Maua Methodist Hospital hold the annual orphans fun day even. 500 orphans attended.. Thank you to all those who support the orphans program

maua methodist updates

Dear friends and Partners,

Greetings to you in Jews name!

On behalf of Maua Methodist hospital, I would like to thank you all for your partnership over the years in support of the hospital programs and services. Your efforts have made all the difference in the success of helping building the capacity of our community members in Maua and healing of the sick and especially the poor who are not able to pay for their medical care. Without your prayers and kind support, we would find ourselves unable to provide all the services that the hospital provides to the surrounding catchment population. I do also want to appreciate those of you who have braved to come and be part of the ministry here in Maua, worked in various projects in the hospital and building the aids orphans houses, some of the projects started with very humble beginning and have been such a blessing to so many. We have no better words to express our gratitude to you but to ask and command blessing from our almighty God for you. We are very excited for all those who will be coming to the hospital and the years to come, one of the projects that the teams have been working on has progressed well, the staff flats, work on progress is going on well and very hopeful that more rooms will be available for use after this year. The kitchen building was completed, dedicated to the memory of Winifred Brock Sr, Jerri Mother, thanks for all those who supported this project it is ( 98% complete) only equipping is pending and terrazzo floor for the cooking area.

Dr. Interns training

I am very happy to inform you that this year the government has allowed us to have 8 more interns, 4 pioneer interns completed their 12 months training at Maua Methodist hospital. The hospital partnership with UTMB is going well, students have been coming to the hospital and soon  the hospital will work with the university to scale up community projects e.g. the impact of hiv/aids projects in the community, mapping and (RRA) rapid rural appraisal- recently Dr. Goodman who visited the hospital in February- wrote “The intent of these projects is to benefit the work the (students) and the community health department are doing”

	8 intern Doctors are posted to Maua Methodist hospital. 4 have qualified after 12 months of training in the hospital.   The hospital is anxiously waiting to receive a physician doctor who has been training in makerere university  Uganda Through well wishers the hospital has program that trains doctors to specialize
8 intern Doctors

Rains:

We have been praying for the rains, they came on 3^rd of this month and have been slow, they arrived two weeks late. Please continue to pray that they will be enough for the crops to mature. Thank for your prayers. It rained today in Maua. Yesterday I visited nkanga and found out the grass was still dry the area had no received much rains  yet, but we are hopeful that they will come and be sufficient for the grass to grow for cows and goats for the pastoralist communities

	Some of our earth roads are not passable – affecting very much our mobility to go to some of  the community programs. The road to Athiru Gaiti was completely washed away; to get Athiru Now, you have to take a longer route through red canteen. At least there is an alternative dirt road the people  there can use, otherwise they could  have been  completely cut off
Road full of water

The tribal classes in isiolo affected one of our staff in the kitchen, he lost his bother in the skirmishes and his Manyattas was burnt he has moved with his family in Maua, last month he appealed to the hospital staff to help him with cloths, food and other household goods. He is very thankful to those who helped him resettle in Maua with his family. Please pray for the factions in isiolo and peace

ECD

Celebrating success

My I  take this opportunity to appreciate and thank all those who have been involved in the ECD project since 2010 when it was established to support orphans and vulnerable children aged 3- 7 years, after two years of implementation the project funding ended and through God’s miracles friends and partners responded to Gods divine mandate to care for the Aids orphans and widows last Saturday (14^th April 2012) the church at Athiru Gaiti and the hospital jointly held an amazing event for the dedication and naming of the school. The hospital management, staff and other invited guests graced the auspicious occasion. Ed Clark whom the school is named after attended the colorful song and dance event. Bishop Jacob Gituma conducted the dedication service. The school will be called “CLARK MCK ATHIRU GAITI ECD PRE-SCHOOL” OVER 700 people attended the function held at the church ground

Traditional dancers entertain	Clark unveil the plaque- school name	Crowd listen to leaders

On 17^th Anne, Sarah and Eden visited the ECD Pre- school from Mercy Partners and their  mission is to promote health and education for children and their families. Thank you Anne, Sarah and Eden for coming to see us here in Athiru Gaiti, you really blessed all of us and The ECD children. Eden become very friendly to the children. I hope you will come again.

Eden and Mom Anne, Sarah and ECD                Eden- just happy with other children.  Children very happy in their new school

Children

Thanks to your efforts and participation, we made a difference in helping others who need it most. We hope you will continue with your prayers and kind support

Again, many thanks. And blessings to you

Grace and Paece,

Stanley Gitari

Coordinator, CHD

Maua Methodist Hospital

CLARK MCK ATHIRU GAITI ECD PRE-SCHOOL,DEDICATION FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

 Clark and the management of the hospital attended a very wonderful  and colourful dedication service held at Athiru Gaiti Methodist Church for "Clark mck Athiru Gaiti ECD pre- school"

COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

ECD PROGRESS REPORT

INTRODUCTION

	Maua Methodist Hospital – ECD project was started in 2010 with funding from USAID through partnership with G-R-A-C-E –Africa. The Early Childhood Education centre was located at Athiru Gaiti Location, Igembe south district and work with Maua Methodist Hospital as the project implementers .
Health looking ECD- pre- school children

The funding by USAID was for three years but delayed and started a year later.  The project phased out and ended funding by November 30, 2011.  This project is so important because it is providing very essential early education for those orphans who would otherwise not be able to get it.  When the program started we found orphans as old as 9 years who had not attended the pre-school.

Currently the ECD centre is housed by a public primary school in Athiru Gaiti. The centre has got 90 OVCs enrolled in the program and the children are progressing on well in school.

In the year 2010 November we had 44 children who graduating to class 1 and in December 2010 we recruited more children to replace the number to 90. In 2011 36 graduated to class 1 and the same number was replaced in December 2011.

Whenever the children graduated to another class the program don’t leave the guardians behind. We continue to support them in various services that the program provided in the community.

G.R.A.C.E Africa provided the following services:

Ø  Food and Nutrition – Children were provided with porridge at 10 and lunch at 1pm.

Ø  Economic Empowerment – Guardians were trained on SILC (self Internal Lending Communities) whereby they contributed money and then loan to each other for them to start small Income Generating Activities.

Ø  Child Protection – Grace trained TOTs those later trained children on their rights and also their guardians.

Ø  Psychosocial Support – Grace Africa provided technical support in training TOTs who later trained members of the community and the guardians.

Awareness on HIV/AIDs and care – TOTs from the community were trained and they have been creating awareness to the community and forming groups in the community.

Grace.Root.Aallance for.Community.Education- Africa (G-R-A-C-E Africa)NPI Program (ECD Project) Phased out in November 2011. G.R.A.C.E planned to hold a dissemination meeting with NPI project implementers, beneficiaries and relevant stakeholders that have been instrumental in supporting activities of the project. The meeting was held in 25th and 29th November, 2011 at Sport view Kasarani hotel. The Purpose of the meeting was to share key achievements of the NPI project, lessons learnt, identified gaps and recommendations for future programming and the phase out plans.   

STAFF

G.R.A.C.E Africa had the following personnel to support in the implementation of the activities at Athiru Gaiti pry school ECD centre that was geared in engaging network of indigenous youth groups and CBOs in support of OVC in Athiru Gaiti Community.

No.	NAME	POSITION
1.	JOHN BUNDI MIAKA	PROJECT OFFICER
2.	MORRIS NTARANGWI	FINANCE OFFICER
3.	JUDITH KANJA  (Orphan)	TEACHER
4.	RUTH NKATHA  (Orphan)	TEACHER
5.	MARY NKIRINA	TEACHER
6.	KINYA MUROKI  (Orphan)	ASSISTANT TEACHER
7.	KENDI M. NTONJA  (Orphan)	ASSISTANT TEACHER
8.	SUSAN GACHERI  (Orphan)	ASSISTANT TEACHER

ACHIEVEMENT

ECD project was to promote, provide and support quality, sustainable and holistic early childhood development for the orphaned children aged 2 years – 7 years in Athiru Gaiti.  This was to be achieved by providing access to quality training in ECD for teachers and care givers and also ensuring nutritional needs of children are met. Throughout the program we have achieved;

Ø  80 Children have graduated to class 1 and 90 are already at the centre

Ø  GRACE Africa bought 20 milk goats for guardians as a sustainability purpose in their working group.

Ø   Formation of youth groups has helped creating awareness on HIV/AIDs in the community

Ø  Health and Hygiene as been improved in the family level where the where the program supported

Ø  Formation cell groups between guardians and orphans. This has helped the beneficiaries in sharing their daily experiences and the challenges that they face in taking care of the OVCs and the possible solutions on the same. The cell groups are also taking a very vital role in having inter-home visits where they are helping each other in domestic cores i.e. tilling of land, water and firewood fetching among other duties.

CHALLENGES

Long distances when carrying out home visits and while making field visits. Though we have to walk, it has taken us a longer period than expected to finish the exercise as expected.

The community members have High interest and desire, for increased number of OVC recruited into the program hence having difficult times in convincing them on program limitation.

High expectation from the guardians – The guardians expect much more support at the family level other than the current support from the program e.g. shelter, food and clothing considering their needs.

Illiteracy and lack of information and communication in the community

Lack of enough resources to feed the children at the ECD centre

WAY FORWARD

Increase number of OVCs at the ECD centre

Create more awareness on ECD education within the community

Complete constructing new ECD classes at the church ground.

Improve Early Childhood education in the community.

We are very grateful to friends and partners who contributed in one way or another so that   the hospital can continue this very important and essential service to these children.  On 14 April 2012 is going to be very special day for school! Mr. Ed CLARK will join the Nyambene synod Bishop and Athiru Gaiti circuit to naming ceremony and officially launching the school officially at the Church Ground (Athiru Gaiti) Methodist church

May God  bless you for your prayers and supprt

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dear friends,

Greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ and Savior, Our Redeemer

God hears your prayers

Stop listening to voices that discourage you; it‘s not over until God says it‘s over! God told Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley full of dead, dry bones (See Ezek 37:4): ―So I prophesied…and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army‖ (Ezek 37:10 NKJV). Your hopes may be dead and your soul dry, but if you listen to what God is saying, your dream will live again. (2) A leg to stand on. The God, who gave Job twice as much at the end of his trouble as he started with before it, isn‘t finished with you yet. Read what He‘s promised and stand on His Word. Achan was stoned to death in the Valley of Achor for stealing the spoils after the battle of Jericho. End of story? No later, God in His mercy said, ―I will open a door of hope in the valley of Achor‖ (See Hos 2:15). You may be living with your consequences, but by God‘s grace you can live to see your dream fulfilled.

On 17^th of June 2011, nurses in Maua Methodist hospital assembled at the hospital chapel to celebrate what has become an annual event and a memorable occasion in Maua Methodist hospital. Two years ago Mary Gitari the nursing officer in charge or (Matron) attended a regional meeting for the nurses in Isiolo and one the questions they tried to tackle was how they helped nurses to socialize at work place? With her leadership, nurse’s day in Maua Methodist hospital has become something to long for by those remaining to serve in the hospital. Through organizing committee, they select a guest speaker who speaks on a specified relevant topic to the nurses and general hospital staff. This year the guest speaker who graced the occasion was Dr. Samuel Mwenda, former medical officer in charge 10 years ago.

 While addressing the eager nurses and hospital staff, Dr.Mwenda noted that he respected nurses in Maua Methodist hospital for their hard work in providing quality nursing care to patients, he said, even in the net work (CHAK) he did not know of any other hospital that had received so many awards because of quality nursing care and cleanliness (hygiene)! Congratulated the NOIC, all the hospital staff and the nurses for the job well done, Present at the colorful even were; the hospital CEO Mr. Jeremiah Mailutha, Hospital Chaplain Rev.Alexandar Gikabu,hospital administrator, principal tutor and The coordinator community health department. While addressing the nurses, the CEO reassured nurses that he will do anything possible to support the nurses to deliver best care possible to our patients.

Dr.Mwenda                                        Dr.Mwenda presents the trophy to NOIC             CEO with the trophy

Celebrating nurses day Maua Methodist hospital style

Mr. Jeremiah Mailutha CEO is the second Chief Executive officer who replaced Mr. Mwangi since the hospital changed the policy to have a business person manages the affairs of the hospital instead of the medical officer in charge. He comes to the hospital with many years of worker experience with the government and previously worked at Kenya Methodist University Meru and Nyeri campuses as the registrar

   

Mr. Jeremiah K. Mailutha CEO

The hospital install a new X-ray Machine

Phillips X- Ray Engineer trains the user on how to operate the new machine.

Two years ago the hospital only x-ray machine broke down; when this concern was shared with our partners the hospital got kind and generous support from well wishers. Dr Ted from North Carolina sent a 40 ft container with sorted medical equipments including an X-ray Machine. St, Lukes UMC bought us a new Phillips ultra- modern x-ray machine. The Philips company engineer installed the machine this week. It is such a great joy; soon the hospital will be able to offer excellent x ray- services to community in the catchment area.

Over 200 members of staff and the mission partners joined the dedication Prayers in the x-ray room to pray for this priceless gift from the friends of MMH conducted by Rev. Alice Mutuma- assistant chaplain   “Truly these are Answered prayers”

      

Immediately after the Monday morning devotions in the chapel everybody went to the x-ray room to dedicate the new extra

Good news

On Saturday 18, 2011 our 3rd mission team arrived in Maua safely. The team comes from Oregon and Idaho (UMC Conferences) lead by Rev.Jim and his wife Rev.Sue, this is their 6^th year to visit the hospital and have been doing different improvement projects in the hospital such as the renovation of the wards, painting, providing free medical camps, School de-worming, building the staff flats and the aids orphan’s houses. The team has been sponsoring alternative rite of passage at St, Joseph Methodist Church which has seen more 200 girls under go this training. The goal of the program and the church is to eradicate the female genital mutilation and provide girls with life skills and empowerment to be able to say no to female genital mutilation

                                                                                           3^rd- Oregon/Idaho team before church service     

1^st Tomball/MDUM team                                                                                                                                    

The last three weeks have been busy with the teams and other hospital activities that kept us quite occupied.  We have now hosted three teams and the third team arrived in Maua on Saturday led by Rev. Jim Monroe and his wife Rev.Sue Owen from Oregon.  Oregon and Idaho have brought teams in the hospital for the last

 2^nd Acton team before church services

It has been great having the teams with all the skills and talents- Betty spent a lot of time teaching staff in the community health department- psychological topics and others worked on the staff flats, painting outside of medical ward and building of the Aids Orphans House. The team from Acton led by Sheryl conducted a Friday afternoon VBS for our church, community and staff children which was quite successful

Staff flats

The entire mission Teams will be working on the staff flats, good progress has been achieved since the constructions began. We are so grateful to all the teams who have participated in the building, the ground floor was completed and is being  occupied by the 4 Doctor interns who were posted by the Government. 2011 teams are plastering the first floor of the staff flats, by the end of the summer hopefully the second floor partitioning will be completed. Housing staff and short term partners remains a challenge in the hospital. Our future goal is to start and another building block that will house more staff that are required in the hospital. The teams brings a lot of joy and hope to the staff and the management, this helps us know that there other people supporting us  and  praying for  the work of God in Maua Methodist hospital

When the new staff flats are completed, they will house 16 members of staff

   

New- staff flats- completed ground floor

Win is Stanley’s niece   Mary and I took her last year when she was rescued from sexual abuse; and early marriage   A young boy had removed her from school and eloped with her for two week, When she was found, we decided to help her mother in supporting her to come to Maua and stay with us in the hospital and took her to school. Currently she schooling at Kilalai primary school a kilometer from the hospital compound “help educate exploited child and change her life forever”  Win is doing well, though it is taking time for her to overcome the psychological trauma and stigmatization, the teachers are helping to settle her to the new school-

(Win 15 years old)

We are so grateful for your prayers, your continued support and love for the ministry work here in Maua Methodist hospital.  Thank l for your support for orphans and vulnerable children in the program- we changing lives of so many needy children

As the week  ends, the Orphans will have a special prayer day. This is in line with the day of African Child that is celebrated on the month of June. We anticipate to have 800 plus orphans and care givers. We have also invited all the key community leaders and the Guest of Honor will be presiding Bishop of the Methodist church in Kenya. During the Day, 4 government trained intern doctors who have been posted in hospital for one year will also be dedicated. Please put this in our prayers.

Grace and peace 

Stanley