Meet the Staff of Nyadire United Methodist Hospital

Anand Rao, Visiting Person in Mission Physician

Posted: March 21, 2005

Small map of Africa showing location of Zimbabwe and UM Cross and Flame. Deep within the rural landscape of Zimbabwe, Nyadire United Methodist Hospital strives to deliver quality health care services despite severely limited resources. The staff attribute their strength and perseverence to their faith in God, which helps them provide patients with love, compassion, and wonderful care.

After more than three years without a doctor on staff, Nyadire United Methodist Hospital was overjoyed to learn in addition to Dr. Maxwell Rupfutse, who joined the staff in November 2003, that Dr. Anand Rao would come in December. Dr. Rao, a Person in Mission (PIM) and very experienced surgeon from India, has received support from the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, and Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, PA (Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference).

A deeply spiritual man, Dr. Rao believes he was called into the medical practice and guided by God to serve the poor and show his patients the mercy of Jesus Christ through medical care. Before coming to Nyadire United Methodist Hospital, Dr. Rao and his wife Helen spent many years as missionary doctors at Duncan Hospital in northern India. He was a surgeon and she was an ophthalmologist. In order to answer their calling of service, the Raos have moved far from their home and two sons in the southern region of India.

Dr. Rao asserts that he was led by the Lord to take up the medical ministry in Zimbabwe. He knew that leaving his family and living in a land so far away was a daunting task and would potentially lead to a lonely existence. However he was confident that God would strengthen him, citing Joshua 1:5 "I will always be with you, I will never abandon you." He is very thankful for the gracious welcome given to him by Matron Joyce Tsiga, Dr. Maxwell Rupfutse and the rest of the helpful staff.

Before Dr. Rao arrived in 2003, no surgeries had been performed at the hospital for many years. Now Dr. Rao regularly conducts Cesarean-sections for mothers experiencing difficult, even life-threatening pregnancies, as well as tumor removals and skin grafts. He has seen the number of patients increase as word of his arrival spread.

Dr. Rao also serves as a mentor and teacher to Dr. Rupfutse to instill even more knowledge and skill into the young Zimbabwean doctor and help build the hospital's capacity to provide exceptional care to Nyadire.

In addition to bringing his technical medical skills, Dr. Rao has also helped the hospital reevaluate its mission and vision and strategically plan for its sustainability. In order for NUMH to meet the basic objective - to heal, teach and preach the work of God, Dr. Rao and the hospital management team aim to:

      I.   Develop medical missionary leadership in Zimbabwe within the UMC hospitals
      II.  Reduce the disease burden in the hospital's catchment area, particularly with regard to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis
      III. Become financially sustainable

It is clear that Dr. Anand Rao has come to NUMH at a time when his experience, guidance and faith is most needed - for Nyadire, for the hospital, and for the patients who so desperately depend on the services offered by this United Methodist mission.

Photos: 1. Dr. Maxwell Rupfutse and Dr. Anand Rao prepare for surgery in the busy operating theatre of Nyadire United Methodist Hospital in Zimbabwe. Before coming to this hospital, Dr. Rao and his wife Helen spent many years as missionary doctors at Duncan Hospital in northern India. A Person in Mission (PIM), Dr. Rao receives support from the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church. Photo by Shannon Trilli 2004. 2. Dr. Maxwell Rupfutse and Dr. Anand Rao perform an emergency Cesarean-section in the Nyadire United Methodist Hospital's operating theatre. Before Dr. Rao arrived in 2003, no surgeries had been performed at the hospital for many years. A Person in Mission (PIM), he receives support from the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church. Photo by Amy Squires 2004.

Read another inspiring story about Nyadire United Methodist Hospital.