Voice 1
Hello. I’m Mike Procter.
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Carlos was ready to kill himself. Could life become any worse? First, he had a bad accident. It damaged one eye. Then a cataract developed in the other eye. In a cataract, the clear lens at the front of the eye slowly becomes unclear or cloudy. Carlos became completely blind. He felt that life was not worth living. Hospital treatment could remove the cataract. But Carlos did not have the money for such treatment. He felt hopeless. But one of Carlos’s friends took him to a small hospital, a clinic. The clinic was in San Lorenzo. His friend led him up the steps. Carlos’s life was to change again - forever.
Voice 2
San Lorenzo lies on the beautiful green coastland of Ecuador. The land is flat and the air is warm. It is near the border of Columbia. More than twenty-five thousand [25,000] people live in San Lorenzo.
Voice 1
San Lorenzo clinic began in 1989. It started small. In the beginning it only treated eye problems. But today its services include more general treatment as well. The clinic provides low cost healthcare. This permits poorer people to receive treatment. Christian workers started the clinic to help people in poorer communities.
Voice 2
Clinic workers welcomed Carlos with love and care. Doctors offered him treatment for his eyes. They offered him physical help. But workers also spent time talking to Carlos. It was at the clinic that Carlos discovered a new meaning in life. He became a Christian. And his faith in Jesus Christ changed his life. When Carlos left the clinic, he could see again. He was a changed man - mentally and physically!
Voice 1
San Lorenzo Clinic is part of a Community Development Project. The project is aimed at people who live in countryside areas. It is difficult for them to reach the hospitals in the city. Christian radio station HCJB began this project. The Community Development Project works to help poor communities in Ecuador. There are nine other clinics like San Lorenzo. The Community Project also operates a clean water programme. It manages a tropical disease laboratory. It operates a medical vehicle for communities in far off areas. And it includes training programmes for Ecuadorian key healthcare workers. So, why did a radio station begin healthcare work? Sheila Leech is head of the healthcare work in Latin America. She said,
Voice 3
‘The healthcare work began with a small clinic in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, fifty [50] years ago. It was for the workers at the HCJB radio station. And it was for the local native people. Then Dr Paul Roberts came from Canada. He had a desire to build a hospital. A radio programme raised the money. Workers built a hospital with fifty beds. This became ‘Vozandes Hospital Quito.’ A short time later, they built a small hospital on the edge of the Amazon rain forest. This was to serve the local native people. Since these early beginnings the healthcare has grown and grown.’
Voice 2
HCJB is a Christian radio station. They were telling people about the love of God. But then, they understood that they also needed to show people! So, healthcare became an important part of their work. Sheila began work in healthcare in a similar way. She said,
Voice 3
‘People were always coming to my door. They needed health care. But I was not able to help them. I looked in the Bible. I read that Jesus was very practical in his dealing with people. When people were sick, he healed them. When they were hungry, he gave them something to eat. People have physical and emotional needs as well as spiritual. I decided to return to England to get some training. I did medical training to become a nurse. Then I returned to Ecuador. I started to work with HCJB community health care programmes. I was able to help the ‘whole person.’ In the clinic, we could treat people’s physical needs. And, we could also talk with people who had difficult issues in their lives. Many of these difficulties caused signs of physical sickness. Often, when people deal with these issues of forgiveness, or bitterness, the physical signs of sickness improve.’
Voice 1
The community project workers help many people to deal with difficult issues. It is a big part of their work. This is especially true in the project’s hospice. The hospice is a restful place. It is for people with sicknesses that cannot be cured. Patients in the hospice are dying. But it is not a ‘sad’ place. Patients spend their time being creative with arts, playing music or games. Or, they can just have a break! Sheila said,
Voice 3
‘We help people to face death. Often they have issues in their lives. Some have conflicts with family or friends. They need resolution. They need an end to these conflicts. The hospice provides a restful atmosphere. People feel at ease. They can discuss issues openly. We work with them towards peace and unity. They can face death when they are at peace with friends, family and most importantly God. It is an honour to work with patients - to prepare them for a lifetime with God. Healing is for this life. But peace and unity with God means everlasting life.’
Voice 2
World Health Day 2006 was about ‘Working Together For Health.’ Health workers from the Community Project know how important this is. Sheila said,
Voice 3
‘In the developing world there is very limited (access to) health care for many people. We want to provide quality health care for people, health care that is correct for their situation. We believe that people are made in the image of God. They are important to Him and to us. We work to improve individual health and the health of local communities. In working together we can see great results. It would be impossible to do this work alone.’
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