May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 15 v5-6

The Spirit of Unity has become a reality as we have learnt so much from each other.

Partnerships

The income from the clinic is not enough for investment to be made in upgrading and

improving the facilities. The Board of Governors of the Presbyterian Urban Health

Centre wanted to demonstrate Christ’s love for the poorest of the poor by providing

better healthcare.  Their vision was to build a larger facility as a centre for Health Care

in the area and to renovate the Iheorji Centre and use it as a satellite primary health

care centre. This vision is now beginning to be realised, through partnership.

Banchory West Church ’s partnership with Aba

Banchory West Church started a link with the Health Centre in 2002, following

visits to Aba by their minister, Donald Walker, and the Moderator of the Church of

Scotland. The World Mission Department of the Church of Scotland is very supportive of the partnership.

By 2006, enough funds were raised by the generosity of the people of Banchory for

renovation work to be started at the Iheorji Centre.  A bore hole was sunk and much

needed renovation work was started on the dilapidated buildings.  

In 2006, a team of 6 from Banchory went to Aba and worked with a team from the local

churches and the Governors of the Health centre.  In a remarkably short time the roof was

raised and replaced, re-wiring done, the walls plastered and painted, and water storage

tanks were installed for the bore hole. The team was inspired by the faith and integrity of

the people they met and impressed by what can be achieved with such limited resources.

The visit strengthened the links between the staff in Aba and the congregation

of Banchory West Church . In January 2008, 2 people from Banchory went out again

and were encouraged to see the difference the renovations had made in improving the

service to patients and in raising the profile of the clinic.

Members of the Board of Governors have visited Banchory on several occasions and

in 2009 the Chair of the Borard of Governors, Dr Obassi, and the then project Manager,

Nnanna Uma, were hosted in Banchory as part of the Church of Scotland’s Faithshare scheme.

The theme chosen for our partnership is Romans 15: 5-9, which speaks of the Spirit of

Unity. This has become a reality as we have learnt so much from each other.