HOPE in Africa

In 1964, the SS HOPE sailed into port in Conakry, Guinea, carrying its precious cargo of HOPE volunteers anxious to provide care to people in need and to share their medical knowledge with their local peers.

Flash forward to today, another team of HOPE medical volunteers are on board the U.S. Navy ship HSV Swift visiting several African nations along the West Coast providing care and training local health care workers.

Also beginning today, I have the privilege to lead a delegation of HOPE Board members, friends and staff members on a two-week visit to three remarkable African nations: South Africa, Namibia and Malawi.

The purpose for our visit is twofold. First, to see first-hand the impact HOPE’s programs have on difficult health challenges such as the care for orphans and vulnerable children, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

The second purpose is to identify what I call “intersections of interest,” or new opportunities for HOPE to apply its more than 50 years of experience and knowledge on the continent.

There is great potential for Africa and its people. However, several health challenges threaten their progress. That is why HOPE is as dedicated to tackle those health challenges today as we were when our volunteers set foot on the continent 48 years ago.

Please join me during the next two weeks as I share with you the remarkable stories of HOPE in Africa.