CMA Couple Caring for the Spiritual and Physical Needs of the Acoli Tribe

Dr. Cynthia Jones-Nosacek and her husband Gary Nosacek have been traveling to Padibe, Uganda twice a year for nearly two decades. In certain ways, the people and area have become like family and a second home.

Each year, they spend Holy Week with the Acoli tribe. While the overall poverty rate in South Uganda is 15%, where people make less than $30/month according to the United Nations, among the Acoli it is 40% with many people earning less than $10/month. Hunger and malnutrition are real problems. So are malaria and tuberculosis.

Dr. Cindy cares for their physical needs, while her husband takes care of their spiritual needs. This year, for example, during Easter, he baptized over 100 children. Dr. Cindy, as she is called by her patient, saw mothers and their babies. Thanks to generous supporters, Dr. Cindy brings T-shirts that are given to families with newborns. T-shirts there are more valuable than onesies since many mothers cannot afford diapers. And thanks to the CMA, the mothers also received a CMA tote bag to carry their items.

The clinic operates with limited resources. Most recently, the clinic has been able to provide oxygen, which has saved many newborns. Unfortunately, also recently, a used portable ultrasound that Dr. Jones-Nosacek brought to the clinic eight years ago finally broke down. It was used not only in the clinic but taken out to the surrounding communities allowing mothers and fathers to see their babies for the first time before birth. It has saved lives by diagnosing ectopic pregnancies. Replacing it is a priority.

While the present Ebola outbreak is not a concern for the Acoli tribe at this time, building trust will be critical where the local population knows that the world is only concerned with their plight when there is a possibility that it could spread beyond their borders.

“No one cares if the people there die from malaria or TB or that they are dependent on hunting animals for protein, some which are carriers of the virus,” Jones-Nosacek said. “Only the Catholic Church is trusted because, as the Acoli say, the Church has journeyed with them.”

The post CMA Couple Caring for the Spiritual and Physical Needs of the Acoli Tribe appeared first on Catholic Medical Association.

Categorised in: Uncategorized