Help Sister Laura Treat Sick Children
My name is Sister Laura. I have been a missionary working in Africa for more than 30 years. I am writing you today about a special need close to my heart.
South Sudan needs help. Each day, thousands of people, mostly children, die due to lack of proper healthcare and medical support. As the administrator for St. Teresa Hospital located in the Nzara region of South Sudan and part of the Tombura-Yambio Diocese, I have seen first-hand the effect diseases have had on our community.
Extremely sick kid fighting for his life at St. Teresa Hospital
Our hospital treats the most rampant diseases in the region, including HIV/AIDS, Leprosy, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. Currently, we are treating 5,826 HIV patients, with an average of 1,500 in-patients. Most of the deaths at our hospital are children under five due to complications from malaria and pneumonia. The most prevalent disease in the pediatric ward is malaria, which has caused many children to require blood transfusions.
Our biggest crisis is that our doctors and hospital do not have enough basic supplies and infrastructure to consistently treat the patients. With many of the illnesses in the area, it is crucial that there is no interruption of medication during treatment. However, this proves to be difficult because we require medicine to be transported from the country of Uganda across 3 borders just to get to our hospital. With more funding, we will be able to provide better medical supplies to ensure our patients are getting the best care possible.
Another major tragedy in Nzara is the high infant mortality rate. 2 children out of every 100 die in labor, which is over 100 times the rate as the US. This causes countless mothers to be heartbroken as they see their own children die before they can even leave the hospital. In order to combat this terrifyingly high death rate, we are adding a new surgical theater and expanding its maternity ward.
Sister Laura sitting with a mother and her sick child who is suffering from Malaria
We are excited to also finish construction of our 20,000-liter fresh water tank. Without a safe operating space with access to plenty of clean water, the high risk of child deaths remains. In first world countries, it’s as simple as turning on a faucet to get clean water, while in South Sudan, it’s a daily struggle. The new fresh water tank will help prevent diseases and allow doctors to operate in a clean and sterile atmosphere. This means more children will be saved, more babies get to leave the hospital, and fewer mothers will have to worry about whether or not their children will come home.
Sister Laura and other partners of the Sudan Relief Fund at St. Theresa Hospital
The Sudan Relief Fund is extremely lucky to be blessed with generous donors, but we still need help. Prior to my work here in South Sudan, I spent 28 years in Ethiopia, and it pains me to say that the situation in South Sudan is far worse. We need our donors’ assistance to ensure we are providing the best medical care we can for the community.
We are saving lives, but with your contributions, we can save more. Please donate today, and consider joining our monthly donor program and help us deliver consistent aide to the region.
God Bless,
Sister Laura Comboni Missionary Sister and Administrator for the St. Teresa Hospital NzaraP.S. Your generous gift of $25, $50, or even $100 will provide St. Teresa Hospital with the medical support they need. Help save thousands of people, mostly children, from dying due to lack of proper healthcare and medical support today.
