Life-Saving Care and Gospel Transformation

A young mother in a remote area of South Sudan delivered her child but suffered with life-threatening complications. With no local medical facility close by, she turned to a tribal witch doctor for treatment. Under his “care” for 18 hours, she got progressively worse. Both mother and baby would likely die.

The husband’s family knew of a medical clinic far away and begged him to take her there. He finally agreed and carried her for 7 hours to the Achiek Clinic in Lietnhom. The young mother received the treatment she needed and both the mother and child’s lives were saved.

The Achiek Clinic team in Lietnhom.

Can you imagine walking 7 hours to get to a doctor, much less carrying your dying wife the entire way? For this young husband, there was no other option… no other choice.

David Livingstone, 1813 – 1873, the famous missionary to Africa once said, “Sympathy is no substitute for action.” So true, isn’t it? We know the gospel is active. We know we cannot be passive or even just responsive in meeting physical, emotional or spiritual needs. As Christ followers, we must actively engage those in need.

At Transform South Sudan, we are serious about fulfilling our mission… “To empower the people of South Sudan with good health, knowledge and skills to achieve sustainable peace and gospel-driven transformation”.

That’s why we opened the Achiek Clinic in 2022. “Achiek” means “Creator-God” in the local language. It’s literally The Creator-God’s Clinic. Even our name points to the gospel!

Prior to creating the Achiek Clinic in Lietnhom, people had to travel 100 miles… by foot… to see the nearest doctor. Many died on the side of the road trying to make the trip. In this country that sadly boasts the world’s highest maternal mortality rate, many women and children have lost their lives during childbirth at home. And many others died unnecessarily from illnesses and medical conditions that are relatively easy to treat such as malaria, measles, cholera and even snake bites. With the creation of the clinic, excellent medical care is now available in their community.

But the Achiek Clinic provided far more than physical diagnosis and treatment for the 4,300 patients we served last year. We also cared for the emotional and spiritual needs of those we served. Our staff Chaplin meets with each patient, prays for and with them and consistently points them to Christ as the ultimate physician.

Lives are transformed by the treatment and the gospel working together at the Achiek Clinic.

As Doctor Angelo says, “We treat the patients, but God heals them.”

IV bags hanging in trees as the Achiek Clinic team serves during the Cholera outbreak.

So, what would happen if the Achiek Clinic did not exist?

• Since the next closest clinic is over 100 miles away, and the only way of getting there is by walking, most would be unable to receive treatment for even the most preventable diseases. As a result, the death rate would be extraordinarily high for everything from pregnancies and childbirth to treatment and prevention of Cholera (in fact, Dr. Angelo said if Transform South Sudan had not responded so rapidly to the recent Cholera crisis, THOUSANDS more people would have died.) Having a local presence was/is critical and lifesaving.

• Without the Achiek Clinic, the people of Lietnhom would not learn about disease prevention. While receiving treatment is essential, the prevention of diseases to begin with changes families, communities and even countries.

• Sadly, many would turn to witch doctors. In South Sudan, witch doctors play a significant role in community life, particularly within tribal communities. They are believed to possess knowledge of both natural remedies and spiritual practices to address various ailments and misfortunes.

Our Pharmacist, Augustine, distributing medication to those in need.

Your generosity and the Achiek Clinic’s work is an integral part of fulfilling Transform South Sudan’s mission to empower the people of South Sudan with good health, knowledge and skills to achieve sustainable peace and gospel-driven transformation.

Thank you for being difference-makers. Your faithful partnership is changing lives, legacies and eternity for so many in South Sudan. Thanks for putting your faith into action.

Because sympathy is no substitute for action.