BECS IN ZAMBIA

On January the 22nd 2009, I will leave New Zealand's shores for this small hospital in rural Zambia. I heard about Kalene from an article that was sent to me by a friend, I'd been looking into my options for missionary work in Africa at the time. I was getting frustrated with the options I was looking at, none stood out to me or fit with what I really wanted to do. But then I hadn't really defined exactly what that was! So I went away, prayed, journaled, and came back with a "role description". Then I decided to email Kalene. I was so excited by the reply, because well what do ya know... the role of an RN at Kalene described almost exactly what I'd journaled that I wanted to do! Praise God for his direction!!

Kalene Mission Hospital is located in the northwest corner of Zambia, within 20km of the borders of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was established over 100 years ago and is part of a network of mission stations in partnership with the Brethren movement of Christian Missions in Many Lands.

The hospital is located remotely, far from any major towns or cities. It has five wards, 180 beds and provides inpatient and outpatient care in maternity, paediatrics, general medicine, infectious diseases, malnutrition and surgery.

The medical work provides a practical demonstration of God's love, through attending to the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients.

Kalene has recently been redeveloped as a training hospital, with a school for enrolled nurses, wth the vision to train health workers to work in the wider geographical area. The recent Zengamina hydro electric project now ensures Kalene has 24-hour electricity, a huge advantage for the hospital.

You can read more about Kalene at www.kalenehospital.com

Once I've settled at Kalene, my role as one of only a few registered nurses at the hospital will involve overseeing one of the wards, and the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of new patients. I am hoping to study the local language - Lunda - prior to starting my nursing role, but have not quite worked out where or how yet!

The last 2 years I have spent nursing in an acute admissions environment (the Admission and Planning Unit, and Adult Emergency Department at Auckland Hospital) which has helped me develop a good base of important nursing skills. Of course the types of presentations in rural Africa will be quite different to central Auckland, so I have a lot to learn! I will also hold a lot higher level of responsibility in my role at Kalene.

Kalene is a faith mission, and requires volunteers to pay their own way. I rely on the generosity of others to keep me there. If you're interested in supporting me financially, please be in touch! Your prayers are also very important to me, and if you'd like to be on my newsletter email list to receive regular updates, let me know.

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.
Zambia’s capital is Lusaka.

The official language of Zambia is English, with over 70 commonly spoken indigenous languages. Lunda is the local language at Kalene.

Zambia is one of the world’s poorest nations, with 68% of Zambians living below the recognised national poverty line.

An estimated 15% of the population are believed to be HIV positive. Malaria and tuberculosis are major health problems, and hookworm and schistosomiasis afflict a large proportion of the population.

I am a mission partner with Global Connections in Mission www.gcim.org.nz and a mission associate with the NZ Church Missionary Society www.nzcms.org.nz.