The CareNow Story

The CareNow story begins with our Founder and President, Ed Bjurstrom. Following a three-week trip to Africa with his wife, Wendy, and their then 10 year old daughter, Ed was inspired to do something to bring much needed, basic and essential healthcare to the people of Afirca.

Why Is Africa So Important?

There’s evidence that human life began in Africa. But what’s happening now, in remote villages and towns of this “cradle of civilization,” is that life is dying out. The basics – medicines, antiseptics, doctors, disease prevention as simple and cheap as mosquito nets – tragically may not reach those most in need. And it’s not only an African problem, it’s global.

The U.S. spent $2.8 billion on AIDS worldwide in 2005. Three-quarters of those infected with HIV in the world live in Africa. Sadly, less than 10% of those who are in desperate need are getting treatment today. As a private healthcare agency working in remote and rural villages and towns, we offer practical solutions for poverty-stricken people.
CareNow does not build hospitals. We do bring much needed basic healthcare to patients in faraway villages. We help fund salaries of healthcare professionals to live and work in remote villages to fight infectious diseases on a daily basis. We provide support to African doctors who stay in Africa to care for the people in their home community. CareNow is committed both to distributing anti-retroviral drugs and to realistic prevention of AIDS as well as other equally debilitating diseases.

Current Projects

Lily Medical Centre

Through a partnership with the Lily of the Valley Children’s Orphanage located in Mophela, South Africa, CareNow is funding operational support in the form of doctor and nurse salaries, supplies, and equipment provision. The clinic's construction is complete, and we are actively working with additional orgranizations to send a container of supplies to them. This clinic will serve the local community as well as provide basic medical services to the children at the orphanage.

1000 Hills Community Helpers

Ikhaya Lo Thando (Home of Love) will focus on HIV treatment near Inchanga just outside of Durban in South Africa. Dawn Leppan's organization, 1000 Hills Community Helpers, has been active for many years, caring for children and the sick amidst a staggering HIV pandemic. Funding for this clinic will provide medical supplies, staffing, and ongoing training. View 1000 HCH's website

Mobile Clinic in Zambia

CareNow supports a nurse and a midwife and their mobile clinic in a remote village in Zambia. Funds raised in 2007 will be used for additional supplies and equipment.

World Vision International – Community Partnership Opportunity

CareNow is collaborating with World Vision as one of its partners for a community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) called Kipushi. CareNow’s financial support of this project includes funding for community care coalitions designed to provide for essential needs of orphans, vulnerable children, and people living with HIV/AIDS. A primary need for this group of people includes increasing access to medical care.

External links

CareNow Website