New Head of International Ministries
We are delighted to announce that Vicky Lavy has been appointed to head the international work of CMF and will take up her post on 1 September. She is ideally qualified to take on this much expanded role, which hopefully will draw all the overseas activities of CMF under the one roof of the Mission and Overseas Department. This should allow for better communication and co-ordination of our overseas activities, especially those related to ICMDA, and should release Kevin Vaughan and Peter Saunders from their current responsibilities there.
Vicky and her husband Chris will be well known to many CMF members. They spent ten years working in Malawi, returning home to Oxford in 2005. Vicky was involved setting up a palliative care service in Malawi and has recently co-authored a Toolkit of Palliative Care for resource poor situations. She was actively involved with the work of the Southern Africa Region of ICMDA and helped to establish the national Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship in Malawi.
ICMDA Europe-Eurasia Conference 7-14 September
Resources (Un)limited will bring together doctors, dentists, students and allied health professionals from all over Europe and Eurasia. It should be a stimulating and relaxing chance to meet Christian colleagues from over 65 nations in Schladming in the beautiful Austrian Alps, just an hour from Salzburg. Please consider supporting the bursary fund to help students and graduates from across this vast region to attend.
New publications
The Developing Health CD 2008 is now available. This excellent teaching resource is available free to those working in resource poor countries and contains teaching materials from the last three courses including Power Point presentations, management protocols re limited resources, WHO materials, and booklets including an oral health manual. For copyright reasons we cannot sell these CDs but if you would like more than one, we would suggest a donation. In fact, 100 people donating £5 would virtually cover the costs.
The new edition of Re-tyred not Retired is at the printers. It is aimed at those about to retire and retirees wondering 'what next?' Eleven retired members tell something of their stories, how they got involved in overseas activities and what they have been doing since retirement. They provide down to earth advice about getting involved, pitfalls to avoid, and other useful tips.
Working Abroad – a Handbook for those who are thinking of working abroad is available at www.healthserve.org
The devotionals booklet Elective Life Support has been much appreciated by students going on overseas electives since its production in 2004 by MMA HealthServe. It remains much in demand. A revised and updated edition should be available shortly.
Travel Packs from IHP
The recent natural disasters in China and Myanmar have presented the world community with a seemingly overwhelming need for a medical response. If you have thought of responding in such situations, are simply planning a short term medical trip overseas, or are a student planning a medical elective to a resource poor country you will be interested to know of this company's Travel Packs.
International Health Partners (IHP) is a charitable company bringing together five different stakeholders: government, the medical community, the pharmaceutical industry, NGOs and concerned individuals. See www.ihpuk.org
Each Travel Pack contains a pre-packed assortment of essential medicines and medical supplies designed for short term medical mission teams, healthcare professionals, and other groups travelling overseas to help people in need. It includes over 35 lines of primary healthcare medicines and has a wholesale value of approximately £2,800, sufficient to provide up to 1,000 treatments. These donated medicines are in date and high quality. The medicines are packed into two boxes (each 40.6 cm cubed) weighing a total of 30 kg (66 lb) with a total volume of 134 l (4.72 cubic feet), and are equipped with convenient carry handles. Details at www.ihpuk.org
Who can apply for a pack? Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies in the UK rely on IHP to ensure that all donated medicines and supplies are handled securely and professionally. Accordingly, IHP only release these packs to UK registered doctors, although in certain circumstances carriers need not be medically qualified. IHP requests a contribution of £250 per pack from the recipient doctor, and also asks them to identify a sponsor to contribute £120 (or £10 a month for 12 months) to help cover the remainder of the costs. Sponsors may be individuals, companies, clubs or foundations.
Fun weeks for children of mission partners
For those returning from overseas with children, or on home assignment, Global Connections has arranged two fun weeks for the children. Both weeks cost £55 per person:
- 6-12 year olds, at Slack Top Centre near Hebden Bridge, North Yorkshire. 4-8 August. Contact: daveandjanetbrown@gmail.com
- For 13 year olds and above, at All Nations Christian College, Herts. 5-9 August. Contact: xenosmk@yahoo.co.uk
