February 2010  

We want to give thanks for the following:  

·          Our recent AGM showed that figures for patients seen, operations performed, babies delivered, free care given to patients are all up on last year.

·          It looks like our search for a primary/elementary teacher for our school is coming to an end. Later this year we will actually need 2 teachers and we have had 2 people start the application process in the last month – which is great news!

·          Excellent renovation work going on in the hospital as our workshop team move departments and enhance existing ones – it really does make such a difference to the environment and the quality of service we offer. We now have a new Chapel, Canteen and Minor Operating Room. More information on this work and pcitures will be available in our annual magazine ‘Friends of Tansen 2010’ which will be published in March. A pdf copy will be put on the website but if you would like a hard copy please email us and we will happily send you one.

·          In December we opened our first ever Intensive Care Unit. This is something we have hoped to do for a long time and now it is here! It is a one-bed unit with ventilator. We had various outside ICU trainers come last year to give appropriate training to a group of nurses as to how to manage an Intensive Care Unit and equipment. To-date we have had 3 patients who have needed to be put on the ventilator and required 24-hour one-on-one care. At present one boy is in there with tetanus – more details below.

We’d really appreciate prayer for the following:   

·          We are still urgently in need of an orthopedic surgeon. Currently we have one Nepali surgeon who is really stretched trying to deal with all the cases single-handedly.

·          Please continue to pray for the recruitment process for our new teachers that it would go well and allow them to get here at the right time.

·          In our new ICU we have a 10-year old boy suffering with tetanus. He is currently on the ventilator and needs prayer for recovery of his damaged nerve endings and that he would soon be able to breathe unassisted. Please also pray for the small medical team as they care for him.

·          The Hospital Director Rachel Karrach will be taking home-leave from the end of February till early July. Please pray for her as she hands over the management of the hospital to a team of people covering different roles. Pray for protection and wisdom for the group whilst she is away.

·          Now is budgeting and planning time for the hospital for the next financial year so prayers for wisdom for this would be appreciated.

·          The future ownership of the hospital is still not clear. Please pray for the team committed to taking the hospital forward, and for clarity and wisdom as to which path the hospital should take.

·          Our Pastoral care team do an amazing job here sharing with patients, providing counseling, running the toy round, helping long-stay children with their school work as well as administering financial assistance to the poorest patients. It, as you can imagine, is extremely stressful and draining at times. Please pray for strength and real encouragement for them as the go about their duties.

Thank you for your ongoing support for the hospital. The last few months have been much more settled and positive, and I think that is in large down to the prayer support we have had during the past months, especially as we went through a difficult period. As we look ahead at all 2010 has in stall we know that we have a faithful God who cares about this hospital even more than we do.

            Rachel Karrach