A recent break-in and robbery at a Seventh-day Adventist medical center in the central African country of Burundi is typical of the continuing difficulties faced by the church's health work there, reports Adelphine Hatangimana, accountant for Adventist He
A recent break-in and robbery at a Seventh-day Adventist medical center in Burundi is typical of the continuing difficulties faced by the church’s health work there, reports Adelphine Hatangimana, accountant for Adventist Health Services in the region. According to church leaders, more than nine years of civil conflict in this central African nation has increased law and order problems throughout the country. And they say the rising rates of vandalism and robbery have hit Adventist health centers particularly hard.
The most recent raid occurred at the Buganda Health Center on the night of July 29. Local church leaders report that vandals immobilized a security guard and the nurse on duty, raided the medical supplies and stole cash, and all the medical equipment. They proceeded to burn all the equipment records and other important papers, and carried away two bicycles. Administrators say they thank God the thieves did not find the cash on the premises that had been set aside as tithe.
Hatangimana reports that the church’s three health centers have endeavored to continue their activities, despite being targeted at times by vandals. But she says that on a number of occasions in the recent past, service has been interrupted. The Rutsindu Health Center had to close its doors for a period of six months following a deterioration of security in the area, and the Nyanza-Lac Health Center has also been raided three times at regular intervals.
