met with a round of applause!

Following the Mass, everyone enjoyed a special luncheon of chicken enchiladas, that has become a Mission Doctors Association tradition. The opportunity to celebrate Mass together, and enjoy the fellowship of those supporting the work of Catholic Mission Doctors is something everyone looks forward to each year. If you would like to have your name added to the mailing list for this event, drop us a note at missiondrs@earthlink.net.

Browns Join Stoughtons in Zimbabwe

Dr. and Mrs. Leo Brown spent a month at St. Theresa’s hospital in Zimbabwe, joining Dr. and Mrs. Dick Stoughton who are serving long-term.

Dr. Brown observed “Great trip - hot and cold running water, electricity 97% of time. Hospital well run, well supplied, clean, and patients getting professional, compassionate care with a smile. Some fun surgery, and greatly enjoyed the young Dominican nun doctor besides great to be with the Stoughtons, plus seeing so many old friends.”

Dr. and Mrs. Brown had originally served in Zimbabwe, 1967 - 1970, along with their children. They served again 1975 - 78, and then served long term in Papua New Guinea, beginning in 1990. They have since served numerous short-term trips in Cameroon, Ghana and now add Zimbabwe to their list of short-term sites.

Dr. Brown further shared that the work that Dr. Stoughton is doing is unique in caring for people recently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, helping them reduce the spread of the disease, as well as the compassionate care for those who are facing the terminal stages of this devastating illness.

Anna Kummer writes from Guatemala

I teach 16 hours a week and work in the library 4 hours on Saturday. Betsie is the official librarian and studies at the same time. The mail system has been improving after the Christmas rush. Sometimes we get letters in just a week. ...Mom and Emma are working on a major wood-refinishing project - all the doors and windows in the whole school. Dad is training some Q’egchi girls to be health promoters and they are doing really well. It’s basic but good.

To view the Kummer photo album click here

Words From Founder

A recent find of letters and articles from the founder of Mission Doctors Association, Msgr. Anthony Brouwers caused all of us to look into archives. Msgr. Brouwers wrote the following in 1962 about Catholic Doctors and the needs in the missions - and the needs continue more than 40 years later!

SEE HOW THE WORLD SUFFERS!

The Church and Mankind Need Doctors
Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.J. Brouwers

The two-thirds of mankind which Catholics call the “Mission Lands” hardly knows the care of a doctor or the use of effective medicines. In the United States there is a doctor for less than every two thousand persons. In Asia, Africa and elsewhere most people have never seen one. In these mission lands medical relief for wide spread disease, for malnutrition and general misery is practically unknown. Much of this common misery, a high infant mortality, premature death rate and witch doctor quackery could be reduced or eradicated if dedicated and capable physicians and their medical auxiliaries were available.

Among the hapless world of suffering, about 2,000 millions, the Catholic Church looms as the Good Samaritan. It is a necessary role for the Church, since sickened and starved bodies are barriers to the teaching of the glad tidings from on high. To continue this role around the world, mountains of medicines, millions of dollars, tons of equipment and thousands of doctors, dentists, nurses and technicians are urgently needed everywhere.

The Mission Doctors’ Association

The Mission Doctors’ Association has been duly established under Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles to fulfill these needs of the Church in at least a small measure. The Association was inaugurated by members of the Catholic Physicians’ Guild of the archdiocese, thus assuring stability and permanence of organization.

The “Mission Doctors,” as the Association calls itself, is now able to recruit, screen and prepare doctors and all other personnel dedicated to the professional care of the sick. The Association has requests from Bishops and Catholic hospitals throughout the world.

Our ambition is as soon as feasible to create teams of doctors, dentists, nurses and para-medical experts to staff small mission hospitals with American Catholics. We would thus render more agreeable and efficient the professional life and work of our members.

The Association has a constitution and by-laws, providing a Board of Directors who are empowered to conduct and continue its purposes and activities. The financial and material needs of Mission Doctors will flow from the generosity of the Catholic Physician’s Guild and the thoughtful gifts form individuals and organizations.

Those needed in Mission Lands

We have in hand an encouraging list of doctors expressing ardent desire to consecrate a few years or a lifetime to medical missionary work. It is not enough, however, for such willing candidates to dash off to faraway places without adequate screening and preparation. The professionally suitable must evince also a genuine spirit of sacrifice, often so cruelly demanded in one’s life and work in mission lands. To the famed Hippocratic oath must be added something of Divine Charity. The doctor’s soul must be fired with the zeal of a St. Paul, his healing hands made more soothing by the Divine Physician, and his generous heart saturated with a love for God’s “little ones” that counts no personal cost...