Written by Edi Montejo, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Mexico
We have had an excellent and immediate response from the Church of the Nazarene to the needs in the zones affected by the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that hit off the coast of Chiapas, especially in the coastal areas of Chiapas and the Isthmus of Oaxaca. At this moment there are 28 community feeding sites through the Church of the Nazarene – 25 in Oaxaca and 3 in Chiapas. These sites are serving three meals daily to people who now have no roof and no home. All 28 sites are staffed solely by volunteers.
The community feeding sites have opened the doors to Nazarene medical teams. Health is becoming part of the emergency stage that will continue for a longer period of time. Health care in the Isthmus of Oaxaca has collapsed and is overwhelmed. The standard health system cannot attend to the number of patients, so injured and gravely ill people must be transported to other communities for care.
To date, Nazarene medical teams have served 964 people. Ninety percent of those people were from the state of Oaxaca. Twenty-four doctors have been involved in the Nazarene response. Monday the majority of those doctors returned to their jobs in other places, so we are inviting other health professionals to help cover the need. In the state of Oaxaca, medical teams have served in Juchitán, Unión Hidalgo, Costa Rica, San Mateo del Mar, Chicapa, Cerro Chico, Ixtaltepec, Xadani. In Chiapas they have served in Tonalá and Arriaga.
The community of Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca is a special case. At this point the Church of the Nazarene does not have a church there, but during the medical consultations, the evangelism team reported that eight people received Christ in an area that has previously been very closed to the gospel. Praise God that the help from the Church of the Nazarene in affected areas is bringing the message of salvation.
The doctors in the medical teams have primarily addressed issues such as fractures, contusions, wounds, PTDS, skin infections, allergic rhinitis, colds and gastrointestinal complaints, among others. The doctors are concerned about the potential for outbreaks of other diseases that could bring about a major health crisis. For that reason it is urgent and necessary to have a plan to address this situation. We have received a good response from doctors willing to come and help in the coming months. Our plan will be to organize ourselves to help avoid outbreaks. We also plan to supply the deficiencies the health sector will have as a result of the damage to the hospitals and infrastructure in public buildings.
It is a joy to serve Christ.
How I can help?
Management and support Edi Montejo: 961 128 4970
Cutberto Mario Tenorio Antonio: 444 290 7012
Volunteering and International Management
Stephen Sickel: 961 233 8356
Anne Bryant Sickel: 961 300 2039
Donate: http://bit.ly/2eN8Kau
