We are religious sisters sent forth to heal the world and relieve suffering in areas of the greatest need. Desiring to share Christ’s healing love, our Sisters come from 19 countries to bring health services to people all around the world.
The Medical Missionaries of Mary are an international missionary congregation of women religious, founded by Mother Mary Martin, in Nigeria, in 1937. The Congregation and the members are also known by their official initials MMM.
The aim of the Medical Missionaries of Mary is to seek God and the Kingdom through sharing Christ’s healing mission in the world today.
Worldwide MMM Sisters operate in areas of the world with the greatest need for health and healing care. Locations are places where MMMs are invited to communities by the local leadership to provide holistic and healing resources. Various medical missionary work is provided according to the needs of the local people.
MMMs are actively engaged in the delivery of services. This includes the prevention or relief of sickness, disease or human suffering in various ways. We serve in over eleven countries. We assist with illness, diseases and social challenges unique to the specific location. We work with the local community to identify what most needs to be done. Then we build on the strengths of the existing resources. Objectives are set with goals to respond to the particular area and what impacts people there the most. In no two locations services are exactly alike. Change is always monitored and addressed.These varied and integrated services provided in the hospitals/clinics and in outpatient delivery include but are not limited to:
MMM serves in four geographic regions (East Africa, West Africa, the Americas and Europe). The Sisters own or manage various hospitals, health care clinics and primary care centres. The variety of health care services provided is based on the needs of the local community. Prevention of illness and disease is as important as treatment.Specific programmes are developed to address the needs of the local people. For example, unfortunately in East and West Africa, there are many women who suffer from Obstetric Fistula (VVF and RVF). This happens with prolonged labour in childbirth. Usually these women have had no antenatal care.Obstetric fistula causes involuntary and often painful discharge of urine or faeces into the vaginal vault. It is a preventable condition. Treatment and rehabilitation involves surgery. It also fuels efforts in antenatal and maternity services along with raising awareness.
In addition to providing traditional hospital and clinic health services, MMM Sisters are involved in various types of holistic healing and also in providing health education.Open to what serves the needs of the community and the individual best, MMM offers a variety of holistic healing services that patients would otherwise be unable to access.Health education is offered in many ways in areas where the need is unmet by other health care service providers. It is provided in connection with churches, schools, community centres and health centers. Education is provided in areas related to multiple health concerns including AIDS/HIV education, TB clinic, hygiene, sexual education, ante-natal care, disease prevention and safety measures.We MMMs work with the local community to address the specific needs of the people. In many parts of the world some diseases still play a large role, different from other areas. It is possible that in the poorer slums there is no public sanitation at all and the spread of disease is a major concern. In many areas the local people may be unable to read or have access to digital technology to learn basic steps for health education or self care. MMM goes to where the people are and brings health education to them as needed.
Tragically, in some of the poorest parts of the world young children and vulnerable adults are sought to be trafficked. MMMs seeing the growing need to educate, protect and help prevent Human trafficking are involved in many efforts to reverse this trend. Counter Human Trafficking (CHT) requires many levels of involvement to make changes. We are facing a global epidemic of growth in using vulnerable people as illegally trafficked workers.
MMMs are involved in educating people about how to protect themselves and their children from the methods of traffickers. They are also involved in trying to help people get out of bad situations once trafficked. There are so many ways in which people are tricked or betrayed to get them or their children into a very dangerous and difficult trap.Human Traffickers know their market in approaching vulnerable families. For people who are very poor and starving, money offered can be enticing because they do not see they have other options. MMMs respond to the needs of the local people in places where humans are being recruited or routed by sex and human traders. MMMs work with local authorities to help change conditions and prepare people on how to protect themselves or what to do to rebuild their life after being trafficked.Sr. Mary O’Malley has been involved with CHT for many years in East Africa and is doing incredible work to improve conditions for people negatively impacted by it. She is also central to organising conferences, education programmes and global government efforts to reverse CHT wherever possible. She has created a network of caring people who are dedicated to ending CHT. There are also Sisters involved in North America and Ireland.
Tragically, in some of the poorest parts of the world young children and vulnerable adults are sought to be trafficked. MMMs seeing the growing need to educate, protect and help prevent Human trafficking are involved in many efforts to reverse this trend. Counter Human Trafficking (CHT) requires many levels of involvement to make changes. We are facing a global epidemic of growth in using vulnerable people as illegally trafficked workers.
Palliative care is an important and specialised type of medical care that provides patients with relief from suffering or pain caused by long term or terminal illness no matter the diagnosis or stage of disease. Palliative care teams aim to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families.Palliative care teams aim to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families.For many people, end of life care is difficult as the patient finds themself with little options. MMMs work to provide palliative care for people who need health services to cope with pain and to die with dignity. We work with people who have terminal illnesses like advanced stages of cancer or untreatable AIDS or who are very frail or elderly. Bringing comfort to people at this difficult time is something that we MMMs do with great care.Much of what MMM does focuses on the ability to bring the healing charism to people in most need.
In many parts of the world it is difficult for young women to find employment that will support them and their children. Attending traditional training or education programmes may not be an option for several reasons. In complex situations, women are denied access to jobs and have no way to support themselves or lift themselves out of poverty.
MMMs provide training and enterprise skills to empower young women to be self employed. Giving women skills they can use to make money allows them to create an income to support themselves and their children for life. Skills like hairdressing, crafts, design, dress making, computer training and other abilities are taught as they are in demand in the areas where the women live.
MMMs offer care and support to members of the community who may need additional help in times of challenge or adversity. Providing Pastoral care involves enabling people to journey through difficulty and find healing and wholeness.It can involve supporting a person who is in need of reconciliation or guidance. In providing pastoral care, an MMM is able to offer a new and nurturing perspective while supporting someone through a challenging process or time.These services can be provided by an individual or as part of a community pastoral care team. Pastoral care can foster a culture of caring and nurturing to impact a school, hospital, home or neighborhood. It is an important part of the MMM ethos to provide pastoral care where it is needed.
Poverty and starvation are serious issues for many people in the world. Rather than just feeding the needy, MMMs are involved in programmes which have taught thousands of people how to grow their own food.Working along with the help of donors and assistance from other NGOs. farmers and people are taught better agricultural methods. Seeds, tools and fertilizers are distributed. Educational courses are offered to help people grow their own food. There are areas where MMMs are actively working that have or are impacted by famine due to war, politics, disease or extreme weather conditions.Clean water is also another major issue for many people in the world. MMMs are involved in the science and technology of helping people regenerate water which is an essential part of life for any one at any age.
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