Wrightsville UMC, in conjunction with the NC Conference Mission Team, shipped a 40 foot container to Sierra Leone on August 23, 2014. The container was loaded with medical supplies, equipment, and medicine bound for Rotifunk Hospital (NCC #S-00281). The shipment contained urgent personal protection equipment for medical personnel to help stop the spread of Ebola and other contagious diseases.
Many individuals and organizations contributed to the latest shipment. A special thanks goes to Dr. Ted Winneberger and the New Hanover Medical Center (Wilmington, NC), which donated medical supplies and equipment through its MISSION READY program. Stop Hunger Now donated medicine. Rev. Bill Haddock and the NCC Mission Team provided logistical assistance and contributed funds to pay for shipping the container. Additional funds were provided by Wesley Memorial UMC (Wilimington).
This latest effort by the Wrightsville UMC is another step in working towards the sustainability of the Archer-Hatfield Memorial Hospital (aka “Rotifunk Hospital”) in Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. Over the last nine months, Wrightsville UMC has sponsored three mission teams to Sierra Leone. The most recent team participated in the reopening ceremony for the hospital after it was devastated by a long civil war. (See related article.) In addition, the church funded the drilling of a deep bore well to provide reliable potable water for the hospital and neighboring community in the Bumpeh Chiefdom. In a major cause for rejoicing – Dr. Gmanga, the Chief Medical Director, performed the first surgery at the hospital in August 2014, in over 18 years.
The next efforts will focus on developing a Site Plan for the hospital and grounds, helping determine future facility requirements, such as the proper size electrical generator to provide reliable power.