They both became aware of the need to improve the health care conditions and education of their people and to decrease the level of poverty in the local community.
Life expectancy for a Nigerian resident is 52 years, which is near the bottom of the United Nations Human Development Index measuring countries’ overall standard of living. Compare that to Minnesota's life expectancy rate of 81 years
. High poverty levels and lack of access to health services combined with poor infrastructure such as limited transportation, no laboratory, limited electricity and water, and limited medical supplies create an environment that invites diseases such as HIV/aids, malaria and tuberculosis to thrive. Mercy International Mission is committed to providing access to basic health care services and health education with support for basic hygiene, food preparation, and infection prevention.
“When we saw what people were going through, we started to pray, asking God to show us how we might be able to help improve the quality of life and address several of the challenges facing people in this rural community.”
“In 2007, we went back home and decided to have a series of meetings with the community leaders, including the chiefs and the king. They both expressed in very clear terms some of the issues and challenges facing the community in the areas of heath care and education. This includes a lack of a functional clinic and medication, a recreational center for children and youth, and the need for a community library where children, as well as adults, can be exposed to reading. Upon our arrival back to the United States, we decided to establish Mercy International Mission, USA as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.”
Today, Mercy International Mission USA is a registered nonprofit entity in the State of Minnesota, United States.
