Thursday, April 18
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets have reduced deaths from malaria.
Twelve years ago a PCUSA church gave some money for a few hundred long lasting, insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs). It was a new technology at the time so the bed nets were used for studies in health centers in the Congo and Cameroon. They proved to be much more effective in reducing the incidence of malaria than untreated nets which had to be retreated every six months. When the results of the study on LLINs were presented at some workshops, the Congo government was convinced to change their malaria policy to recommend the use of LLINs for all malaria programs. It also convinced USAID to reallocate funds to emphasize their use. We did not realize it at the time, but ten years ago IMA World Health, an organization through which PC(USA) does most of its health work in Congo, was the largest purchaser of long lasting nets in the world. The technology has now become widely accepted and is the cornerstone of all major malaria programs. Because of our long and successful experience with bed nets and malaria programs, the local organization SANRU that PC(USA) and IMA World Health work with, is now the primary recipient for Global Fund malaria in Congo. It is the largest church run Global Fund project in the world. The congregation that gave for those first nets had no idea that their gift would be the “loaves and fish” that resulted in tens of thousands of lives saved in Congo.
—Dr. Larry Sthreshley, PC(USA) mission co-worker, Kinshasa, Congo
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) People in Mission
Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC): Ruth Brown, development specialist, Gwenda Fletcher, education consultant, Dr. John Fletcher, surgical consultant, Kristi Rice and Rev. Robert Rice, Christian educators/evangelists, Inge Sthreshley, Methodist Presbyterian Hostel strategist/urban gardening advisor, Dr. Lawrence Sthreshley, health consultant in Africa
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Karen Geary, BOP
Elder Martha Bettis Gee, PMA
Let us pray
Thank you, Lord, for the way you surprise us, for the way you multiply what we give to you beyond what we can even imagine. Lord, you know that the health challenges which the people of Congo face are significant. Bless, sustain, and bring encouragement today to all those who work in health ministries in this land, that they would be an instrument of your love and healing. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 47; 147:12-20
First Reading Daniel 5:13-30
Second Reading 1 John 5:13-20 (21)
Gospel Reading Luke 5:1-11
Evening Psalms 68; 113
