The women in Chobo donned traditional headdresses to celebrate the clinic’s opening.

CHOBO, Senegal – Nearly a year after a horrific fire swept through the village of Chobo, Senegal, villagers are celebrating—and with good reason.

More than 200 African villagers gathered to celebrate the re-opening of Chobo’s only medical clinic after a raging fire last year burned down the clinic and many of the grass-roof homes in the village.

Thanks to New Tribes Mission and support from Operation Blessing, the villagers worked together to rebuild the clinic. They recycled bricks and rafters from an unoccupied house in the village, then added cement and a tin roof—ensuring that the structure would be less susceptible to fire.

This single clinic in Chobo will now serve 25 different villages. And the nurse who runs it, Labo Camara, lives next door so he can be on call both day and night.

In addition to the clinic, this motorcycle ambulance will help save lives throughout the region by bringing timely help to those in need.

The village also purchased and stocked a motorcycle ambulance in order to reach the neighboring villages with urgent care.

To commemorate the clinic’s opening, the village women wore elaborate traditional headdresses; chiefs and representatives came from neighboring villages; villagers performed skits; and everyone ate a celebratory meal of red rice and potatoes.

Then, the president of the rural community cut the ceremonial ribbon.

Said Steve Bastow, a missionary with New Tribes Mission, “People are getting medicine and compassionate help when they need it. And lives are being saved.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
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