Healthier future for rural poor

Whilst health care in the UK is often taken for granted, there are other parts of the world where it is a luxury that many cannot afford.  In Oyugis, Kenya, the poor rural community are one such people.  Due a combination of geographical location and cost, people here have very limited or no access to health services.

Last year WER teamed up with Matata foundation Netherlands to try to avert this problem.  WER UK along with WNH (WER Holland), have given grants in order to help improve community outreach services and the conditions at Matata Hospital in Kenya.

In November 2009, WER (WNH) released 17,500 Euros in funds to Matata Hospital to enable the purchase of 15 high quality paediatric beds for use in the children’s wards and maternity unit.

This was on top of another grant of 7,000 Euros received earlier last year that enabled Matata Hospital to train an additional 35 volunteers as community health workers (CHW’s).  The CHW’s are trained to hold local clinics; educate on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and supervise those patients who are receiving treatment. 

The effective training of the CHW’s has empowered the community to take care of their own health from amongst themselves. This has been done through training youths and young persons on basic nursing care and pharmacology, holding regular meetings for peer groups to share challenges, and the productivity of nutritious and sustainable food through locally available resources.

In addition funds will be used to continue with staff development in paediatric management; nutritional management and general clinical diagnosis and care. This has allowed Matata Hospital and its health outreach programs to provide sustainable hospital based and community outreach care services to those who otherwise could not afford it.

Dr John Malago, Director of Matata Community Hospital stated:

‘We are overwhelmed with the support we have received from WER and WNH. This new partnership is transforming the medical care and service which we are able to provide to the community.’