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August 3, 2024Cerebral Palsy Society: Fundraising for Better Health Care
August 3, 2024
Yatima Outreach is a non-governmental organization operating in nine countries globally, to provide holistic care and support services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and their communities. Their primary focus areas comprise education, health, agriculture, food & nutrition, child protection, water, hygiene, sanitation, and psycho-social support.
Locals at Mechimeru in Bungoma County often had to cover long distances to access maternal and child health care services. There being only one government facility in the region serving a plethora of people, coupled with limited medical resources and understaffing, has largely contributed to increased maternal and child mortality in the region.
To address this critical issue, Yatima Outreach partnered with ACK Dr. Pike Roper Medical Centre in Mechimeru to establish a maternal and child health care wing (MCH). This aims to enhance access to quality and affordable health care for mothers and children in Mechimeru, Bungoma County.
Resident Fundraising Actions
Pamoja for Change (P4C), a project innovated by KCDF in partnership with Wilde Ganzen, comprises an upgraded philanthropic strategy that aims at building the communities’ confidence by expecting them to raise half the amount of the project’s grant money, while P4C matches with the remaining half.
Through KCDF’s P4C program, Yatima Outreach raised KES 1,000,000 which was matched with an additional KES 1,000,000 by KCDF to increase access to quality and affordable maternal and child health care services.
Project Implementation
So far, this dream is gradually taking shape because of the progressive milestones achieved within the first and second quarters of project implementation. The Maternal and Child Health Care Wing was officially launched on 29th January 2024. During the second quarter of project implementation, significant milestones were achieved:
- Enrollment of 18 expectant mothers in focused antenatal clinics
- Provision of family planning services
- Administration of immunizations to over 100 infants as per the Kenya Extended Program for Immunization
- Establishment as a referral center for neighboring facilities
- Increased patient visits to the clinic
Additionally, the center has managed to provide medical services to 816 patients. The clinic has so far conducted 200 laboratory tests, enrolled 18 expectant mothers in focused antenatal care, conducted voluntary HIV tests to 30 clients, and administered immunizations to 118 children as per the Kenya Extended Immunization Program (including malaria, rotavirus, measles, and poliovirus vaccines). It has also provided family planning counseling to 24 individuals, dewormed 396 children under 14 years, managed medical cases for 114 children under five years and 702 over five years, and offered post-abortion care to three mothers, along with managing cases of gestational hypertension and complicated malaria in pregnancy.
Impact Realized
Dorcas, a resident of Sango Village in Mechimeru, experienced a miscarriage at 16 weeks of pregnancy on May 3, 2024. Due to stigma and financial constraints, she initially did not seek medical attention after her second consecutive miscarriage. Her health deteriorated until May 19, 2024, when a compassionate individual familiar with the services at Dr. Pike Roper Medical Clinic found her semi-conscious.
Dorcas was swiftly transported to the clinic where she was diagnosed with sepsis resulting from the miscarriage. She received intensive inpatient care in the postnatal room, where the dedicated team provided comprehensive post-abortion care and ensured her recovery.
After receiving treatment and ongoing support, Dorcas was discharged with oral medications, scheduled weekly follow-ups, and chosen family planning methods to aid in her complete recovery. Today, she is in good health and deeply appreciative of the care she received.
Thanks to the invaluable support and partnership with KCDF, Yatima Outreach has made significant strides at Mechimeru Medical Center.
Together, we envision transforming more lives, empowering communities, and creating a lasting impact on healthcare in Mechimeru. As we continue to work hand in hand, we look forward to achieving even greater milestones and bringing about positive change for all those we serve.
