Côte d’Ivoire Conference develops health plan
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Members of the United Methodist Cote d'Ivoire Annual
Conference attend a workshop for strategic health planning in Abidjan. A
UMNS photo by Isaac Broune.
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By M. Isaac Broune*
Sept. 28, 2007 | ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire (UMNS)
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Dr. Cherian Thomas
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The United Methodist Church in Côte d'Ivoire is developing a
strategic plan in health ministries as part of a denomination-wide
emphasis on global health.
The plan is focused on four priorities: the three diseases of poverty
(malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS), strengthening the Methodist
Hospital in Dabou, restarting a school of nursing, and establishing
community-based, primary healthcare programs in Côte d'Ivoire.
"I see The United Methodist Church of Côte d'Ivoire as a pioneer in
global health work," said Dr. Cherian Thomas, executive secretary for
Health and Welfare Ministries at the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries. "The church is strong and vibrant. Through the commitment of
the people I met, there is a sense that things will improve for the
better."
Thomas was the keynote speaker at a Sept. 20-21 workshop held in
Abidjan. He introduced the priorities of the new global health focus of
The United Methodist Church and assisted the group in mapping the health
assets of the Côte d'Ivoire Annual (regional) Conference.
Key representatives and medical personnel of the Côte d'Ivoire Annual
Conference are involved in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of
the United Methodist health system in the West African country. They
reviewed existing health programs and planned for future activities.
They have given themselves a six-month deadline to prepare the details
of the health plan.
"Having identified the various projects, we are going to develop an
efficient strategic plan," said Elise Nomel Gnagne, president of the
conference's board of church and society.
Attending the workshop were:
- Esaie Yed Angoran, special adviser to Bishop Benjamin Boni and the executive secretary of the West Africa Central Conference;
- The Rev. Mathias Agnero;
- The Rev. Julien Yapi, director of the HIV/AIDS department;
- The Rev. Jonas Ehouingnan, chaplain of the youth department;
- Nomel Gnagne Elise, president of the board of church and society;
- Beatrice Nandjui, Dr. Nicole Dacoury, Alfred Degny and Dr. Daniel Ahui from Methodist Hospital;
- Dr. Emma Niamkey, director of the Bartimee ophthalmologic center;
- Dr. Daniel Alloh, head of Methodist schools health centers;
- Jeanne Samecken, social assistant;
- Dr. Ginette Messet, a young adult representative;
- M. Schadrak Besset, a lay movement representative; and
- Isaac Broune, conference communicator.
Before the workshop, Thomas visited the Methodist Hospital in Dabou,
where he met with Dr. Thérèse N'Dri-Yoman, Côte d'Ivoire director
general of health for the Ministry of Public Health. She told Thomas
that The United Methodist Church of Côte d'Ivoire could play an
important role in the national health plan and urged it to help the
country meet its goals during this time of post-war reconstruction.
Global Health is one of the four focus areas for the denomination
that will be presented to the United Methodist General Conference in
April 2008.
* Broune is conference communicator for the Côte d'Ivoire Annual Conference.
News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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