Ethiopia Medical Project (EMP) is a charity supporting Buccama Health Centre in rural southern Ethiopia.  It is run by a dedicated team of Franciscan nuns who are trained nurses, supported by visiting doctors. As the only health centre within two days’ walk, they provide vital health care to the local population. Six million people in that part of Africa suffer from what they call “Mossy Foot” (hugely swollen ‘elephant feet’ that slowly rot away until the person cannot walk). The medical term is podoconiosis, caused by walking barefoot on volcanic soil filled with irritant minerals which disrupt the blood flow and lymph flow in the foot. The treatment is easy and effective and once socks and footwear are supplied the condition need never recur. It turns on very regular foot washing (coupled with educating people to understand it is not a curse or anything contagious, but merely the result of the mineral irritants).  A lot of the women also suffer from Uterine Prolapse and live utterly miserable lives.  The clinic treats UP as well, and does so very effectively and at surprisingly low cost (about £5 a treatment). It also has the only mother and new baby maternity unit for miles around.  John and I got to know about the charity from a family member who had been involved in fundraising and visiting and supporting the EMP since 2010.  

The need for funding continues to grow and in the last two years over £125,000 has been raised to transform the water supply and sewerage system, and construct buildings with walls and rooves for the foot washing clinic, the UP clinic and the mother and baby unit.  Annually, in the region of 50,000 appointments take place, offering vital assistance to this otherwise large but forgotten rural population.   In an average week the clinic treats 420 people for Podoconiosis foot-washing, 38 gynae problems, 64 pregnant women and 8 births. 570 treatments are delivered in the outpatient’s clinic for inoculations, ENT infections, ringworm and minor injuries.  It also runs a cleverly targeted programme teaching health and hygiene to all who attend.  Marion & John Pennie visited recently to attend the formal opening of the mother and baby unit and to see what further things could be done cost effectively. They took with them supplies of socks, pants, and chocolate and the PCC decided to donate the proceeds of last year's soup lunches £1929!  

We received this email of thanks:

I am writing to thank you and your congregation for such a generous contribution to the work of The Buccama Health Centre via The Ethiopia Medical Project.  What an effort. John and Marion Pennie visited the project whilst we were there ourselves and witnessed the opening of our new maternity wing

The Health Centre needs a new water tank and you will see from the attached phots where it will be sited.  Your generous donation will pay for that very conveniently.

We honestly do leave much of what we do in the hands of God and S/He, has proved a very effective partner.  We meet and are constantly amazed by extraordinary people both here and abroad.

Jo Middlemiss MBE

Here are some pictures:

The charity is registered, go to www.ethiopiamedicalproject.com or to give directly use Bank of Scotland Sort Code 80 12 75 A/c no 06001413.

Thank you! Marion