At the beginning of 2024, the PCP Medical Ambassadors held three virtual conferences. The goal was to share their work and partnership with their Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) medical colleagues with medical professionals in the United States. This year’s conferences featured panel interviews with several medical ambassadors on topics such as the challenges of teaching in Congo, what led those ambassadors to choose service, and in which programs they served. A key element was the question, “What was the impact?”
Each conference highlighted recent programs, interviewed several Medical Ambassadors, and facilitated group interaction. Impact was always realized in the lives of the Ambassadors and their Congolese colleagues and patients. Our first conference, Introduction to PCP Medical Ambassadors––An Innovative Approach to Medical Missions, introduced PCP and the Medical Ambassador program, highlighted the train-the-trainer methodology, and we shared about the ongoing medical needs and projects in DR Congo. In our second conference, Nursing, Pediatrics, and Maternal Care––An Enduring Impact in DR Congo, we highlighted some of our longer serving programs and the impact that they have had. This included maternal health, diabetes and hypertension, and malnutrition. Our last conference, Thinking Outside the Box––Teaching Multiple Medical Methods in DR Congo, spotlighted our new dental partnership with ITEC (Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center) as well as our efforts to assist in emergency medicine.
Time together in each virtual conference revealed the amazing way God is moving in Congo in partnership with our fellow practitioners in the CEUM. We underscored the challenges that our Congolese friends continually face. It is almost unimaginable to envision 19 doctors responsible for a population of 5.3 million people, in facilities that lack critical infrastructure. However, these conferences showcased not only the tenacity of the Medical Ambassador volunteers but especially the strength and courage of our Congolese partners.
If you were unable to attend, we invite you to watch the recordings online. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about the PCP Medical Ambassador Program and how you can get involved!
