In April 2004, Horizon International Medical Missions (HIMM) went on its 3rd Medical Mission to Ihiagwa, Imo State, Nigeria. An eight person team of medical professionals from the United States stormed the Owerri-West Local Government Area to provide free medical services to the people of Ihiagwa, Obinze and Umuoye. This team included Dr. Shawn Franklin, a professor of medicine in United States, who made sacrifices to come to the town of Ihiagwa where her former student in Family Medicine, Dr. Kennedy Okere, comes from. The team also included HIMM’s Evangelical ministers who worked with the local churches and Obinze Baptist Theological College in reaching souls. “For healing is of the body and soul”, says Dr. Kennedy Okere.

During HIMM’s past missions, the organization was able to see approximately 500-800 patients. In this Mission 2004 trip, HIMM saw 1,100 patients; a 27% increase from the previous mission in 2003. “Our motto for this year is doing more and more”, says Dr. Okere. This motto was adapted from 1st Thessalonians 4:10. HIMM had the support of the Imo State Governor, the Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chidi Marume, the Executive Chairman Owerri West LGA, Chief Barrister Victor Muruako, the churches in the three towns visited, and the Ezes (Kings) of the entire LGA.

The mayor of Tybee Island, Georgia USA, Mayor Palmer, presented his proclamation to the people of Ihiagwa through one of the Tybee Island citizens, Mrs. Julia Pearce, who is a registered nurse and HIMM’s public relations officer. HIMM hopes that this proclamation will open a channel for a city to city relationship between the people of Tybee Island and the people of Ihiagwa and eventually Owerri. The vision is that this will promote an effort from the people of United States to assist the people of Nigeria in rural development.

Dr. Okere said, in his statement to the press, “Presently I know that short missions are not the solution to our people’s chronic medical problem. It is for this reason we started building a permanent medical center in Ihiagwa. This will serve for both in-patient and out-patient care. Emphasis will be on primary health care. The hospital will function as non-profit, but I expect my people to maintain this unique facility because I have sacrificed a lot to it.”

The clinic shall employ a permanent medical staff and will need a volunteer physician to help out. This will enable the medical team to perform minor surgical procedures.

Mrs. Rose Ajoku, who had a large thyroid mass on her neck, is one of the beneficiaries of Dr. Okere’s mission. The people of USA paid for her surgery worth 60,000 Naira through Horizon International Medical Missions, Inc. Today, Mrs. Rose Ajoku is a great witness of what God’s compassion can do.

Please visit HIMM at http://www.himm.org for information about the organization and HIMM Mission 2004.