Engagement officer Hannah recently sat down with Dr Tim Nunn, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and Medical Director at CURE Hospital in Ethiopia, where children with life-limiting, yet curable conditions, receive help and hope.
Sent by St George’s Church, Leeds, Tim’s been in Ethiopia since August 2014 and has worked at CURE Hospital for nearly 11 years. Before serving in Ethiopia, Tim and his family lived in South Africa, including serving short-term with another SIM UK medical mission worker, Dr Victor Fredlund. When it became clear that there were opportunities for both him and his wife Rachel, a GP, to serve in Addis Ababa, Tim began to search for the right role himself.
“Whilst prayerfully looking for opportunities, an Ethiopian surgeon training with CURE invited me to explore CURE Ethiopia. We went for a ‘look-see’ to explore the opportunities. I was grateful that a vacancy at CURE Ethiopia came along soon after completing my training – and the surgeon who gave me the local invite I was searching for, is now my colleague!”
CURE has eight paediatric hospitals across Africa and the Philippines, all providing medical care for children with treatable disabilities, at no cost to families living in poverty.
Each year, CURE Ethiopia carries out more than 3,000 surgeries and sees 12,000 children in the outpatient clinics. Since 2006, the hospital has trained more than 2,400 medical professionals. Conditions treated include bowed legs, clubfoot, windswept legs, cleft palate and cleft lip.
With each surgery costing CURE around $1,500 dollars, the work of the hospital is only possibly through the generosity of donors.
Alongside world-class surgical care, the hospital offers spiritual care to its young patients in the forms of biblical counselling, prayer, bedside ministry, and play therapy.
“What makes me continue at CURE is the mission, the service expansions that are happening, the training and discipleship, and the fact that it’s a fun place to work!” adds Tim.
‘and he [Jesus] sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.’
Luke 9:2
Outreach clinics
Not only does CURE Ethiopia transform the lives of thousands of children at the hospital, but outreach clinics make it possible to reach out to those living remotely and a long and challenging drive away.
“Taking expertise to the regional hubs means that families who cannot afford to travel to Addis can still access life-changing treatment … treatment that they wouldn’t otherwise receive, and we thank God for that,” shares Tim.
One member of the team was Dr Chelsea, a gifted young Kenyan surgeon undertaking her paediatric orthopaedic fellowship at CURE
The Mobile Clinic Team sees children on its waiting list, offers follow-up consultations and treats those recommended by the hosting institution. The clinics also offer an opportunity to connect with local churches, and to encourage and strengthen partnerships with institutions where trainees come from.
Recently, the Mobile Clinic Team travelled to the teaching hospital in Jimma with Tim part of a team of surgeons, nurses, physical therapists and counsellors. Together, they examined 110 patients (including six follow-ups) and admitted six new patients to the hospital for surgery.
The pastoral care team offered prayer and encouragement to those waiting to be seen and engaged with local church leaders in a ‘Theology of Disability’ workshop – crucial in a culture where deformity is often seen as a ‘curse’.
“The clinic was a good opportunity to connect with CURE staff members and it was a very formative time for the trainee surgeons we brought along. They gained clinical skills, clinical confidence and an appreciation of what the working environment is like outside of our institution,” Tim recalls.
Opportunities to serve
While speaking to Tim, it’s clear that the burden of need is as great as the hospital’s incredible work. With a waiting list of more than 5,000 patients for a first appointment, it’s unsurprising that opportunities to serve at CURE are vast.
“We’ve had healthcare workers from the UK who’ve come to facilitate training in areas like ICU and radiology, as well as operating room nurses and physiotherapists. Those people are invaluable,” stresses Tim.
At the moment, the hospital’s biggest need is occupational therapists for upper limb rehabilitation – a skill not currently available in Ethiopia.
“We treat a lot of kids with problems with contractures of their fingers, hands, wrists and upper limb, which all need a lot of exercise after surgery, including physiotherapy and in some cases, splinting. It would be a real help to us in our rehabilitation setting,” explains Tim.
Dr Tim and the team check their equipment ahead of a spine operation
CURE is also currently focusing on developing its paediatric spine services. With an aim to double the amount of major spine surgeries this year compared to last year’s 50, those with an interest and expertise in paediatric spine surgery would be of immense value to the hospital.
If Tim’s story has inspired you to serve, we’d love to hear from you.
Following a short period of language learning, workers in the opportunities shared above, would make a huge difference. Visit the CURE – Ethiopia website to find out more about how you can get involved and serve through medical ministry.
Please pray
For Tim and the rest of the training team as they undertake a complex re-licensing process for the PAACS orthopaedic training programme;
For the current Ethiopia trainee surgeons to develop skills which will let them take over the spine surgery programme in the next few years.
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