Faith Alive Foundation
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2009
1
20
Trip End
Dec 22, 2009
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Faith Alive was founded by Dr. Christian Isichei one of the most profoundly humble and wise men that I have ever met. What started as a counseling service in a one bedroom apartment has expanded to be an amazingly holistic organization that is tackling the needs of the people that it serves. When I first arrived in Jos I was surprised when Dr. Chris gave me a hug and said welcome to the family. It’s only now that I truly realize how true that statement was. Everyone that enters Faith Alive patient, staff or visitor becomes part of the family. This is even demonstrated by the names of the teams that are taking care of the patients (Family A1, Family B2 etc). These teams include a Doctor, a nurse, and a TSS. Faith Alive is not just an ordinary clinic, it is the best example of primary health care that I have ever seen or heard of. It includes both acute and chronic free health care for those living with HIV and those without that otherwise wouldn’t be able to access health care. Its services include a lab, pharmacy, surgical suite, delivery room (with programming about PPTCT (preventing parent to child transmission of HIV), HIV counseling and testing, home based care, radiology, and TB treatment. This is just an overview I’m sure that there is something that I have overlooked or that they have started doing. The amazing thing is this is just the medical side of things. It is important to note that although the resources that they have available may seem limited by our standards their care is never compromised.
One of the many things that I believe makes Faith Alive unique is the social services that it offers. As I learnt more about the history of Faith Alive I learnt how the different services offered came to be. What I found to be the most simple but yet profound thing was that the services offered expanded based on people’s need. I can honestly say that in my career I have rarely seen services based solely on someone or a population’s need before it was based on financing or practicality. For example, the transition house came about when one of the patients needed a place to stay, so they made a place to stay and figured out the details later. As you read the list of the other services offered it will be easy to see why the rest of them were likely started. These include: the sewing school, the computer school, the knitting school, the hair dressing salon, the school and satellite clinics in surrounding villages, the recreation centre, the support group, the programming for orphans and vulnerable children as well as the nutrition centre. Again this is likely not comprehensive because I already forgot to mention the praise team and the teams that the clinic sends out to do education in the community. They also provide training once or twice a year for community health workers.
Faith Alive is an incredibly inspiring place to see. They instill hope into situations where otherwise it might be hard to find. They realize that health includes not only your physical self but your social and spiritual needs as well. If you ask Dr. Chris what the key to success is he will tell you Faith and prayer. As the name of the clinic implies Faith is the centre of all that they do. That being said you might be nervous that the services might only be limited to Christians. Faith Alive foundation provides a safe place for people of all religions and life circumstances to receive quality health care.
I was amazed time and time again to see the generosity of everyone that worked at Faith Alive not only their resources but their time as well. They would work extra or on weekends if there was something that was needed. It’s not just a job to them but a calling which is demonstrated through each staff member’s dedication. I almost forgot to mention that a lot of the people employed at Faith alive are living positively themselves. There was one day on Praise day that one of the staff was telling the story about how when she came to Faith Alive she had to be carried because she was so weak she was unable to walk. Now she is healthy and independent and working for Faith Alive. I could tell you so many more stories exactly like this. How incredible that this all came from one man responding to a need and trusting God with all of his heart. The other really cool thing is that this was all started by a Nigerian wanting to help his fellow Nigerian. No hidden agenda’s just simple compassion. This is one of the main reasons why I wanted to spend time at Faith Alive.
In Dr Chris’s own words "For me, fulfillment is being where God desires you to be at a particular time and doing what He desires of you at the particular time." May we all be so courageous in our own search for fulfillment.
If you want to know more check out:
http://www.faithalivenigeria.org/
or
http://notesfromnigeria-erika.blogspot.com/
