Napartet: Community and Partner Satisfaction

YKHC employees are big supporters of Dr. Jill Seaman’s medical clinic project in South Sudan, contributing auction itemes, volunteer time and, o

f course, bidding on auction items at the 5th Annual Sudan Gala held in Bethel on Aug. 14. The event raised $15,000 for the Sudan Medical Relief project in Old Fangak, South Sudan.

For more than two decades Dr. Seaman has divided her time between Bethel and East Africa where she puts her expertise in tropical medicine to work treating deadly diseases such as kala-azar, which is spread by sand flies.

Gala co-coordinator Ann Evans said, “YKHC employees are always a big part of donating and attending, as well as helping with the event.”

Some of the big ticket items included air line tickets, a pair of camel bags from northern Afghanistan, an antique Chinese basket, professional video equipment, a James Barker photo, a Roy Carlson bowl, an ebony nativity set, a large batik print from Kenya and a lidded woven basket from Old Fangak. Bidding items for children included an elephant batik, coloring book, stuffed animals and an assortment of games. Special deserts include baklava and some great cakes and pies.

Dr. Seaman’s talk and slide show provided a wonderful update on the life-saving humanitarian efforts of Sudan Medical Relief, where every year thousand of lives are saved from the kala azar epidemic. In addition, Dr. Seaman and her local staff treat many with TB, malaria, obstetric emergencies and a wide range of common medical problems.

At this point Dr. Seaman is in Nairobi, soon to return to the village of Old Fangak where she will live and work until mid April before returning again to Bethel, her other ‘home’.

The project run by Dr. Seaman has a continuing need for funds to carry out its life-saving mission. Donations, always welcomed and fully tax-deductible, can be sent to Crosscurrents International Institute, 7122 Hardin-Wapak Rd, Sidney, OH 45365; write ‘SMR’ on the lower line of the check.