Restoring a Legacy of Healing
Tucked away in remote areas of Zambia are three clinics with a remarkable heritage. Founded decades ago where Wesleyan missionaries first planted churches and established mission stations, these clinics in Jembo, Chabbobboma and Siachitema have long served as lifelines for their communities. For thousands of families who live in places where hospitals are hours away by dirt road, these clinics are the front lines of medical care.
Jembo
Despite their worn exteriors, these clinics remain pillars of compassion and care. They provide prenatal and maternal care, childhood immunizations, treatment for malaria and other common illnesses and ongoing health education. In emergencies, they offer life-saving interventions with the resources they have. Their presence has reduced preventable deaths, improved the overall health of their communities and built deep trust with local families who know they’ll be treated with dignity and respect. In places where options are few, these clinics continue to shine as faithful expressions of Christ’s healing ministry.
Jembo
The clinics’ commitment to serving their communities remains as strong as ever, though years of limited funding and few upgrades have left the facilities themselves telling a different story. The buildings that once stood as symbols of hope now show the wear of time and use.
Earlier this year, Dr. Arkan Muyabe, director of Wesleyan Medical Ministries of Zambia, and I visited each clinic as part of a broader trip that included a delegation of Wesleyan leaders from North America. At each stop, they listened to staff stories, toured the facilities and envisioned what could be.
As part of their visit, Dr. Muyabe and I gathered the clinic teams for a reflective exercise, asking them to share what they believed were the strengths of their clinics. Staff spoke with pride about their teamwork, consistent and compassionate patient care and close coordination with the local church and broader community. Despite the limitations they face, their commitment to excellence and collaboration stood out as key reasons why these clinics have remained trusted and respected by those they serve.
Chabbobboma
In Chabbobboma, the clinic’s impact extends beyond its walls thanks to a dedicated network of 60 community-based volunteers. These individuals serve as the hands and feet of the clinic throughout the surrounding villages, educating neighbors on hygiene, nutrition, disease prevention and when to seek medical care. Many are longtime volunteers who see their work as a calling and a way to serve Christ. Their grassroots commitment has helped extend the clinic’s reach, building trust and improving health outcomes far beyond what the small clinic staff could do alone.
These clinics have the heart, the people and the history. What they need now is a fresh investment to restore their capacity to serve.
GPHN, in partnership with Pilgrim Wesleyan Church of Zambia, is launching a five-year initiative to help restore these clinics to their full potential as trusted centers of healing and hope. The vision includes:
- Upgrading buildings and infrastructure
- Providing staff housing so medical personnel can live near the clinic
- Supplying essential medical equipment and materials
- Supporting operational costs to ensure consistent care
Siachitema
That vision is already beginning to take shape. At the clinic in Chabbobboma, a new portable ultrasound machine is now being used to strengthen the clinic’s prenatal care services. For expectant mothers in remote areas, this means earlier detection of complications and greater peace of mind. The staff also hopes that this new capability will help generate income, as nearby clinics and health posts refer patients for ultrasound exams. It’s a small piece of equipment with the potential to make a big impact—both for the health of mothers and babies, and for the long-term sustainability of the clinic.
These clinics are more than medical outposts— they are sacred spaces where the Gospel has been lived out in real, physical healing for generations.