Baptist Medical Centre

A container has just been sent to BMC with two incubators, two autoclaves, five oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and over 130 barrels of medical supplies, bandages, and envelopes for pharmacy use.

Special thanks to Vicki Barnes and Tabernacle Baptist’s support of the Ghana Bandage project, Pat Howard for much of the medical supplies, Tarak Garas for the incubators, Steve Rutledge of Luke19-10 ministries for an autoclave, the Oxygen Store and Clear Choice in Rome, GA for donated oxygen concentrators, the numerous volunteers who roll bandages and send envelopes, and all of you who have helped with your financial contributions!

This was provided through the George Faile Foundation . Visit their website to see how you can support medical missions in Ghana.

Unique Public Health ministry serves rural Ghana
By Emily Peters
Photos by William Haun

NALERIGU, Ghana (BP) — Missionary Cherry Faile smiles when she hears villagers singing songs in the Manpruli language about how to properly nurse children or cook nutritious meals.

In a place where accurate statistics are tough to track, the songs affirm that the public health programs she helped develop at the Baptist Medical Centre in rural Ghana are working.

“You’d hear them singing those songs everywhere,” says Faile, daughter of the doctor who helped found the hospital 50 years ago. “You’d be surprised how quickly those messages spread and become part of the thinking in the community.” (more…)

Medical volunteers help sustain Baptist Medical Centre
By Emily Peters

Photos by William Haun

NALERIGU, Ghana (BP)  — Villagers line up outside the Baptist Medical Centre in northern Ghana as soon as the sun peeks over the mountains of this mud-hut town.

A baby sweating with malaria fever. A woman with a cough that could be tuberculosis. A farmer bitten by a cobra in the fields. Hypertension, hernias, tumors — just a few of the ailments among the 600 patients waiting on the outpatient porch.

“Looks like it’s going to be another long day,” says missionary doctor George Faile III, one of only two doctors on staff at the hospital, which was founded 50 years ago by the International Mission Board.

The hospital could sure use more hands to help cover the patient load, says Faile. (more…)

Baptist Medical Centre has impacted Ghana for 50 years
By Emily Peters
Photos by William Haun

NALERIGU, Ghana (BP) — Dr. George Faile III was just 8 years old when he started tagging along as his father treated patients at Ghana’s Baptist Medical Centre 50 years ago.
Young Faile saw countless patients with malaria or snake bites. But instead of seeking professional medical help, many villagers in Nalerigu visited spirit doctors who treated ailments with herbal remedies, libations and skin-cutting rituals.

Today, Faile — who serves as medical superintendent of the hospital his father helped start with the International Mission Board — has seen things change not only medically but spiritually. People are more willing to seek access to modern medicine. Through the years medical missionaries have started more than 70 churches and continue to bring news of the true Healer.

That ministry is why Ghanaians turned out to celebrate the hospital’s 50th anniversary this fall. Villagers from all over northern Ghana converged for a weeklong celebration, which culminated in a grand outdoor event that drew 3,000 people.

“I have seen Baptist medical facilities all over the world,” says IMB Executive Vice President Clyde Meador, who spoke at the event. “I don’t know of another that has served in a more challenging place and yet has made such an impact on the community. I give thanks to God who has made it all possible.”

And that impact runs deep in an area where there’s only one paved road and most people live in mud huts. (more…)

The 50th celebration was a 5 hour event with many different dignitaries and guests speaking. Following are some pictures of some the speakers.

At the hospital’s 50th anniversary celebration, Dr. George Faile III gave a speech where he covered the hospital’s 50 year history in Nalerigu, Ghana. Below is a 15 minute excerpt from his speech.

When the Nayiri (paramount chief of the Mamprusi) arrives at an event, everything stops. The video clip below is of his grand entrance to the hospital’s 50th celebration event. He is preceded by a processional of beeping motorcycles, chiefs, and sub-chiefs, then he arrives in his car which is surrounded by drummers.

Several days ago we posted photos from the singing and dancing at the celebration