Chilwell Road Methodists raise £7,950 for Dilla Clinic

Dilla0001, originally uploaded by Old Man of Mow.

A year of fund-raising as half of the Church Charity 2007 has brought in £7950 to be sent to the Dilla Clinic in Ethiopia this month. A further £1000 has been donated anonymously by a friend of another member of the 2006 pilgrimage.

Another tranche of money received by Dilla Clinic

Receipt Jan 07, originally uploaded by Old Man of Mow.

The PIC sent another £500 in December, and the receipt from Dilla has just arrived. It bought 8521 Ethiopian birr to be used for extending the clinic.

Fundraising for Dilla gets coverage in the Nottingham Evening Post

First tranche of the Dilla Appeal fund received by clinic

8200 Ethiopian birr (£500) has been received by the Hospital Administrator in Aira who is responsible for the Dilla Out-station.

Our friends Bryan and Bernice Halson who have just returned to UK after working in Aira for three months report: "Christel Ahrens, a German missionary engaged to survey all 14 clinics, visted Dilla and brought back an encouraging report. The money has been safely delivered and received with much gratitude. The clinic has succeeded in gaining funding from a Swedish source for a complete rebuilding in 2008. Your money has enabled them to start on the foundations in the immediate future, which has given them a great 'buzz'".

A further £500 has been sent via Ebise Ashana who returned to her country this week.

Chilwell Road fundraising ideas for Dilla

Sunday morning coffees
Week day coffees
Saturday coffee mornings (last saturday in the month)
Silent auction
Saturday evening quiz night
Church group activities eg The Guild
The Talent contest
Ebay 'Bring and sell'
Classical concert with poetry, compared by Rev Barrowdale
Ethiopan evening
'Donate a brick'
Permanant display in the church hall
Dilla website (part of the church's site)
Gift envelopes for adhoc donations
Garden party and concert at no. 16

Dilla

 

Dilla Health Centre; the present building

The full Dilla fundraising project proposal is here

Correspondence from the Church co-ordinator for Dilla in Addis

Dear Janet,

Markos is here in Addis for a meeting. I already told him what you asked me last time. And I will meet with today again and will give him the copy of your email and he will respond to it.
I am happy to hear that you all are doing fine and still think of us. I am encouraged so much by that. Our friends Rachel and Sarah and some otheres are going to come. That is really great!

Many thanks for your kind help and concern.

With God's love

Shiferaw Sadi
09.08.06


----- Original Message -----
From: Janet Patrick
To: Shiferaw Sadi
Cc: Ebise
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 5:50 PM
Subject: Re: Dilla
Dear Shiferaw,

I hope that you and all your family are well. Rachel has recently sent me an e mail telling me about Ebise's work. It sounds fine. Since it has proved so difficult to send money from here I will be sending it with the Halson's who are hoping to fly on October 2nd or 3rd. At present the money is £1650 which is now in a savings account. Recently my Methodist church gave £150. I will be so glad when the money is in Aira.

Thank you for your information about the cost of Stage one. That was very helpful. I have two further ways of raising money, and it will be very helpful if you could tell me how much money has already been raised and where it is coming from. Has the work started?

These are the two further possibilities for raising more money. Every year my Church has a major fund raising activity, this year it is for a local charity, for a local Women's Refuge. Next year it will be for work overseas. I and another church member are planning a joint proposal for two projects:educational work in the Solomon Islands working through the Methodist Church and the Dilla project. The Church Council will decide on these or other projects in October. We will need to do a lot of educational work with the congregation. Mesfin and Rachel will help. The more feedback we have about the Dilla project the more people will be interested.I have already spoken about Dilla during a service and am talking to people about it.

The second proposal will be made by me at our annual family meeting this Friday. We ourselves could lobby the Aid agencies for money. we would need to know who has been approached and what the response has been. Our family is very interested in the project, we are fairly energetic and believe we could raise more money. Again the more imput we receive about the project, also a picture is worth a thousand words! Jonathan our second son is arriving tomorrow from the Sudan. He is the humanitarian advisor to the British government for Khartoum and southern Sudan and is used to working with projects.

Any more information you could give me would be very helpful. I have not forgotten about the dictionary and will send it with Rachel.

My very best wishes and greetings to the Church in Aira. I am sending a copy of this to Ebise.

In His Service,

Janet

To Ethiopia with love

I always wanted to visit Ethiopia because I felt it to be different: I'd spent four years in Nigeria and nine in Malawi so I had some different experiences of Africa and of the effects of the legacy of British colonialism. Ethiopia is unique because apart from a very brief interlude it had not been colonised. I had met many Ethiopians in Malawi and made friends. I found them physically striking and beautiful. When I was invited to join the pilgrimage I jumped at the chance.

And so on December 28 our Christians Aware party of ten set out for a three-week visit to Addis Ababa and Aira. When I spoke to a secretary in the Ethiopian Embassy in London he had never even heard of Aira. It was so remote as to be forgotten; reminding me of my time on Karkar Island in New Guinea. 'Have a nice holiday', said my friends. I tried to explain that it was a visit with a purpose. It was a party of Christians from different denominations visiting groups of Christians who were members of the Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church, a national Church which is part of the Worldwide Lutheran Federation. The link was Rachel Stephens’ friendship with members of the Ethiopian community in Birmingham, some refugees. We hoped to learn from each other and make a contribution using our skills. I am a special needs teacher.

My overseas experience has taught me that I always receive so much more than I can ever give. My conclusion has been that if I can live as simply as I possibly can, then I will learn more from the poor. Sometimes it seems so presumptuous for us Westerners to imagine that we can pass on a better life-style to people in poor countries. When I set out that snowy morning at 4.30 am, I had no idea that I was embarking on my happiest-ever visit overseas. My heart is still singing two weeks later. What was so remarkable about it?

First, the people in the group. What a mixed bunch we were: some solitary, others single-minded; theologically a real mixed bunch. Yet we became such a close and supportive community that lasting friendships were made.

Second, I found the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) with its 'Wholistic Ministry' serving the whole person something radical and different from the conservative theology that I had previously struggled with in Africa. One of my highlights was sitting with church leaders in Aira discussing our problems together. Despite being a financially poor congregation they supported poor people in the community and had empowerment projects for young women. They had installed a generator and sold electricity because there was no power-supply in Aira. The Church was growing and full of young people and was a major force in the community.. Over the Ethiopian Christmas we went to three services, each three hours long.

I have always loved Africa, so for me it was like coming home. There was little to buy and no TV, so we had time. Spending over a week on unmade laterite roads taught me that a driver- mechanic is more important than a smart Land-cruiser. Ethiopia is five times the size of Britain and incredibly beautiful and mountainous. I felt I could go on for ever.

If you asked me what we contributed, I would say we cannot tell. Some people had great gifts of communication. What I loved was the simplest life-style, though I did chase up the mechanic who had turned our water off and gone on holiday leaving the stopcock locked away! We received overwhelming hospitality from so many people. Sometimes life was frustrating, especially when the loos flooded, but was also a reminder of what life is like in the Third World.

Yet the question remains: How can the rich and poor communicate? One Sunday morning after the lengthy service I was sitting down to a hearty meal of injera (local bread made from millet). I went to greet a very old woman standing by the door. 'You are rich', she said. What an accusation! 'God loves the poor' I replied. 'Yes, but you are rich', she replied. I came away sorrowing, hearing the uncomfortable gospel. How can I who am rich preach the good news to the poor? My visit and her message will stay with me.

Janet Patrick

article published in local church newsletter
August 2006

Message from Ethiopia about the Dilla extension

This message came last week from Shiferaw Sadi, a Lutheran Church minister in Aira, Ethiopia, about the Health Centre extension project in Dilla that we are supporting.

Dilla is located far away from any referral hospital and there are no means of transportation. Malaria is endemic and the people have unsafe drinking water. They have low living standards and are unable to pay medical fees. There is a shortage of medical equipment and of qualified staff.

The cost of the first stage of the development is estimated to be ETH Birr 347,200 [about £22,550] and the extension of the rooms is planned to take place in 2006 - 2007. The construction expense by the spring is estimated to be ETH Birr 5,000 [about £325].

We are planning to send about £1600 to Ethiopia in September 2006.

Supporters of the Dilla appeal

A total of £1500 has been raised.

Janet Patrick
John Patrick
David and family
Rosario Sotelo Paz
Jonathan
Dan & Beth
Joseph
Amanda McDonald
Hilary Naughton
Rob Willoughby
Jerry Hurley
Estate of David Edwards
Radford Methodist Church
Grangewood Methodist Church
Ann Jennings
Pamela Nickols
Martin Stott
Bernice Halson
Carl & Dorcas Kindinger
Ian Wragg
Students in "The Ark", Nottingham University
Barbara Shaw & Alison Paechter
Chilwell Road Methodist Church, Beeston

Target met!

Dear friends,

Thank you for your support for the Dilla appeal. You'll be pleased to know that we've received promises which now just exceed our initial target of $1,000.

This will pay for a second room at the Dilla clinic, enabling women to avoid their having to share with men. In the last two weeks I've received an email from the Dilla Project Manager detailing the three different stages of the overall project. The first stage is the provision of six additional room to be built this year. Our contribution is towards this stage.

Though we have met our target, we would like to continue fundraising for this project. I have a copy of the project plans which I am happy to share with you, if you are interested.

In the email from Markos, the Project Manager, he thanked us all for our support.

"We appreciate very much your visit. During your visit, you have been at Dilla Clinic and have seen their activities and their situations. Two years ago we have prepared project proposal for the clinic in order to solve some of the problems that the clinic is facing, but no response up to now.

Therefore, we kindly request you to take into your consideration and enables us solve the problems of the clinic for the best services to the community at large and mothers and children in particular in this remotest area."

Markos Kitila,
Project Manager for the Dilla Health Station

The money you have kindly promised or donated will be sent to the Berber Dilla Synod.

Many thanks once again for your support.

Janet

PS. If you haven't already sent your donation, please either send a cheque to Dr J M Patrick, 16 Devonshire Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1BS or donate online

Latest news from Ethiopia about the Dilla project

This message has come from Markos Kitila, the Project Manager for the Dilla Health Station of the Birbir Dilla Synod (BDS) of the Ethiopian Lutheran Evangelical Church.

"We appreciate very much your visit to BDS from January 3 to 12 2006, which gave us opportunity to discuss the spiritual and social services of our synod.

We hope that all the team members have returned to UK safely, and you all are fine. During your visit, you have been at Dilla Clinic and have seen their activities and their situations. Two years ago we have prepared project proposal for the clinic in order to solve some of the problems that the clinic is facing, but no response up to now. We have submitted the project proposal which contains identified problems and planned activities.

Actually, we have put the priorities of activities based on the pressing needs as follows:
1. Extension of rooms 2006-2007
2. Maintenance of the existing rooms 2007-2008
3. The remaining activities 2008-2009

Therefore, we kindly request you to take into your consideration and enables us solve the problems of the clinic for the best services to the community at large and mothers and children in particular in this remotest area."

Janet has replied, asking for more details of Phase 1 which the Patrick family is supporting.

Pledge your support to the Dilla appeal

Please pledge your support online. It will take just 39 of us to pledging £15 each to fund this new ward. To add your name to our list of supporters email us here.

Dilla Health Centre in Ethiopia

The Patrick Investment Club has an annual charity for which we give some of our profits and do some fund-raising.

This year we are supporting the development of a remote health centre at Dilla near Aira in rural Ethiopia. Janet visited the site in January 2006 with Rachel Stephens (who used to run the Methodist Relief & Development Fund) and was impressed by the great need there and by the committment of the workers who run it.

We aim to raise $1000 by July 2006. You can donate by clicking the DONATE button on the left.

Dilla Health Centre,

Please support the Dilla Health Station in Ethiopia

Dilla Health Station is run by the Birbir Dilla synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC).

It was established in 1978 to provide health services to the new settlers in the area. Dilla is in the Oromia region 554 km west of Addis Ababa. The station provides preventive, curative and rehabilation health services. It is in a very remote area with a high population density in low land.

People suffer from malaria, intestinal parasites, TB, pneumonia, skin disease, rheumatism and anaemia. Malnutrition and infectious diseases are common.

The potential coverage of Oromia region is about 42%. Maternal child health services are low with only 26% of mothers receiving antenatal and postnatal care; only 7% of all deliveries are assisted by trained personnel. Over 60% of mothers and 64% of young children suffer from malnutrition.

These factors have resulted in one of the highest infant mortality and morbidity rates in the world. The population growth rate is 2.9% and the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is only 11% for the whole country. On top of this there are hardly any means of transport available in the area

Major problems are HIV/AIDS, low sanitation coverage, absence of safe and adequate water supply, shortage of trained staff, harmful traditional practices, malnutrition, and low community awareness of prevention and control of communicablele diseases.

The Synod has written a project proposal to build 6 new rooms, provide water and light supply, provide one vehicle and improve the existing health service quality of the health service by 80%.

Note from Janet.

With a party of British Christians visiting the EECMY church in Ethiopia, I visited Dilla in January 2006. I have lived in Africa for 13 years and I am used to poverty. But it was a combination of the poverty, the terrible conditions and the commitment of the nurse in charge to improve the health centre that are imprinted on my mind.

The nurse had worked there for 14 years. We saw a young woman dying of cerebral malaria, while a man with TB was in the same room near to her. The nurse in charge said that the priority is for a separate room for men and women.

My family has committed itself to raising $1,000 to fund one new room. Any help will be welcome and will be sent through the local Church.

Dilla ambulance

Dilla ambulance, originally uploaded by Old Man of Mow.

Sick patients arrive at Dilla Clinic on hand-made stretchers, or are brought in by donkey. The nearest hospital is in Aira, 60 km away, but at a cost of $30, taxi transport is beyond the reach of these very poor patients.

Dilla pharmacy

Dilla pharmacy, originally uploaded by Old Man of Mow.

The drugs are supplied through the church, but patients have to pay a charge for them. Any small profit is used to pay the staff wages and to support patients who have no funds.

Staff at Dilla Health Centre

Dilla Health Centre, originally uploaded by Old Man of Mow.

The nurse-in-charge discussing the Under-Fives Health Record system with the administrator during Janet's visit in January.