by Dr. Jim Walker, President of PCP Medical Ambassadors
On April 25, 2024, Charlotte Gumando died in Congo. Charlotte was an obstetrical nurse and also one of three maternal health master trainers working with the PCP Medical Ambassadors. Master trainers typically attend a course taught by Medical Ambassadors and then teach that same course to different medical providers while the Medical Ambassadors observe. After the PCP team leaves, they train the other doctors and nurses in these techniques with the goal of improving health and decreasing mortality. Over the last 10 years, neonatal mortality has dropped by 50% and maternal mortality by 78% in the CEUM thanks to the master trainers.
Charlotte joined Anne Marie and Astrid as a master trainer several years ago. We became close working together during my recent trips to Congo. Charlotte was an excellent nurse and teacher, and had a contagious smile. When we arrived in Karawa last September, we were told Charlotte would not be able to teach as she had been hospitalized for elevated blood pressure associated with the pain of an abscessed tooth. But the next day, she was at church, assuring us she would be there to train. Two days later, Dr. Dan Connors from our dental team pulled the tooth. A smiling Charlotte resumed her role.
Then two weeks ago we received the shocking word she had died. She was only about fifty, the wife of a CEUM surgical nurse, mother of three, and a great Christian lady loved by everyone. Apparently, she died of kidney failure, resulting from her high blood pressure. In Congo, blood chemistries to diagnose kidney failure are not available, medication is limited, and dialysis is years away.
With sadness, I informed the other Medical Ambassadors of her death. Their grief mirrored mine. And then Becky Dangel (PCP staff member) added this text, “I am so sorry to hear this, Jim. The sense I’m getting is that she was also like family to you.” I realized Becky put words to what I was feeling. When we go to Congo and work alongside the CEUM medical providers, we become family. That feeling is heightened when it is our master trainers with whom we work every trip we take. These doctors and nurses are our Congolese family. To lose Charlotte is to lose family and we grieve with our family in Congo.
