Global Health

Methodism’s focus on health as a part of mission dates to the 19th and 20th centuries when missionaries expanded the options for health care in underserved communities.
Through United Methodist conferences and health boards, Global Ministries works to strengthen whole networks of health responses, from revitalization of facilities and staff training to building better water sources, developing sanitation facilities and promoting nutrition. Global Health continues to concentrate on eradicating preventable diseases, such as malaria, HIV and AIDS and COVID-19, and supporting the most vulnerable populations, including mothers, newborns and children.

Global Ministries is also the lead agency for the UMC’s Abundant Health Initiative.

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Dr. Soniste Silonga examines Gosim Syrelle in the Mary Johnston Hospital in Manila, Philippines. The hospital is supported by United Methodist Women.

Health systems strengthening

Improves quality of health services and healthcare facilities in low-resource settings.

INM Sierra Leone Campaign 2014 — Matilda Ndanema displays the insecticide-treated mosquito net she received from the United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria campaign in 2010 at her home in Bumpe, near Bo, Sierra Leone. The insecticide is nearing the end of its useful life and several villages in the Bo district will receive new nets from the campaign in the first planned redistribution to replace the nets given in 2010.

Imagine No Malaria

Expands the use of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment resources.

baby getting weighed at health center — Lukogho Mukandirwa Vianney weighs Flaura Numbere while her mother Lydia Kahambu (center) looks on at the Majengo Health Center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Increases access to quality maternal, newborn and child health services and reduces morbidity and mortality rates.

Students at the El Sembrador School in Pastocalle, Equador, wash hands at their new hand-washing station thankst o UMCOR, Engineers in Action-Ecuador and the Evangelical United Methodist Church of Ecuador. El Sembrador, a Methodist School, had to buy land and extend its services to include a high school, which Engineers in Action (FIEA) supplied with a connection to the municiple water supply and new restrooms and washing stations. The students and teachers attended workshops and learned new ways to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Project completion May 2021. PHOTO: FIEA-Ecuador

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Provides clean and safe water sources and revitalizes sanitation facilities.

Neighborhoods outside Ho Chi Minn City were greatly affected by COVID-19 lock-downs in 2021. SHops and businesses were closed and livelihoods were severely affected. Thu Duc UMC collected and delivered food and other household supplies to affected neighborhoods. PHOTO: JJPARK

COVID-19 response

Supports health systems and communities around the world in the awareness, prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

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Read Stories of Impact

Stopping the spread of cholera in North Katanga

Global Health partners with the North Katanga UMC for a cholera campaign that provides more treatment options and prevention measures, but also aims to change the understanding of entire communities about water safety and sanitation to stop the disease in its tracks.

Health center in Central Congo is revived

A health center attacked and looted in Central Congo makes a comeback after several years of intensive work on facilities, equipment, pharmacy supplies and training for personnel by the Central Congo Health Board, supported by Global Ministries’ Global Health team.

Reducing malaria by increasing community awareness

The East Angola United Methodist Health Board is on track to reduce malaria by 20% in nine communities in Malanje province in 2022. One secret of their success – teams of youth volunteers visit house-to-house to offer malaria prevention strategies.