Friends of Mengo Hospital

Christ Church’s relationship with Mengo Hospital was born out of prayer in 1982, when a group of parishioners, who had come together to pray for Africa, encountered Gwen Whitaker in an Alexandria restaurant.  Gwen, a British missionary nurse who served at Mengo for 30 years, suggested that the group pray for Mengo Hospital, which had just emerged from the chaos and violence of Idi Amin’s rule. Friends of Mengo U.S. grew out of that providential meeting.

Over the last quarter-century, our committee initiated many projects in support of the hospital.  We have sent medicines, purchased a truck to transport food supplies, defrayed school fees to children of Mengo staff members and built a chapel as a gift for the 100^th anniversary of the hospital. In 2005, Friends of Mengo U.S., along with Mengo committees in Canada and the U.K., completed a ten-year effort to build a modern and fully equipped dental clinic.

As the oldest continuing mission committee at Christ Church, we are excited about embarking on a new initiative that will contribute to Uganda’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.  In the past year we have turned our efforts to supporting Mengo Hospital’s HIV/AIDS clinic and have focused our attention on their work with children: we have funded the prevention of mother-to-child transmission for 27 mothers and their babies, provided anti-retrovirals for 22 children, and we have established an emergency fund for children.

Over the years, many Christ Church parishioners have journeyed to Uganda and returned home spiritually enriched by our relationships with our friends at Mengo – in giving we have received. We invite you to join us in the important work we are doing at Mengo. To become involved in this Mission please contact Betsy Thompson. Click here to send Betsy an email.

“Whatever you did unto one of the least of these, you did unto me.” – Matt 25:45