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| December
2013 Report - Looking back over 2013 and a boy from Congo |
| The end of
another year. A year of growth at Acheru – growth in
blessing, growth in the area covered, growth in staff numbers,
and of course, growth in the numbers of children treated, and so
news of the work spreads. Growth in costs too, but through your
generosity, we haven’t had to worry about that, and we can
continue to ensure that no child will be refused treatment
because of cost. |
| The work in the
north has become established and we can see a lot of potential
there. We’re also looking at how our community work can
develop, both in the area around Acheru and around Minakulu in
the north. There are problems to address beyond the immediate
requirement for medical treatment, with many disabled children
living in very difficult conditions, perhaps with the whole
family suffering because of the perceived stigma of the child’s
disability. We now want to do something about this and I hope to
have more news soon. |
| Nothing tells
the story of Acheru better than the stories of individual
children. The boy in the picture, Adolf, is from the Congo. He
has osteomyelitis and had been suffering for nine months before
he was brought to us. He was immediately admitted to Acheru, and
referred to CoRSU for surgery. He had his operation
(sequestrectomy) on 15th December, and returned to Acheru on
19th for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. The results are
dramatic, but we know from experience that he’s likely to
be with us for a very long time before he is free of infection.
Coming from the Congo, there’s a language barrier, but
despite that I hope Adolf and his carer will feel they’re
part of the Acheru family. They will find ways to communicate,
and it may be an opportunity for some people at Acheru to
improve their skills in French. |
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| Adolf’s
father writes: “We first took him to traditional bone
setters, we paid a lot of money and there was no improvement
until we were advised to come to Acheru at Kabembe, where a
child with the same problem was treated and healed, so we are
here. My son has great improvement, as soon as they removed the
rotten bone the pain came down. When I reached CoRSU, I found
people from my home area but I could not even know that there
was anyone in Congo who knew where I could have taken my son to
get healed. God does amazing things.” |
| I can’t
add anything to that! |
| Brian Dorman |
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