An Introduction To CURE INTERNATIONAL
An Introduction toCURE INTERNATIONALAugust 2019 Edition, Statistics from Fiscal Year 2019FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONSCURE International, 17011 Hickory St, Spring Lake, MI 49456616.512.3105 (p) /// 717.730.6747 (f) /// cure.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS0305Our Mission / Who We Are / Who We Serve13The Language of CUREWhat CURE DoesWho and Where CURE ServesCosts and FundingCURE’s Religious AffiliationCURE in Speech and Writing15ResourcesLinks to Web Content and Social Media ProfilesCURE Core ValuesCURE Essential StandardsWhat We DoMedical CareHospitalsCURE NeuroCommonly Treated ConditionsTrainingSpiritual MinistryPage 2
OUR MISSIONHeal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God.Jesus sought out the broken and themarginalized, and He healed them. He told us todo the same thing.Since 1996, that’s been our aim. Starting withour first hospital in Kijabe, Kenya, we’ve focusedon meeting the immediate needs of childrenwith treatable disabilities while addressinglong-term needs by creating sustainableprograms to train local medical professionals incountry. All of this is done in an environmentwhere our patients, many of whom have beenrejected by family and friends, are treated withlove and dignity, often for the first time. Bymeeting physical and emotional needs anddemonstrating the love of God, we bear witnessto holistic healing.Page 3
WHO WE ARECURE is a Christian healthcare network thatoperates charitable hospitals and programsCURE International, based in Spring Lake,Michigan, was founded in 1996 by Dr. Scott andSally Harrison. CURE has grown into a network ofhospitals and programs in 14 countries around theworld with over 1,400 global co-workers, the vastmajority of whom are citizens of countries otherthan the United States.In keeping with our mission, CURE brings healingto underserved areas where medical and spiritualcare are often most needed and least available.Our 8 hospitals offer a wide variety of carethrough specializing in areas such as orthopedics,neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, and maternitycare.CURE also operates a specialty program, CURENeuro, with partnership treatment locations in 10countries.The kids and families we serve experience physical,emotional, and spiritual restoration through theministry of CURE.WHO WE SERVEWhile the majority of our hospitals and programsare focused on serving children with disabilities,some of our hospitals also provide other services,such as ENT care. All of our hospitals also providecare for private pay adults.The children we serve have treatable conditionssuch as clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft lip, untreatedburns, and hydrocephalus. In the places whereCURE serves, children with disabilities are oftenviewed as cursed. They are frequently hiddeninside their homes. Rejection, isolation, and abuseare common, both from family members and theoutside world. In some serious cases, children areabandoned, thrown away, or drowned by theirown families. Most who survive childhood, havingno education or employment options, will end upas beggars or worse.Without treatment, these kids have little hopefor the future.With treatment, everything changes.Page 4
MegertuHealed at CURE EthiopiaMegertu was born with clubfoot. When people saw that she was borndisabled, they wanted to throw her away.She was two years old when her mother died. Her father decided he did notwant to be part of her life, so her grandmother took care of her. Clubfootmade it impossible for Megertu to work like other children in her family. Heruncles beat her because she was unable to work. She was relentlessly teasedat school. There were no places of refuge.BEFOREAFTEREverything changed when staff from CURE Ethiopia visited Megertu’s villageand brought her to the CURE hospital in Addis Ababa. For Megertu, thehealing she found at CURE far exceeded straightened feet. For the first timein her life, she met the God who loves her.“If the CURE hospital was not there, there was no hope for me.There was nothing for me. I might not get healed. I would bewithout hope. Now, I understand something: God hears andanswers prayers.” - MegertuPage 5
WHAT WE DOCURE is dedicated to providing life-changinghealing through medical care, training, andspiritual ministry. Since our founding in 1996,CURE hospitals have performed more than213,000 procedures, and surgeons trainedby CURE have performed more than 15,000procedures to treat hydrocephalus and spinabifida.While we provide quality medical care tochildren and families every day, in order topreserve our impact for generations to come,our hospitals are also centers for training,creating a sustainable, growing community ofnational medical professionals in each countrywe serve.Medical care and training are trulytransformative to patients, their families, andto underserved areas that have access to highquality medical care for the first time, butnothing can compare to the impact of healingfor eternity. Through spiritual ministry, childrenand families are invited to know the God wholoves them. Since 1996, we have had theopportunity to witness more than 196,000expressions of faith in Jesus Christ.Medical CareCURE operates hospitals and programs with a focus on surgical care in 14 countries with specialtiesthat include orthopedics, neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, and maternity care.HospitalsCURE KenyaAIC CURE International HospitalCURE’s first hospital opened in Kijabe, Kenya, in 1998 and was built in partnership with the AfricaInland Church. The 34-bed hospital provides care for children suffering from a wide range oforthopedic conditions, such as clubfoot, burn contractures, osteomyelitis, and other acquired orcongenital conditions. The orthopedic training program at CURE Kenya is certified by the Collegeof Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA). It is widely recognized as one of theleading orthopedic surgical training programs in East Africa.Page 6
CURE UgandaCURE Children’s Hospital of UgandaCURE’s first neurosurgical hospital opened in Mbale, Uganda, in 2000. CURE Uganda is a specialtyteaching hospital that treats the neurosurgical needs of children with an emphasis on conditionslike hydrocephalus, neural tube defects, spina bifida, and brain tumors. CURE Uganda is recognizedas a global leader in a minimally-invasive, shuntless treatment for hydrocephalus known as ETV/CPC(endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization). This procedure was pioneeredby Dr. Benjamin Warf, CURE Uganda’s former medical director, presently serving at HarvardUniversity and Boston Children’s Hospital. The hospital serves as the training site for CURE Neuro’ssurgeon fellowship program, attracting surgeons from all over the world.CURE MalawiBeit CURE International HospitalOur teaching hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, opened in 2002 and specializes in treating theorthopedic needs of children and adults. The Beit Trust, a UK-based charity, provided support forthe construction of the hospital as a gift to the people of Malawi. The hospital also has specialexpertise in total hip and knee replacement surgery, making it one of the few places where thissurgery is available in Sub-Saharan Africa.Kanad HospitalNote: Kanad Hospital is never referred to by any other term (e.g., CURE UAE, CURE Al Ain, etc.).Kanad Hospital (formally Oasis Hospital) was founded by Christian missionaries Drs. Pat and MarianKennedy at the invitation of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brother, Sheikh Shakhbut, inNovember 1960. CURE acquired Oasis Hospital in 2006 and is grateful to be part of the excellentwork that has taken place since the hospital’s inception. In December of 2019, Sheikh Muhamed,the crowned prince, renamed the hospital to honor Drs. Pat and Marian Kennedy. With a focus onmaternity care, Kanad has brought over 100,000 children into the world to families from the UAE,Oman, and many other countries. Many members of the Abu Dhabi ruling family have been amongthe 100,000 children born at Kanad Hospital.CURE ZambiaBeit CURE Hospital of ZambiaOpened in 2006, our hospital in Zambia provides orthopedic, reconstructive, and ENT care and isone of the few hospitals in Zambia able to adequately address the surgical needs of children withdisabilities in the country. The Beit Trust, a UK-based charity, provided support for the constructionof the hospital as a centennial gift to the people of Zambia. The Zambian government donated a50-acre plot of land for the hospital site. The hospital campus is comprised of six buildings, housing37 patient beds in the children’s ward and 8 beds in the private patients’ ward. The hospital alsooperates mobile ENT clinics led by Dr. Alfred Mwamba of Zambia, the nation’s only audiologist.Page 7
CURE EthiopiaCURE Ethiopia Children’s HospitalOur orthopedic hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, opened in 2008. The hospital is astate-of-the-art complex that provides modern medical and surgical care to children with physicaldisabilities. Currently, the hospital is in the process of a multi-year project to maximize the numberof children they can heal. In addition, CURE Ethiopia fills a critical need as an orthopedic trainingsite in the country, providing didactic and clinical training in pediatric and advanced orthopedictechniques, and is an international COSECSA-accredited training site.CURE NigerCURE Hôpital des Enfants au NigerOur hospital in Niger opened in 2010 in the capital city of Niamey, bringing pediatric orthopedicand reconstructive care to one of the poorest countries in the world. CURE Niger is the only hospitalin Niger offering specialty surgical care for children with a variety of physical disabilities. As such,the hospital’s impact is extensive. Located in the heart of the Sahara, CURE Niger serves childrenfrom every region of the country and from neighboring countries as well.CURE PhilippinesTebow CURE HospitalThe Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City, Philippines, opened in May 2015, bringing pediatricorthopedic care to this nation of 102 million people. Located on the island of Mindanao in southernPhilippines, The Tebow CURE Hospital is one of the primary outreach initiatives of the Tim TebowFoundation and features the first international “Timmy’s Playroom” location.CURE NeuroCURE Neuro trains and equips surgeons in the treatment of hydrocephalus, a fatal condition wherefluid in a child’s brain increases and causes the head to swell. There are few surgeons qualifiedto correct this condition in middle- and low-income countries. Through CURE Neuro, life-savingtreatment is being introduced to new areas.Note: CURE Neuro was preceded by the iPATH program and was also previously known as “CUREHydrocephalus” and “CURE Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida.”Page 8
Dr. Benjamin Warf and the ETV/CPC Procedure: Dr. Benjamin Warf, Senior Medical Directorof CURE Neuro, is a pediatric neurosurgeon who has revolutionized the treatment of intracranialdiseases in very young children, with a particular focus on hydrocephalus (“water on the brain”).Because traditional treatment of hydrocephalus—insertion of shunts—is both prohibitivelyexpensive and requires sustained medical monitoring beyond the reach of most children inunderserved areas, Warf pioneered an alternative, low-cost treatment known as the ETV/CPCprocedure (combined endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization).In carefully designed clinical trials, he demonstrated that a relatively straightforward, one-timetreatment using modern endoscopic techniques (based on a surgical approach first attempted inthe early twentieth century) results in outcomes that are at least as safe and effective as ventricularshunts, but requires far less medical infrastructure and post-surgical maintenance.As an adjunct to his clinical practice, Warf developed CURE Neuro.Dr. Warf currently serves at the Boston Children’s Hospital as an Associate in Neurosurgeryand Director of Neonatal and Congenital Anomaly Neurosurgery. He became the hospital’sHydrocephalus and Spina Bifida Chair in 2014. Dr. Warf also serves as Associate Professor ofNeurosurgery at Harvard University, where he earned his medical degree in 1984, and he washonored as a MacArthur Foundation Fellow in 2012.Commonly Treated ConditionsCURE treats a variety of disabling conditions. These are some of the most common:Bowed LegsA leg (or legs) bowed outward at or below the kneeCleft LipA birth defect characterized by one or more clefts (separations) in the upper lip resulting fromfailure of the embryonic parts of the lip to uniteCleft PalateA birth defect characterized by a split in the roof of the mouthClubfootA congenitally misshapen foot twisted out of position, often resembling the angle of a golf clubContracturesA permanent shortening (of muscle, tendon, or scar tissue) producing deformity or distortion;Page 9
usually seen as severe scarring caused by untreated burnsHydrocephalusAn abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity that isaccompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles, enlargement of the skull and especially theforehead, and atrophy of the brain; often fatal if untreatedKnock KneesA condition in which the legs curve inward at the kneesOsteomyelitisAn infectious and usually painful inflammatory disease of bone that is often of bacterial origin andmay result in death of bone tissue, most frequently occurring in the legs, arm, or spineSpina BifidaA neural tube defect marked by congenital cleft of the spinal column, usually with hernial protrusionof the meninges and sometimes the spinal cordWindswept DeformityA condition in which one leg is bowed outward and one leg is bowed inward, causing the legs tolook “windswept”Definitions informed by the Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary.Page 10
TrainingEach CURE hospital and specialty programis dedicated to training national medicalpractitioners. Since inception, CURE has trainedthousands of medical professionals.CURE’s commitment to training is exemplifiedthrough the orthopedic training program atCURE Kenya. The program is certified by theCollege of Surgeons of East, Central, andSouthern Africa (COSECSA), and is widelyrecognized as one of the leading orthopedicsurgical training programs in East Africa.Doctors participating in the residency programspend five years training at CURE Kenya, theKijabe Medical Center, and, whenever possible,CURE hospitals in other African countries. Uponcompletion of the program, the orthopedicsurgeons continue to work at hospitals in Africa,including CURE hospitals, for an additionallength of time. In addition to the residencyCURE Ethiopia, CURE Malawi, CURE Uganda,and CURE Zambia are all accredited COSECSAtraining hospitals.The training program has established a legacyof leaders at CURE Uganda. Former MedicalDirector and current Neurosurgical ConsultantDr. John Mugamba worked as a pediatricneurosurgery fellow under Dr. Ben Warf beforetaking over as the Medical Director. CurrentMedical Director, Dr. Emmanuel Wegoye, is agraduate of the CURE Neuro fellowship.The effects of the training program arereaching far beyond Sub-Saharan Africa.Pediatric neurosurgeons from leading centers inNorth America have come to CURE Uganda toreceive training from our experienced team ofneurosurgeons, all of whom hail from Uganda.Training is also an integral component of CURENeuro. The program’s training center is locatedat CURE Uganda, where surgeons participate ina three-month fellowship to be trained in thecomprehensive treatment of hydrocephalus,including the innovative ETV/CPC procedure.Page 11
Spiritual MinistryCURE places equal value on medical andspiritual ministry. Just as there is an ExecutiveDirector at every hospital who managesoperations and a Medical Director who presidesover procedures, there is also a Spiritual Directorwho oversees ministry and leads a team of staffand volunteers. These full-time employees arepart of senior leadership and speak into issues atthe very core of hospital operations.CURE’s spiritual ministry teams work withpatients, their families, and their communitiesto understand a biblical view of disability inplaces where a much harsher view is commonlyaccepted. Through spiritual ministry at CUREhospitals, many patients learn for the firsttime that they are not cursed, as they’ve oftenbeen told, but loved by God. Many of ourpatients and families are given the opportunityto participate in a study of the Gospel ofMark through a curriculum called ChristianityExplored. They are encouraged to share theirown beliefs and questions about Jesus whilestudying the healing accounts foundthroughout Mark.Through hospital devotions, counseling, prayer,and outreach events, our goal is to demonstratethe love of Jesus to those we serve and providethe kind of healing that outlasts physical bodiesand extends into eternity.At many of our hospital locations, local pastorsare sought out during mobile clinics andoutreach events. These pastors are trainedin how to recognize the disabilities thatCURE treats and also in how to help familiesunderstand a biblical view of disability. Carryingout our mission would be impossible withoutpartnering with these local pastors.Page 12
THE LANGUAGE OF CUREWhat CURE DoesCURE’s mission is to do what Jesus did: heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God. Byproviding life-changing medical and spiritual care, we share God’s love with patients, their families,and the communities we serve.Who and Where CURE ServesCURE treats patients in underserved areas who have physical disabilities that can be corrected oralleviated through medical intervention. We treat patients regardless of gender, ethnic background,or religious affiliationCost and FundingThe cost of providing care varies widely between countries, conditions, and even specific cases—asis the case with any healthcare provider. The amount we publish online equals what we need toraise in the US to help support each procedure. Based on the average need across our network,that amount is 1,000 for each orthopedic surgery, reconstructive surgery, and neurosurgery. Thereis an average need of an additional 600 per case that must be raised in the countries in which weserve, through a series of channels including local fundraising, patient contributions, and privatepay care. For cleft lip and palate surgeries, approximately half of the funding is provided through apartnership with Smile Train, an international children’s charity.CURE’s monthly giving program (CURE Hero) functions differently than traditional “childsponsorship” models. Rather than associating giving with one representative child from a fundedproject for several years, monthly donors (Heroes) meet a new CUREkid who is receiving treatmentby CURE when their donation processes. Through the CUREkids program, supporters can follow thereal-time progress of individual children receiving medical treatment at many CURE hospitals. Overthe course of time, a Hero will meet many children impacted by CURE and will be able to see thelong-term impact of their giving.CURE’s Religious AffiliationAs a Christian organization, CURE believes in healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom ofGod, and we believe in doing it together, regardless of denominational affiliation. CURE is anindependent Christian organization and is not affiliated with any one church or denominationPage 13
CURE in Speech and WritingGeneral Name UsageWhen CURE is mentioned in copy text (articles, emails, headlines, etc.) it should always be styledusing all capital letters, e.g. “CURE” rather than “cure” or “Cure.”It is acceptable to refer to CURE International as simply “CURE.” The word “International” can beincluded or left out at the discretion of the speaker/writer.Hospital NamesWhen referring to a specific CURE hospital, there are two acceptable naming conventions. Youmay use either CURE plus the name of the country where the hospital is located (e.g., CURE Kenya,CURE Philippines, etc.) or the legal
Medical Care CURE operates hospitals and programs with a focus on surgical care in 14 countries with specialties that include orthopedics, neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, and maternity care. Hospitals CURE Kenya AIC CURE International Hospital CURE’s first hospital opened in Kijabe,
Cure Medical Pocket Catheter 10 Cure Medical Catheter Insertion Kits 11 2 *https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov The Cure Commitment Research is the Key Cure Medical believes that research is the key to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries (SCI) and central nervous system disorders (CNS/D). So, Cure Medical has made an unsurpassed Cure .
Table 7 Time to reach 75% obtained cure for 5P2 samples by differing MC, n 4. 29 Table 8 Time to reach 85% obtained cure for 5P2 samples by differing MC, n 4. 31 Table 9 Values of final cure times and degree of cure at final cure times for 2ply samples
Cure time refers to the amount of time required to reach specified states of cure at specified cure temperature or heat history . An example of cure time is the time required for a given compound to reach 50% or 90% of the ultimate state of cure at a given temperature often referred to as t50 and t90 respectivel y. (See Fig.1)
Epilepsy prioritizes highly innovative, risky, paradigm-shifting projects that address CURE Epilepsy’s mission to cure epilepsy, affirming our core belief that the only acceptable final goal is “no seizures, no side-effects.” CURE Epilepsy: Our mission is to cure epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research.
MEDICAL: CURE provides life-changing surgeries and removes barriers for children with correctable physical disabilities. TRAINING: CURE's hospitals are designed as teaching hospitals dedicated to training national medical professionals to serve future generations. Beyond the medical training, CURE is also training pastors and encouraging local
A CURE FOR WHICH THERE WAS NO KNOWN DISEASE Medicine is constantly researching endlessly for a cure for all diseases but always coming up empty handed. Medicine could be the only one who could be so ignorant or so corrupt as to convince the government to pay 150 million dollars for a cure for a disease that never existed.
weeks to cure, and a plural-compo-nent sprayed polyurea might take sev-eral seconds to cure. Regardless of the time the chemical reaction or curing process takes, the coating must not be put into service before it cures. F a i l u r es Related to Incomplete Cure There are several possible explana-tions for why a coating may not have cured properly.
Army Regulation 135-91 (Service Obligations, Methods of Fulfillment, . Travel alone poses a safety issue as mothers of newborns this age usually have interrupted sleep due to night-time feedings and diaper changes. This makes driving longer distances unsafe. There are also safety issues for the newborn related to SIDS as described below under the American Academy of Pediatrics research .
