Evangel Hospital is 50

Evangel Hospital is 50 years old now.

We have been celebrating Nigerian style. There have been three days of festivities. The music has been remarkable. The speeches have been long. The memories have been wonderful and encouraging. We have had many guests from the past. Dr. Glenn Verbrugge, who was a surgeon here from 1974 – 1984 has come for the festivities. Dr. Phil Andrew of Australia was here from 1979 to 1994. He is a family practitioner who started the training program in 1989. It has been encouraging to see how far the hospital has come over the years, knowing that it will continue to progress with time and the dedication of so many people. Back when it started, Evangel had two doctors from the United States and for many years it remained a two doctor hospital. It took off in 1989 when the residency program started.

Now there are only five American doctors and nine Nigerian consultants who are graduates of the training program at this hospital. We have 18 resident doctors in training. Over 100 doctors have been trained at Evangel. Evangel is soon to be a teaching hospital for 23 medical students as well. We have many other nursing students and pharmacy students passing through. Though it is a humble hospital by western standards, this a greatly respected hospital in the region and people travel hours to receive care here that they know will be better than they can get anywhere else.