Bongolo Hospital is a 150-bed, teaching hospital in a remote part of central Africa. Physicians are needed to help train African healthcare workers (nurses, advanced practice nurses, interns, and residents) in both healthcare and evangelism within the context of clinical care.

Responsibilities

• Direct patient care, appropriate to medical specialty
• Training African healthcare workers
• Contributing to the administrative work of the hospital as a physician leader in a department-of-training program (i.e., director of the lab or assistant director of the surgical residency, etc.)

Required Qualifications

• Completion of Alliance Polity course
• Completion of the World Perspectives Mission Course (minimum of Certificate level) or equivalent
• Board certification within specialty
• Active U.S. medical license

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience training healthcare workers appreciated
• Previous experience with cross-cultural living and limited-resource medicine

Biblical Characteristics Desired

• Kingdom-minded
• Biblically grounded
• Spirit-dependent
• Competently skilled
• Self-aware
• Self-disciplined

Timeline for Deployment

Summer/fall 2022. All appointees are required to attend a cross-cultural and language-acquisition program and Pre-Field Orientation prior to deploying.

General Information

Bongolo Hospital is located in a remote area in a small town of about 5,000 people. Basic supplies are available in town and can be supplemented through our annual shipment from the U.S. and occasional trips to the capital (350 miles away). Housing for missionaries, African physicians, and hospital administrators is on a station maintained by the mission.

CIA World Factbook – Gabon

Joshua Project – Gabon

Language Expectations

Language is an essential part of ministry. The successful applicant(s) will receive one year of intense language study, followed by ongoing language and cultural acquisition. The goal will be to speak, read, and write the language at a functional level in order to mentor, teach, and train others.

International workers will receive one year of intensive French language study in a French-speaking environment.

Health Considerations

Gabon is a relatively hot and humid country, and the mission station is located in a rural location. It is important to be in good health. However, certain well-managed chronic diseases should be okay, such as hypertension and hypothyroidism. Chronic diseases should be managed by a U.S.-based physician and not by a physician on the mission field.

Expectations for Spouse

Spousal roles vary, based on the spouse’s gifts, training, and abilities, as well as the needs of the team. It is expected that both spouses will be meaningfully involved in meeting ministry objectives, depending on the nature of family roles, children, etc.

In the setting of Bongolo Hospital, there are many jobs that need to be done and many of which we don’t have the staffing to accomplish. Additionally, many international workers cover certain responsibilities outside their giftedness and training because of necessity. This is true in the medical arena, as well as in the running of the mission and hospital. Imagine a small town and what it takes to run the town infrastructure. That is what is needed. So practically anyone can find a job at Bongolo.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options

The local schools are inadequate, and there is not currently a teacher present at Bongolo. At this time, homeschooling is the only option available to elementary school children, but we are actively searching for a teacher to assist with this. Boarding school options also can be explored for middle- and high-school students.