Barbara Chicks
July 2020

Kihomi Ngwemi & Nzunga Mabudiga

Nzunga Mabudiga and Kihoma Ngwemi serve as global servants in Cap-Haitian, Haiti. They are a vital link between International Missions and the Haitian Baptist Convention. Nzunga and Kihoma preach in churches and also serve in a variety of ministries.

Over the years, the American Baptist Women of Santa Clara has sent used eye frames to the Ophthalmological Center in Cap-Haitian, which inserts the proper lenses, and then gives the glasses to clients. The Ophthalmological Center has been in operation for over 30 years, offering its services to the most deprived people of Haiti.

Nzunga teaches theology at the Christian University of Northern Haiti, trains assistant professors, and administers a scholarship program for elementary through university-age students. He manages the "Pigs and Goats" projects (globalgiving.org/projects/poverty) for children, the clean water project for local communities, and the Cap-Haitian Eye Clinic.

Kihoma works in counseling, women’s health, community health, evangelism, and economic development. She also coordinates and advises the Women’s Association Haitian Baptist Convention, which represents women of all the Baptist denominations of Haiti at international conferences.

They write: “The eye clinic is open and back to caring for our patients. We had to close the clinic at the end of March. Then, after serious preparations and precautions, the clinic opened its doors to the public on June 1st. The preparations and precautions consisted of finding masks and protective shields for the staff, sufficient supplies of cleaning products (Clorox and soap), over 4,000 eyeglasses (4,196 pairs to be exact), and medication. The staff, under the supervision of our eye doctor, is paying close attention to the cleanliness of the clinic, and the health of the patients and themselves.

“Since the opening, the clinic is receiving 20 patients a day. Why only 20 when the line is so long outside? Well, the number has been limited in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Each patient who enters the clinic has to be tested for the virus, the bottom of their shoes must be soaked in Clorox water, their hands thoroughly washed, and everyone must wear a mask. From the first day the clinic reopened, to the end of the week, the clinic examined 98 patients. As of now, we are not thinking about operating on patients.”