News

Here are the facts: 3.575 MILLION PEOPLE die each year from water related disease (Of that number nearly half are children). That’s almost 10 000 a day! One every 20 seconds… and by the time you finish reading this opening statement, another child is gone…

I know this seems overwhelming, but believe me when I say something can be done! We’re DOING it!
SHM had the pleasure of hosting five remarkable young women over Christmas week and one of the things they did was teach proper hygiene in Villa Nazaret, where one of our clinics is located. We then partnered with an amazing couple from Florida, Mike and Terica Williams who provided water filters. After some basic training on how to care for the filters properly, each house in the community received one. With proper cleaning, the filters should last 10 years.

Registering for their new water filters, and waiting for the information session to start. Exciting!

Filters waiting to be distributed

Teaching how the filters work

Receiving their new water filter!

This is very very exciting! It means we should see an even greater decrease in the need to treat the community for water related illnesses that often result in diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting and more. This is right in line with Servant’s Heart Ministries mandate, which is to improve the overall health of the people in the communities we serve.

Since we opened Centro de Salud Danica in June of 2008, we have seen a steady decline in the incidents of skin disease, stomach sickness and other preventable illnesses. This has been in large part to the ongoing, continuing education, about health related topics our clinic staff has been involved with teaching in the community and with individual patients at every opportunity.

We would not be able to do this without the many very generous people that have contributed to our ministry during this time. Your donations have and continue to make a difference. Thank you!

We do however find ourselves in a difficult position.

This past year saw a sharp decline in donations to the medical division of Servant’s Heart Ministries. As of the end of the year we were $15,000 short of the amount required to run the clinics. I realize if we were a large organization this amount or money would not seem like a lot. The reality is we spent a total of $31,313.83 to provide basic medical services to approximately 6000 patients last year. That is an average cost of just $5.22 per patient.

In order to keep our two clinic locations open we need your help.

It is understandable that in these tough economic times we need to make choices. I also understand not everyone can give, but maybe we can get the word out, tell others, hold fundraisers, and get everyone you can think of involved. My mom always said, “many hands make for light work” So let’s all pitch in and keep these clinics that provide such a valuable service to the poor, open.

Giving can be done on-line or by mail and tax receipts in Canada are available for all donations. Thank you in advance for helping.