Rev David Rock, minister of Ballymena Methodist Church will soon be taking part in his fifth sponsored Bike Ride for EMMS International. His cycling challenge takes place from 16th-25th November 2018.
EMMS International is a Christian international healthcare charity founded in 1841. It works with par in India, Malawi and Nepal to improve health and healthcare. It also facilitates respite for people in Scotland with serious illnesses. In 1841, a group of doctors formed the Edinburgh Association for Sending Medical Aid to Foreign Countries to “circulate information on medical mission; help other institutions engaged in the same work and assist as many Missionary stations as their funds would permit.”
The name was changed in 1843 to The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society – a name which lasted until 2002 when it was split into two separate Charities – EMMS International and The Nazareth Trust.
David reveals: “In Nepal, palliative care is negligible, restricted mainly to cancer care. In 2016 EMMS International trained the first palliative care specialist nurse in Nepal, Nurse Manju. She is currently the only such nurse in Nepal, a country of 28 million people. Through her, patients receive the best care possible including adequate pain relief. Their families also get the support they need to care for loved ones.
Nurse Manju now trains other nurses and shows hospitals how they can adopt palliative care practices too.”
The sponsored cycle challenge will raise funds for EMMS International palliative care programme in Nepal.
Through the fundraising of the Bike Ride, which happens between 16th-25th November, the plan is to develop this work in palliative care.
With your support riders will :
• Construct a 10-bed palliative care unit in the grounds of Green Pastures Hospital, Pokhara;
• Pay for essential equipment, staff and training
• Train nurses in palliative care, bringing this type of care to those who desperately need it. We believe that every person matters and that everyone should have access to good quality and dignified healthcare.
If you would be interested in supporting the work, then you can sponsor David by clicking on this link. Find out more about all of EMMS International projects on their website here.
