Request for Support

Dear Friends,

This summer I am excited to be undertaking a medical elective to a mission hospital located in Gamboula, Central African Republic (CAR)!  I am heading over with a classmate in early June, and will be working and learning there for almost a month.

Gamboula has a rural 155 bed hospital with an active public health program. Medical experiences will be fairly broad – I will have opportunities to observe procedures, take histories, participate in rounds, and examine outpatients. I am particularly excited about participating in their public health initiatives. As I am considering working in a rural setting in the future, I look forward to learning about the practice of medicine in rural, resource-limited settings.

I expect this elective will have a tremendous impact on me, personally and professionally. I will come away with a greatly improved and diversified knowledge base, which will be helpful as I continue my medical training. In addition to the medical experience, I am excited to immerse myself in a radically different culture and learn about its people.

I also expect that this elective will benefit the Gamboula community, primarily through support offered to hospital staff. I am bringing personal items they have requested, raising $600 to purchase medical supplies, and have been asked to teach computer skills and English to interested staff. Here in Canada, I will be raising awareness of the current health and social issues Central Africa faces. I am also hoping to facilitate a lasting partnership between the Schulich Medical program and Gamboula’s hospital. Finally, upon my return I will be sharing about my experience in a global health discussion forum at Western.

I am asking you to consider helping me in my fundraising goal. Everything that is donated will go directly towards the hospital in Gamboula. Funds will go towards the existing nutrition program for severely malnourished kids, necessary facility improvements, a benevolent fund to provide free care to impoverished patients, and the purchase of medications and medical supplies.

N.B. We can provide charitable donation income tax receipts for those of you who would like that.  Cheques can be made out to either of us.

Thank you for your consideration and support,

Matthew & Joshua