News/Publications

Kenya Visit February 24 - March 4, 2011

Simon and I made a visit to Project Isiolo, arrived in Nairobi on the 25th.   To be met by Normand Peladeau, MaterCare International’s project coordinator in Kenya.

 VISIT TO MERTI

Visit on the 27th with Normand, a driver and 2 police security. The journey time from Isiolo to Merti (225 kms) has been reduced to 4 hours as the road has been graded in parts but still remains tough e.g. there are 30 dry riverbeds to negotiate, where the robbers hang out waiting to ambush as one has to drive slowly down one side and up the other.  There is now a sort of “bus” rather than a truck service from Merti to Isiolo, which seems to be working although the bus has broken down a few times but it does indicate development.  Security has improved greatly because of the presence of large numbers of British troops in the area, training Somali soldiers to return home and take back their country from Al-Shabab.

Construction of this new maternity ward  is almost complete, except for some inside finishing work inside.  The outside work that needs to be done is the completion of the two Manyattas with outside toilets and showers, incinerator, placental pit and paving around the new building, plus landscaping and security fence. This will be completed in two weeks

Renovation of old dispensary is badly needed, but necessary for the maternity centre to function properly as it will include an outpatient area, laboratory, and pharmacy.  A new roof has been added, however there is a lot of work to be done to restore and make safe the outside concrete works surrounding the roof and repair of the foundation and walls. There is also considerable work to be done inside to renovate the whole area and redesign it to provide better working environment and better waiting and examination areas for patients. The new objective now is to complete Merti and to make it operational in the next 2 months.             

Cost.   The budget for completion is €12,477.  The medical, obstetrical, laboratory and pharmacy equipment ordered from Durbin in London has arrived and will be delivered in the next couple of weeks. 

Operations Budget for Merti

Total operation costs for 1 year is $19,000.00.  However, the expected income from delivery fees and laboratory tests is only $1, 385.00.  The people in this area are destitute and we have to find some way of funding this service while it grows.  It is important that we get Merti functioning and caring for mothers in the next two months as it will become the shop window for the entire project. 

 

ISIOLO MATERNITY HOSPITAL

The original plan called for a maternity ward and a second multiuse building comprising outpatients, pharmacy, laboratory, and administration but due to lack of funds a Phase 1 was decided upon by enlarging the maternity building now under construction to incorporate all the space needed. An inspection of the hospital was carried out by the Bishop, and local staff Katrin and Jochen Heeskens, Fr.s Ndungi and Munene  the architect, surveyor, contractor, the engineer and the MaterCare team. The building presently is having the windows and doors are being put in and the roof is being completed.  The standard of construction seems to be very good. There are a number of minor alterations to be made which are needed for proper functioning of an obstetrical unit.  The other necessary buildings under construction include; a wastewater plant generator and guardhouses, and incinerator. Solar electricity and water is being installed so that this one building may function as a small maternity unit until more funds are available. The important news from the architect, and  surveyor is  that this phase of the project will be completed within budget.

In the mean time, the emergency transport is operating and the TBA training continues

 To view the pictures from our latest trip, click here.

Rob Walley

March 28th 2011