The integrated spiritual and medical approach of CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda is transforming lives of families whose children receive treatment at the neuro-surgical facility.
“I never expected my baby to survive,” said Kyampaire Winnie, the mother of baby Itungo Phoebe. “I first brought her when she was not even a month old, but she’s doing well and hitting her milestones.”
Eight-month-old baby Itungo can now make sounds and her family from Kiruhura district, western Uganda, has hope for further improvement.
CURE hospital maintains a team with a spiritual focus that ministers among the medical doctors, both at the hospital in Mbale and the health camps they hold in different parts of Uganda.
“I appreciate the pastors who pray for us,” said Kyampaire. “They always encourage us, and doctors work with God, so prayer is as important as the treatment.”
MAF flew CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda to Mbarara, where their doctors were able to see over a hundred children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
Nangabi Daniella’s head started swelling at only five months of age. Nangabi’s mother, Gwokyalya Daisy, can see the impact of partnership as MAF and CURE combine their effort in restoring her child’s health.
“I want to thank MAF for their flights, because CURE doctors are working tirelessly to help our children, and they need your support. Thank you MAF for helping us,” she said.
This highly specialised treatment is rare and very expensive, with most families unable to afford it. CURE hospital, however, provides it free of charge.
Without an MAF flight, CURE hospital doctors would spend an entire day traveling from their hospital location in Mbale, to Mbarara—while a MAF flight takes less than two hours to cover the same distance. It’s this difference that prevents CURE staff from getting fatigued, allowing them to work even on travel days.
The team has dealt with cases where parents took their children to traditional healers, who caused more damage, which in some cases was irreversible.
CURE hospital’s spiritual ministry manager, Simon Peter Alelu, led three people to Christ at the Mbarara health camp.
“We believe that medical attention only is not enough, so medical and spiritual makes the work complete,” he said. “Some of our patients have spiritual challenges which doctors may have no time to address.
“At this camp, I’ve met a lady who gave her life to Christ when she came to CURE hospital in Mbale for her child’s surgery. She told me that since her commitment to follow the Lord, she’s more peaceful and she’s growing strong in her faith,” Simon added.
Balinshahi John Baptist became born again at CURE hospital and now serves in the worship team of her church.
“I’m very happy and I trust God for everything because he makes life worth living,” she said.
MAF pilot Ryan Unger has made many flights in support of CURE and their patients.
“It doesn't matter how many times we fly these children – partnering with CURE to change their lives never gets old,” he said after the flight. “My prayer is that even more than bringing physical restoration, these children and their families would find spiritual restoration as they experience the love that God has for them.”
STORY & PHOTOS / DAMALIE HIRWA