RAYS OF HOPE CLINIC...Githongo, Kenya

Here goes...my first post! While this is a bit different than what I intend for my blog, right now I can't imagine anything more important than to tell you this story.

In July, I accompanied my friend, Maureen, on what was, for her, a return trip to Kenya. For almost three weeks we experienced a magical time in that amazing and beautiful country. The contrasts, challenges, wildlife and people all together presented an extraordinary panorama. Maureen has traveled to the African continent many times over the years, but this trip held a special poignancy in that she is seriously ill. Her dearest wish has been to return to Africa before she can no longer travel. When she proposed the idea to me, I knew I would be there with her.

 

I will write of the animals I saw, the people I met and our adventures in another posting.



 
Now I write to share with you the highlight of the trip, and to ask for your consideration of a request.

Seven years ago Maureen volunteered at a Conservancy in Kenya where she met a young 
man, Murithi, who told her of his great desire to help the people of his home village by providing basic health care, basic medical testing and health education. She helped to fund his training as a health practitioner, and then provided funds which enabled him to open his small community clinic in 2009. Visiting the Clinic and seeing Murithi was a major goal of this return visit to Kenya.

We stayed at the Conservancy, Lewa Downs, and we were driven to Murithi's village. After a fascinating trip with glimpses into the lives of people along the way in the towns, the farms, and the villages of the Meru District in central Kenya, we arrived at the small, rural, mountainous village of Githongo, near the base of Mt. Kenya. We were welcomed as royalty, with Murithi and his entire extended family there to greet us. Their huge smiles, open arms, songs and joyous greetings enveloped us both.

Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best, and our first stop was church. We attended a two hour service, remarkable in that their faith and the importance it holds in their lives was palatable in this service where even the smallest child sat quietly and respectfully throughout! (Of course, staring at us was probably a welcome distraction!)

 A Methodist service in Swahili, with some English for our benefit, caught me up in the cadence of the drums, the chanting, singing and the surprising familiarity. The importance of the church in their lives was apparent, and I was told that it was this that carried them through the difficulties and struggles of their lives. We were introduced, and asked to say a few words, which Murithi translated. The community expressed their delight to Maureen, knowing how important she was to the establishment of their clinic.

Next we walked to see the Clinic nearby. In a few rooms in a small, simple structure Murithi and his assistants proudly demonstrated their equipment and explained what they do.
With full time work by Murithi, and a part-time staff of a nurse, laboratory technician and community facilitator, they provide:

• laboratory services for malaria and typhoid
• disbursement of medicines and drugs
• testing and post test counseling for HIV/AIDS
• maternal, prenatal and child health care
• community health education
• house calls for those unable to travel to the clinic

ALL of these services are provided at NO cost or for a minimal fee. The truth is that few can afford to pay anything at all. While the goal of the Clinic is to provide even more services, the truth is that the present situation is one of increasing debt and no steady income. They receive no help from the local or the Kenyan government. All funds come from private donor contributions, which are difficult to find and are usually no more than a single donation, not a regular source. Murithi is struggling constantly to pay for the most basic costs...i.e. rent, electricity and the salaries for his staff and himself

A large part of their work is to increase awareness and education about HIV/AIDS. Many in Kenya are not being reached with prevention and treatment services. Murithi has large posters communicating the important concepts, often to people who do not read or speak much English. He recently has been in touch with "Translators without Borders" who may be able to help, and he needs funds to create brochures himself in Swahili. There are still cultural blocks to the effort to reach people with the facts about HIV/AIDS, which education has still not broken through.

Soon we were visiting Murithi's home, where members of his family live in close proximity to each other, sharing in a garden and food preparation. His mother provided simple food for us and, while Maureen met with Murithi and others to talk about the future of the Clinic, I sat nearby and painted a watercolor of "Mama's" house. When she saw what I was doing, she showed me more....the tiny cooking area with open fire, her small sleeping area, the sitting area, one cow, one goat, chickens and the garden.

"Mama" raises tea plants for income, they live simply and are grateful for all they do have. Some of the younger family members have jobs outside the village, and everyone is very close. What I noticed is how much they lack that we Westerners would consider critical to our survival.....most of which they don't even miss, EXCEPT basic health care!

Before we departed, Murithi took us on a "home care" visit to woman who had had a stroke. She was curled up in a dirty blanket on a couch in a small room with a dirt floor, no windows, an open fire and little air. Her husband was nearby, and a cow was outside the door. Murithi's assistant stayed behind to provide whatever care she could.

These people are typical of the many who cannot get to the Clinic and who have no funds to pay for any of the services they receive. Others, who line up every day, are without funds to pay for services, other than to bring some food perhaps.

Since we have returned, Maureen's condition has become worse, and she is unable to continue her work  helping the clinic reach funding sources. She is very worried about how it will survive. And it is certainly true that Murithi needs a secure funding source in order to survive over the long haul.

I am stepping in to tell this story, and to make an appeal for help to assist with the immediate needs of Rays of Hope Community Clinic.

I deeply appreciate and thank you in advance for anything you can give, and would also welcome any thoughts you might have as to how more secure, long term funding might be found. Murithi and his supporters in Githongo are not experienced in writing grant proposals and do not have large networks outside the village.

When I think of the needs in this world and how many there are who need this kind of help, it is overwhelming. I have to wonder how something this small will survive. And yet, when I remember the faith shining in the faces of Murithi and his family and friends, remember their heartfelt determination to help their people and remember the great need that surrounds them, I know that this is what matters in the world. These efforts are of importance and of value. Because I was privileged to enter into their lives for just one day, I believe I must respond to their situation. 

Murithi has reported to me that his monthly expenses are US$1675, and that he owes US$5,025 in bills and salaries.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have my deepest gratitude for reading this far, and for anything you can do to help.

The link below will take you directly to the site of Children Of Strength, which is the organization that has agreed to handle donations for the Rays of Hope Clinic. They have a 501 (c) (3) standing as a tax exempt non profit. They are not charging any fees for managing and forwarding donations to the Rays of Hope Clinic.

Be sure you are designating Rays of Hope specifically on the Donation page.

Donate Here

             We are most grateful.