Baptist Medical Centre

Dr. Keenan Wilson and his family, wife Cindy and children Evan, Allie and Natalie have just finished a long term volunteer term at Baptist Medical Centre. We are grateful for their contributions to life and ministry in many ways during the time they were in Nalerigu. You can see more about their family and experiences in Nalerigu on their blog. Not only did Dr. Wilson work at the hospital, but the rest of the family became involved in various community projects and activities. It was a joy to have them in Nalerigu and to know them as a family.

We wish them all the best as they continue to serve the Lord back in the US and wherever He may lead in the future.

Cindy and Natalie help distribute food.

Evan celebrates 18th birthday in Nalerigu

Dr. Wilson making rounds

New PH Vehicle in Nalerigu

Thanks to the generous support of donors to the George Faile Foundation BMC now has a new vehicle for the public health department to use in village outreach ministry. For several years now the department has been in need of a good means of getting out to surrounding villages for preventive health services and evangelistic outreach.

It is often necessary to carry supplies and equipment so the car was ordered with a carrier. The roof rack came with the car, but was not put together and there were no instructions. Fortunately, Tommy Harrison was there to figure out how to put everything together properly.

Tommy getting the rack together

Ready to roll!!

Thanks to all who made it possible for Baptist Medical Centre to obtain such a nice and valuable addition to the ministry.

Dr. Rich Ambler

Many thanks to Dr. Rich Ambler from North Carolina. Dr. Ambler spent most of the past year at BMC with the support of Faile Foundation. We appreciate all he did during the year to help make sure that there was medical coverage at BMC. He did a good job and worked very hard. We wish him all the best as he returns to the US and makes decisions about where he will work and what he is going to do.

He supervised and worked with volunteers and learned new procedures, including c-sections, in order to be the best help he could be.

Supervising medical student, Myrill Solaski

 

Dr. Ambler doing EGD

On Thursday night, 12 November 2009 Moses Alando Banaba was on his way home from work at the hospital when he was attacked and shot three times with a high power rifle. He was taken to the hospital in shock and did not survive. Anyone who has been at BMC in the past twenty years should have met Alando in the pharmacy. He has been an important and respected part of the hospital. He has been a good friend to many of us through the years. Most recently he has been in charge of the pharmacy and a part of the management team.

He has also been active in the community, formerly teaching at the high school and running for political office. He will be greatly missed by his family, the community, the hospital and all of us who knew him.

Please pray for Alando’s family, for the hospital staff and for the community.

This summer at BMC has been busy. As usual we have continued to have a number of volunteers. It has been interesting and fun to have people from different countries and different backgrounds. Each person has added to the character of BMC and each one has contributed to the ministry provided. Below are the vlounteers that have come to BMC during the past several months. They are listed in no particular order.

Amy Elrod

Amy is a family Nurse Practitioner who is currently at BMC. She came for four months and has been a big help.

Andy McGovern

Andy is a final year medical student from England. This is his second trip to work at BMC.

Bob and Anita Gillchrest

Anita is a Nurse Practitioner and Bob is a pastor in a church in California. They came and worked with us for several weeks.

Danielle Steenvoorden

Danielle is a final year Dutch medical student who spent two months with us. We enjoyed having her with us.

Deborah Buchli

Deborah is a Swiss medical student who spent about a month working with us.

Dr. Andy Norman

Dr. Norman returned to work with us for a short time. Dr. Norman is a former missionary and has been to Nalerigu several times. He is a gynecologist and enjoys doing VVF repairs when he comes.

Dr. Chuck Miller

Dr. Miller is a Pediatrician who comes to us through Samaritan’s Purse. He will soon be leaving BMC after two months. He has been a big help during our busy malaria season. He reported seeing 192 patients during a recent clinic.

Dr. David and Shirley Chupp and Hannah Chupp

Dr. Chupp is a pediatrician from Alabama. He and his wife Shirley and daughter Hannah came to work with us for a couple of weeks. It was the Chupp’s first trip to BMC but maybe not their last.

Dr. Erle Kirby and Debbie Klatt

Dr. Kirby returned to BMC this year and was a big help with surgery and in clinic. Dr. Kirby is a physician from Canada who has been coming to Ghana for several years. Debbie is a nurse practitioner who came with him on her first trip to BMC.

Dr. Matt and Megan Jones

Dr. Jones is a third year surgery resident who has been to BMC in the past. He has been a big help in the surgery department. Megan is learning Mampruli and is trying to get a library set up in town. They are presently in Nalerigu and hope to stay until sometime in December.

Dr. Pat Conarro , Ryan Conarro and Paul Woody

Dr. Conarro is a surgeon from Dahlonega, GA who made a return trip to Nalerigu. This year he was accompanied by his children, Kyle, Kelly and Ryan and his son-in-law, Paul Woody. They were in Nalerigu for only a short time, but we enjoyed having them and their help.

Dr. Paul Shumpert

Dr. Shumpert returned to BMC and as always was a big help. He and his wife Dr. Cindy Shumpert continue to big big supporters of BMC through the Faile Foundation. Dr. Paul works in the emergency room in Rome, GA.

Dr. Pranav Shetty

Dr. Shetty is a third year ER resident from California. He came for several weeks and was a great help in clinic and on rounds.

Dr. Ravi Morchi

Dr. Morchi is an ER physician from California who has been on a number of volunteer trips to other hospitals in Africa. this was his first trip to BMC. He spent most of his time in the OR trying to improve his surgery skills.

Dr. Steve and Melinda Emerson

Dr. Emerson is an OB/Gyn from Arkansas. This was his first mission trip and he worked very hard and was a big help. Melinda works with Pure Joy International. She brought craft supplies and worked with some of the women in the area.

Dr. Zsila Sadighi

Dr. Sadighi is a pediatric neurology fellow at UT Houston. She returned for a three week visit and was a big help teaching and seeing patients.

Drs. Justin and Sommer Parschuer and Dr. Gordon Laird

Dr. Gordon Laird, a general surgeon came with his daughter Sommer and her husband Justin. They were in Nalerigu only a short time but we appreciate the help Dr. Laird was able to provide by doing surgery for us.

Marshall Early

Marshall is a third year medical student who came with Dr. Laird.

Gayle Pageau

Gayle is a fourth year medical Student who also came with Dr. Laird.

Erin Potter

Erin is a graduate student in music therapy. she came with Vicki Barnes and her team. Erin helped in and around the hospital in various ways. We enjoyed having Erin with us for a few days.

James Coxon

James is a final year medical student from England who worked with us for about a month. He not only helped out in the hospital, but also helped repair our internet connection when we had problems.

Jodi Little

Jodi was a fourth year medical student who came with Dr. Sadighi for two weeks.

Rachel Golin

Rachel was a fourth year medical student who has since started her residency. She spent a month with us in April.

Rev. Harold Shoulders

Rev. Shoulders is a retired Navy chaplain. We enjoyed his visit with us as he worked with the hospital chaplains and shared with the missionary staff.

Tiffany Harms and Jenny Thompson

Tiffany and Jenny were both fourth year medical students. They did not come together but were both in Nalerigu during most of the month of July. They both did well and we enjoyed having them with us.

Tommy and Vicki Barnes

Tommy and Vicki came for a few days and we enjoyed their visit. Vicki has been working for a long time with the Ghana Bandage Project and she was with us shortly after our latest container of supplies arrived (see earlier post). Tommy spent time with Tommy Harrison in the villages.

Yaar Levi and Hadassah Troen

Yaar and Hadassah are Jewish medical students who spent a month with us. We were able to learn from them and it was a pleasure to have them with us. They did well adapting to American and Ghanaian culture.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the character and ministry of Baptist Medical Centre this summer. We wish each of you the very best and hope to see at least some if not all of you back some day.

After nearly 18 years as pharmacist at baptist Medical Centre, Dr. Jane Paysinger left Nalerigu. She will be missed and we wish her all the best in her new endeavors. Hospital staff and missionaries gave her a send off during the week before she left.

First there was a football match between the hospital women and teachers from the local secondary school.


Later a delegation went with Dr. Paysinger to say goodbye to the Nayiri, who is the paramount chief for the Mamprusi people.

Later, there was an official farewell where there were speeches, dancing and gifts.





First Baptist Church also had a special farewell service for Dr. Paysinger.

Nalerigu station also had a farewell dinner and gifts for her.

Dr. Paysinger left Nalerigu with several new outfits and several citations/plaques. She is now living and working in Tennessee.

In Early June of this year another container of supplies, bandages and envelopes arrived at BMC. For several years now Vicki Barnes has been heading up the Bandage Project. She and her volunteers from Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia always work hard to see that the containers are packed and ready for shipment. This year Vicki and her husband Tommy were in Nalerigu soon after the container arrived. They were able to help unload, unpack and sort through some of the many barrels that came.

We greatly appreciate all the hard work everyone puts in to see the project succeed. And we appreciate the support of Tabernacle Baptist Church. And of course the hundreds of people across the country who tear sheets and roll bandages are the ones who make the project possible. Thanks to everyone!!

Thanks to Tommy and Vicki Barnes, Erin Potter and Shirley Chupp for their help in unpacking, sorting and storing the contents of the barrels. We enjoyed having you with us for a short time.

Ms. Amy Pennington

Amy Pennington is a final year pharmacy student who came and worked with us for several weeks. We enjoyed having her and wish her all the best as she begins her residency at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Alan Heins and Kaye

Dr. Alan Heins and his wife Kaye spent several weeks with us. This was a return trip for them and we appreciate their continued interest and support. Alan is a family practitioner and Kaye is a Family Nurse Practitioner so they both worked in clinic and made rounds as well as helping with minor procedures.

Dr. Dewey Dunn and Dr. Roy Renfro

Dr. Dewey Dunn and Dr. Roy Renfro also returned to work with us for several weeks. As usual it was a pleasure to have them and we appreciated their help and support. Dr. Dunn is a gastroenterologist and Dr. Renfro is a retired surgeon. They both worked very hard and were a big help. Dr. Renfro celebrated his 79th birthday while here!

Dr. Fred Rushton, Dr. Robert Battle, Debbie Battle, William Cauthen, Jessica Gullung, and Taylor Byrd

Dr. Fred Rushton, a surgeon from Jackson, MS and Dr. Robert Battle, an anesthesiologist from Jackson returned for another visit. They came with Will Cauthen and Jessica Gullung, fourth year medical students and Taylor Byrd, a fourth year college student. Robert’s wife Debbie also came and cooked for the team. They all worked hard and did a lot for us during their time here.

Dr. Jennifer Neuman

Dr. Neuman is a third year family medicine resident. She spent several weeks with us and was a lot of help in clinic, making rounds and taking call. We don’t know how much help we were to her in preparing to go to Alaska after residency, but hope she learned some things that will be useful wherever she goes.

Dr. Kristiana Kaufman

Dr. Kaufman is a fourth year emergency medicine resident from Cincinnati, OH. She worked hard and did a lot for us. We certainly appreciated her help and interest. She helped with call, seeing patients in clinic and doing minor procedures and ultrasounds. We wish her all the best wherever she goes next year when she finishes her training.

Jeff and Jean Ingram, Susan Lee and Cynthia Munisteri

Jeff Ingram and his wife Jean came with Susan Lee and Cynthia came for a week. Jeff is an associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Fairhope, AL. They visited patients and worked with the chaplains in the hospital. They also visited churches in the surrounding villages with Tommy Harrison. We enjoyed having them and appreciate their contribution to our ministry here.

Micah Flint, James Perry, Rick Friesen and Lawrence Lawerty

Micah Flint from INMED came with James Perry, Rick Friesen and Lawrence Lawerty from Abundant Life Baptist Church, Lee’s Summit MO. Many of our volunteers, medical students and residents come through INMED and Micah came to see what we are doing and what it is like at BMC. His wife Jennifer came to work with us several years ago as a medical student. Rick Friesen is the executive pastor of Abundant Life Baptist Church and James Perry is the Missions Chairman. They have expressed some interest in helping to support BMC and wanted to see for themselves what we are doingand what our needs are. Lawrence is a college student whose parents are Ghanaian. We enjoyed getting tomeet every one and are excited about the possibilities of working together in the future. Of course we look forward to more excellent help from INMED students. Thanks to all of you for your interest and support.