CHRISTMAS APPEAL
As we approach this Christmas season, we are reaching out to invite you to be a part of something extraordinary - a chance to make a lasting impact on healthcare in the Global South, where the need for highly trained, compassionate Christian family doctors and hospital managers is immense.
Four young Christian doctors from the association of Christian doctors in Togo (Florence, Ricky, Roselyne and Cynthia) have just begun three years of service in the Esperance mission hospital in Mango supporting American and French missionaries.
Mango is located approximately 500km from the capital Lome, far from comfort. But they have chosen to serve the population of northern Togo, Benin, Ghana and southern Burkina Faso.
Alongside their work they will complete a two-year distance learning diploma in family medicine (I-PGDFM) in French provided by ICMDA in partnership with Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India and Loma Linda University (LLU), California.
ICMDA’s Mission: Equipping Christian Healthcare Leaders
At ICMDA we are dedicated to strengthening healthcare systems in underserved areas by providing specialised training for doctors and hospital managers. Our two-year blended learning diplomas in Family Medicine and Healthcare Management aim to address the critical shortage of postgraduate training for indigenous Christian healthcare professionals working in over 2,000 mission hospitals and clinics across the Global South. These professionals, many of whom lack access to specialised training, are essential to providing quality healthcare in their communities.
In January, we will launch the sixth cohort of our English-language Family Medicine diploma and, for the first time, expand this programme to French, Russian, and Spanish-speaking regions, beginning in January, March, and May, respectively.
Additionally, we are excited to introduce our new Diploma in Healthcare Management, starting in February, which will equip healthcare and hospital managers with essential skills to lead in challenging environments.
Overall, we have places next year for 160 students – 50 doing the Family Medicine Diploma in English (I-PGDFM) and 20 in each of French, Russian and Spanish; and 50 doing the new Diploma in Healthcare Management (I-PGDHM).
The Need: £50,000 in Support to Empower Healthcare Leaders
With this appeal, we aim to raise £50,000 by the end of the Christmas season to pump-prime this project to produce course materials, provide scholarships, cover travel costs associated with hands-on training and support staff. Although we offer these diplomas at a very low cost, many dedicated participants from resource-poor regions need financial assistance to benefit from this opportunity.
Your generous gift will help in four key areas:
- Staff Support – Employing seven new part-time staff members – a local academic coordinator and training administrator for each of the three DFM language programmes and a training administrator for the DHCM programme
- Scholarships – Providing financial support to students from under-served communities so they can access vital postgraduate training that would otherwise be out of reach.
- Hands-On Training Costs – Covering travel expenses for participants to attend in-person training weeks at dedicated centres, where they gain practical skills and valuable mentorship.
- Course Development and Translation – Supporting the final stage of translating and reviewing our Family Medicine curriculum into French, Russian and Spanish and creating the new Healthcare Management diploma from scratch.
Your Impact: A Brighter Future for Patients in Need
By supporting ICMDA’s diploma programmes, you empower Christian doctors and healthcare leaders to deliver higher-quality healthcare where it is most urgently needed. Your generosity will not only transform the lives of these healthcare professionals but also improve healthcare access for thousands of patients who otherwise might not receive quality care.
Will You Join Us?
We are reaching out to you in this critical time of transition, asking you to give generously and invest in this powerful work. Together, we can ensure that every committed Christian doctor selected for these programmes can develop the skills and knowledge needed to make a profound difference.
Your gift - no matter the amount - will help us continue this mission of empowering healthcare professionals with excellent training that ultimately benefits patients and communities in great need.
Thank you for considering this Christmas appeal. With your help, we can bring hope and healing to the Global South in a truly meaningful way.
Thank you for partnering with ICMDA and for helping us see a Christian witness
through doctors and dentist in every community and in every nation.
