The Gara Dima Health Clinic opened its doors on 4-18-11. On this great day, many villagers were treated by two nurses for a variety of ailments. The first person to enter for treatment was elder villager, Woday Guda, who is an amazing 103 years young. The village was so happy and grateful for the clinic that they gave a formal blessing to The World Family, something the Board of Directors and all clinic supporters acknowledge with great pride and satisfaction.

Though this was indeed a triumphant day, building and staffing the clinic was a difficult and long process which spanned two and half years of approvals and negotiations with different health care bureaus - local, district and regional. Finally, the formal licensing was granted for a local clinic to open in Gara Dima. Prior to this time, villagers would have to travel for half a day to reach help. Of course, many villagers could not sustain the expense or inconvenience, often with tragic consequences.

Today, the Gara Dima Clinic occupies the main building of The Yemegnushal Community Center, located just a short walking distance from Gara Dima Village. To establish the clinic, the World Family shipped donated hospital equipment from the San Francisco Bay area. The shipments were sponsored by the Cupertino High School United Nations Association. These young men and women worked tirelessly in sponsoring various auctions and other fund-raising events to cover the necessary shipping costs. Special thanks should be given to Alex Pommier, co-president and Derek Zhou, co-president of the association and to all the student members. A special thank you also is deserved by Agnes Pommier, who has done much work in support of the clinic. In July of 2009, Cupertino High School students and parents traveled to Gara Dima to help establish the clinic by organizing and taking inventory of clinic equipment and supplies.

Since the formal opening of the clinic, averages of 91 patients per week visit the clinic to receive care, mostly for infections and minor wounds. Recently, a woman was treated with minor surgery for a head trauma and is recovering nicely. Basic medicines and drugs are purchased mostly from the government pharmacy in Nazareth city or in some cases from private pharmacies. Because the clinic is only licensed by the Ministry of Health as a "small" clinic, the nurses are only allowed to treat basic ailments. If lab work is needed, patients unfortunately have to go elsewhere to a full service clinic. For the Gara Dima clinic to be licensed as a "full service" clinic, additional construction is required, including a clinic laboratory. The World Family is reviewing possible options to help with this process.

The on-site presence of the two nurses is proving to be an invaluable community resource and one that will accrue great benefits over time. To this end, the nurses conduct weekly health classes for villagers on such topics as, trachoma, hygiene, nutrition, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids education. In the near future the nurses will train ten local midwives to help serve in the community.

By the establishment of this local clinic basic health care has been brought to a community ravished by ailments you and I barely know about, let alone ever experienced by Americans in the 21st century. Needless to say, this clinic will alleviate much needless death and suffering. Villagers now will be able to access expert medical help for them selves and family members within walking distance from where they live.