MedShare visits Partners for Care in Kenya

Recently, board members, the Executive Director and staff of Atlanta based MedShare included a on their trip to Kenya a visit to Partners for Care. The Kenya team was very excited to host the MedShare team to share with them about the work of PFC and to thank them for the 40 foot container of medical supplies and equipment PFC recently received. The following is an excerpt of a posting on the MedShare blogspot written by one of their board members.

I am Terry Blum and I have the privilege to serve on MedShare's board. This is my second trip with MedShare and it is a wonderful journey in terms of learning and sense-making.   Quite frankly, I am not sure I can construct meaning from all that I am sensing from my eyes, ears, mouth, fingers and nose.  I am also sensing from my heart, making this whole experience so difficult to justly describe.  As someone who is quite cerebral in everyday life, this adventure touches below my head into my heart and reaches into the region of feeling and intuition.  The incredibly rich tapestry of the lenses of the people with whom I am touring, all of whom are awesome in their own way, is coupled with the wisdom of those we visit.  I know I will not be the same when I return as I was when I left Atlanta in that huge airplane.

After wonderful bonding and familiarizing ourselves with the agenda, we got into the reason for MedShare today by first visiting St. Mary's Nairobi and then Partners for Care   I will report on Partners for Care which is part of the mHealth alliance which engages in mobile health initiatives among other things.

Our group transitioned from St. Mary's to Partners for Care with lunch at the incredible Safari Park Hotel, where Sam (communications director) and Samuel (director in Kenya) from Partners for Care joined us. The grounds of the Safari Park are quite elegant and could have been a movie scene from colonial times or an upscale suburb anywhere.   The food and the group's camaraderie are awesome, but the contrast with the needs of so many is evident as one passes by the slums of Kibera (2nd largest in the world after Soweto with estimates of 1-2 million residents), and Marurui where 26 - 30,000 people live.
En route to the clinic, we rode on a really bumpy road that went on for quite a while.  We came to a stop outside a building that was the initial Partners for Care destination for most of us.  The signage said,  what if? Life Changing Center.

"what if?" is a question of what it would be like  if there were no AIDS in Kenya. While most of us went into the clinic building, Lindsey Barber and Charlie Evans went into Marurui slum with Peter from Partners for Care. Peter took them to visit a friend's home as well as to complete a patient assessment to show how the mHealth program works. The hand-held device relays medical information and pictures to Dr. Vincent at the clinic. Dr. Vincent then triages the patient relaying the instructions for caring for the patient to Peter. Each entry creates a secure medical record for the patient.

Partners for Care was founded by Atlanta nurse, Connie Cheren, who came to the MedShare store for supplies for some of her medical team mission trips. PFC has 8 programs in addition to the clinic. As we walk past the goat on the corner into the what if? building through the door with Clinic written on it, we found a world of hope and love. At the what if? Life Changing Life Center, there is a one room clinic, class room for their Second Chance program that prepares 20 students for the national graduation exam with 2 years of education.  There is also a computer room that serves 20 adult students at a time.  Forty-five or so have received or are receiving training and 20 have found jobs.

Meredith with the PET

Going into the clinic run by Dr. Vincent we saw a PET, personal energy transport vehicle which was sent in a MedShare container. Other programs include sports programs for the kids, with volunteer coaches, including a policeman who was tired of just arresting kids, a malaria prevention program that has distributed thousands of treated malaria nets to households with kids under 5, and the wonderful music group Temples of Worship that draws crowds for AIDS awareness and prevention. There is also an 8k race that is run at the same time as a 5K in Atlanta (the Kenyans finish the longer race quicker!)
Their Marsabit program is really striking. Partners for Care serves one of the most impoverished sections of Kenya. They treat children infected with jiggers, a kind of parasitic flea that enters the skin and reproduces so the children can't walk. The inflammation is incredible. 350 children have been treated with anti bacterial soap and water after which the hands and feet are covered with Vaseline. 89 have been provided with shoes that can help prevent the jiggers from infecting the children.

The health programs are important as 473 Kenyan children under 5 die every day, 71 due to HIV/AIDS, 93 to malaria….90% of these deaths are due to preventable causes!  So Partners for Care is there to help reduce child deaths.

Our visit was truly inspirational….we were sung to with a Jambo (welcome) song which included Hakuna Matata, reminding me of the Lion King and the Circle of Life!  They also sang a song "Smile"…happy for you… will lift you up, hold your hands, loose your pain, so you smile again. They ended our visit by singing "That Little Light of Mine" in English and Swahili….We left on our bus singing "That little heart of mine, let it shine," knowing the love in the hearts of the Partners for Care staff. The passion and inspiration of the Kenyans who spend so much energy to do their work to serve their own people is a memory I will always cherish.  They are rich in spirit, and thanks to them there is a little more light shining for many.

The MedShare team with the Partners for Care staff

From Connie - we are grateful for their visit and for telling their story on their blog. We are privileged to work with MedShare helping them connect surplus with need. They are welcome at the Partners for Care home in Kenyan anytime!

Connie
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Partners for Care Newsletter

Bridgette Boylan Interview

Our own Bridgette Boylan was interviewed yesterday by the Gwinnett Daily Post about her passion for Kenya!  The article is in today's edition below.  Check it out!

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2012/feb/21/local-interior-designer-volunteers-in-kenyan-slums/

Connected by passion for the children of Parkishon

Surely it is an unlikely connection. Cris Willis and her family live 10,000 miles from Parkishon, a small village in Kenya. The Willis' live in Cumming, Georgia. They run a high-end gift store - Parson's a family business www.parsonsgifts.com. Pastor Hirbo is a humble pastor who owns no property, had no vehicles and relies on God for provisions to meet the basic needs of his family. Very different people from two different worlds and cultures. But, they are connected by their passion to help the children of Parkishon.

In August 2011 Cris and her 18 year-old daughter Kacey traveled to Kenya and then went another 12 hours of which 6 hours was on a public bus through the desert to Marsabit in northern Kenya. There they met Pastor Hirbo and the children of Parkishon. During this mission God entrusted them with a small child - Yewlanda who was desperately sick. Cris and Kacey were able to work with the Partners for Care staff to rescue Yewlanda. (See www.partnersforcare.blogspot.com/August 2011).

Cris reaching out to the children of Parkishon

But, the story didn't end there. Returning to the US, Cris met with her family and they prayed asking God what He was calling them to do to help the children of Parkishon. As a family they made a decision to help Pastor Hirbo through Partners for Care so he could help the children of Parkishon.

The children of Parkishon have many needs. One of the most urgent needs is to treat their hands and feet for jiggers infestation. Many of the children spend their days in the manyattas (hut-like houses) because they cannot walk because of jiggers infestation. Jiggers treatment consists of soaking the feet and hands in a strong soap and covering them with vaseline. The jiggers are white fleas that become parasites living in the hands and feet of the children. They lay eggs multiplying. They rob the child of necessary nutrients and keep them awake at night as their itch and are painful. Children even lose fingers and toes if the jiggers are not killed. After the jiggers are killed vaseline is used daily to help restore the fingers and toes. But without shoes the jiggers will return.

Starting in September Pastor Hirbo has traveled the 15 kilometers to Parkishon every week from his home in Marsabit to treat the children for jiggers. Often he spends the night in the village. He has gone from manyatta to manyatta searching for the children with jiggers. To date he has treated 315 children... and they are still jigger free. With Cris' help Pastor Hirbo has put shoes on their feet to prevent the jiggers from returning. He has taught the moms to spread cow dung on the floor of the manyattas, which helps keep the jiggers out.

Pastor Hirbo walking up to Parkishon

Treating a girl for jiggers

Fitting the children with new shoes

The children displaying their new shoes

And, Pastor Hirbo is reaching this unreached Rendille tribe as he tells them of the Great Physician. Sitting on the floor of the manyattas he tells them of the love of God. He has brought 39 to Christ.
Cris knew that sometimes Pastor Hirbo walks the 15 kilometers to and from Parkishon. For Christmas Cris told her husband that all she wanted for Christmas was a motor bike for Pastor Hirbo. And, that is what he gave her. This trip I was blessed to help Pastor Hirbo purchase a motor bike, helmet and insurance. Pastor Hirbo said "nothing can stop me now!". He will see that Parkishon is jigger-free. And, he will the move to the next village.

Pastor Hirbo on his new motorbike

Our work at Partners for Care is to find people like Pastor Hirbo and then find people like Cris and her family who can equip them carry out their passion. It is truly a blessing.

Witnessing God working in Kenya,

Connie
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Unpacking hope...

Yesterday we unpacked the container from MedShare. Wow...seeing the items listed on a packing list is nothing like seeing them in person. I really wish all of you could have been here to see the excitement of the PFC staff. All the staff were overwhelmed with how wonderful the supplies are. Everything traveled well - nothing was broken. Every ministry in PFC found something that they could use to help people. Ice packs for the sports ministry, a cabinet for the 2nd Chance School, a step down for the music team, even supplies for Moses for the PFC house.

The container arriving at the PFC house

Unpacking the stuff

There was one item that surprised all of us - personal transportation carts! I saw them on the packing list but didn't know what they were. The team quickly assembled one of them. They are carts that someone sits in and it has hand pedals. Immediately the staff identified seven people with disabilities to give them to. One is a young boy in Marurui slum who scoots on his belly. Two will go to Marsabit. Pastor Hirbo wants to give them to two people there who are handicapped and help them use the carts to sell small items so they can support themselves and their families. Another will go to a man who lives nearby who all his life has scooted as he can't walk. These carts alone were worth the wait in Mombasa :).

There were many boxes of large urine collection containers. Staff saw them and immediately called them water jugs. They will go to Marsabit for the people to carry water. The team was excited because the size of them will be easier for the children to carry water instead of the big yellow jugs.

Carrying the many boxes into the PFC Compound

All the stuff at the PFC House

We had 18 men helping so within 8 hours everything was off the truck and sorted. We separated what PFC can use and what will go to hospitals and other ministries. Our clinic in Marurui sees about 150 people in the clinic and another 75 through the mHealth program. And, we usually see 3-5,000 people in medical camps each year. We are able to use many of the supplies for the clinic, mHealth program and medical missions.

All of the equipment is either in our clinic or in our garage. The team did great getting the work completed. Part of the team was in the kitchen cooking most of the day as we fed everybody throughout the day.

There was one special box I saved opening until the end. Staff gathered around as I opened the box and read them the letter that was in the box. Inside the box were four beautiful paintings sent by The Foundation for Hospital Art www.hospitalart.org. They are a non-profit organization working to bring art to hospitals all over the world. All the paintings are beautiful. We plan to hang one in our clinic and then take the others others to hospitals that will hang them. Dr. Vincent's wife is a nurse and works at Gertude's Children's Hospital. It is a hospital for children with HIV/AIDS. We were going to see if they would hang one or two of the paintings.

One of the first recipients of the blessings, who received a walking stick

At the end of the day the staff were tired but excited about the wonderful medical supplies they had received. There were many heros in this story including:

• Nell Diallo - Vice President of MedShare. Without her help, support, guidance and encouragement PFC would not have received this container. The PFC staff know her by name as we throughout the process of clearing the container we always talked about what Nell was telling us. The staff hope someday to meet her in person so they can thank you. PFC is grateful to Nell!
• Dan - as most of you know Dan is the "man behind the scene". He managed all the funds ensuring we had what we needed "on the ground". Thanks Dan!
• There were a couple main donors that helped us with the costs associated with getting the container. While MedShare paid for the majority of the costs there are costs associated with receiving a container. Without these donations we would not have been able to get the container.
• Sharon and the PFC board members - they were there during the entire process with prayers, support, encouragement and funds to help. So glad for all of them!
• And, of course Mark, Sammy and Franko. They never gave up! It was challenging for us to get the container due to the congestion at the Mombasa port. But, they worked the process and were successful.

Thankful for the opportunity to receive this container which provides hope for many people in Kenya.
Connie
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Partners for Care receives a huge blessing

Ever since I learned of MedShare, I have been impressed with their great work. MedShare ships medical supplies and equipment all over the world. The supplies are shipped in 40 foot containers. While MedShare donates all the medical supplies, the shipping fees can be as high as $22,000. But, the container can have as much as $500,000 worth of medical equipment.

The costs to get a container seemed out of our reach. But, God says you have not because you ask not. He also says all things are possible for those who believe. So when we were contacted by MedShare to pick-up a container that was at the port in Mombasa we asked God to help us with all that needed to be done to clear the container and get it to Nairobi.

Sammy, Mark, Franko and I have spent 8 days in Mombasa working the process to clear this container. We have learned a lot about shipping! But, as the truck carrying our container declares on the back "God is great" and this 40 foot container is on its way to Nairobi with us traveling ahead of them!

All the Partners for Care staff will meet us at 6 am to help unload the medical supplies. There is equipment for our medical clinic and supplies we will take to Marsabit to help the government hospital there. There are supplies we will use for our medical camps. There is an electric dental chair. So much! Everything will be used as MedShare intends - to serve those in need in Kenya.

God is great...

Traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi with our container, Connie


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Partners for Care and PeacePassers

Partners for Care fans and supporters,

Check out these links to photos of PFC's sports ministries on PeacePassers FB page!  PeacePassers is one of our Partner Organizations, providing donated soccer gear and equipment to our what if? teams from donors all over the US!

Be sure to "like" these photos!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150649005944698&set=pu.31692549697&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150649006114698&set=pu.31692549697&type=1&theater

Sharon Dicks
Director of Development
Partners for Care
http://www.partnersforcare.org
770.294.3586

Peter has passion for his people

Many of you know the area we work in when not traveling throughout Kenya is Marurui slum. It is one of 22 slums in Nairobi - a small slum by comparison to other slums in Nairobi like Kibera or Mathare. There are 25,000 people living in 1500 shanty like homes in this slum. Unemployment and illiteracy are very high. Diseases are also very prevalent. Most of these diseases are preventable - malaria, water-borne illnesses and HIV/AIDS. Also, many people have chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes that are poorly managed. Our physician Dr. Vincent screened 200 patients for hypertension and found 50 had high blood pressure.

Our goal as Partners for Care is to promote wellness and eliminate disease in Marurui slum by:
1. Teaching the people of Marurui slum how to prevent community health diseases.
2. Treating those who get sick
3. Help the chronically ill to manage their disease.

We are approaching this through our medical clinic, by implementing mHealth and through community health teaching. And, PFC is working to ensure every child in Marurui slum sleeps under a bed net. To date the staff have distributed 833 bed nets in this slum. The team is teaching how water can be cleaned by using the sun. As you walk through the slum you can see the people have placed jugs of water on their roofs for the sun to turn the dirty water clean. At night there is clean water for their children.

Peter teaching women from Marurui Slum on community health

Jugs of water on a roof in the slum for the sun to clean the water

The team is using the malaria and the HIV teaching cubes. Working with groups of 10, the staff have the client complete a pre-test to determine their knowledge about malaria and HIV. After teaching with the cubes the staff gives a post-test to measure the increase of knowledge. It is very exciting to the staff to see how much the people are learning about malaria and HIV/AIDS using these innovative teaching tools. Learn more about these cubes at www.e3resources.org.

When the people are sick they call Peter who works in our clinic. He goes to them at night, weekends - whenever they call him. Peter uses his mHealth mobile devise to collect medical information and then transmits the information to Dr. Vincent through the internet. An electronic medical record is opened for the patient. Dr. Vincent reviews the information on his computer and then directs Peter how to help the patient.

Peter

Peter, a young man with a wife and two small children has passion for helping the people of Marurui slum. Marurui slum is his community. He grew up there. And, like Moses who helped the Israelites, Peter helps his people. He doesn't want his people perishing from a lack of knowledge. To the people of Marurui slum, the Red Sea is HIV/AIDS and other diseases that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Peter is helping them cross to the promise land.

It is a great joy for me to hear Peter talk about his work. Peter arrives early for meetings and is always available to do whatever is necessary to serve his fellow staff of PFC or to serve the people of Marurui slum. Equipping Peter to do his work is why Partners for Care exists. As Ryan says..we equip them and then stay out of their way because they can do the work....they can reach and help their own people.

Blessed to know and learn from a young man like Peter,

Connie
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Nick requests prayers for his family

This morning I received a message from Nick. Nick always touches my heart and inspires me with his faith in the God he serves. In spite of hardships we can't even imagine Nick believes. Here are Nick's words:

I have been busy going to Kenyatta hospital everyday, my uncle was attacked by robbers and was seriously injured with lots of cuts on his head that has penetrated into his brain and he will be having surgery soon. Thanks for your prayers for my uncle and his family keeping in mind that his wife is bed-ridden and paralyzed. I know this is a trial time and it is meant to make me strong and bring happiness in our family even so many are either HIV positive, poor, orphan etc. I know that no matter what happens my God will never forsake me nor leave me alone. I want my family and community to see God, love and encouragement in me. I desperately need your prayers. The love you have for me always remind me of the little time I had with my late mum on this earth. Nick.

Nick

In prayer for Nick and his family,

Connie
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Returning home...

It seems this trip to Kenya went very quickly. I will just share some of the things we accomplished this trip. Jackie Scott was with me the first half and Mindy Miller, a PFC board member, was with me the second half. Both of these women are strong in their faith and came to serve the PFC team and not to be served. They left the PFC team in Kenya better equipped to serve the people of East Africa. I am grateful to both of them. Highlights from the trip:

1. Jackie had brought with her many Christian books and tapes for the team's spiritual development. Jackie had the fundi (carpenter) build a bookselve for all the team's books and tapes. She organized them by category and Mindy completed the task of numbering all the books creating a library check-out system. This also helps us know what books and tapes we can bring to add to the library.

2. Cris and Gary from Parsons had sent hundreds of Crocs for the children in Pakishon. When Cris was there she saw first hand the need for the children to have shoes to prevent the jiggers from attacking their feet. The conditions are very harsh in this area and shoes don't last long. The Crocs are a perfect shoe for these children. Pastor Hirbo was with us in Nairobi this trip and we packed the shoes for him to take to the children! They will have them for Christmas.

3. Several people sent money for the children of Nick and Charles to have a Christmas meal at the Partners for Care house. David my sheep given to me by Sam's mom was sacrificed for the occasion. The PFC team took the vans to bring all the children to the PFC house. Moses and others cooked all day preparing food. We had given each child a new outfit and a pair of new shoes for Christmas. Some of the little ones insisted on leaving the tags on their clothes showing they were new!

4. We spent a lot of time on the implementation of the mHealth program. It is hard to explain how excited Dr. Vincent and his medical team are about mHealth. The bonus from using mHealth is that all the patients who either come to the clinic or are seen in the field will have an electronic medical record. We have really just begun to understand all the benefits of mHealth. None of the medical team had any problem using the devises. Dr. Vincent even put all his medical books into the devise to use as references. We met with the head of the Community Health Workers. She is helping us to reach all the CHWs in Marurui slum which is our catchment area. These 98 CHWs will spread the word about mHealth.

5. While at the medical mission conference last month I found some unique community health teaching tools. The same company that made Evangelism cube have recently released malaria and HIV/AIDS teaching cubes. The cubes are excellent teaching tools. We are doing a small study using pre and post tests to determine if the cubes increase a person's knowledge and behavior change. We gave a set of the cubes to the head community worker. She would like to see the thousands of community health workers have a set of them.

6. When Bridgette and I were stranded during the ash over Europe delay we were put at the Inter-Continential Hotel for a couple nights. We learned they along with hotels in Kenya throw out the uneaten food at night. Bridgette has a dream that someday the uneaten food will be given to the children who are hungry. I have been working with Bill Boling, Atlanta Food Bank and Maurice from the Glodal Foodnetworking to learn the process for establishing a food bank in Kenya. I met this time with two key people in Kenya who could help make a food bank a reality....will keep you updates.
Good trip, good progress. God is good.

Connie
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Sometimes it is good to hear from someone else...

Mindy Miller, Partners for Care board member is here with me this trip. It is truly a blessing to have her here. She is supportive of the PFC staff, patient even in long traffic delays and has been a great observer of what is happening here in Kenya. Sometimes it is good to hear from someone else. Here is the 2nd update she sent out.

Hello, again, from Kenya!

On Tuesday, I was able to attend the Partners for Care staff meeting.  Each person covered their respective projects by telling what their vision was, where the project was at the beginning of the year, what they accomplished this year, what their challenges were, what they want to accomplish next year, and what needs they have in order to accomplish their goals. It was so great!  I won't be able to go through all of it here (it was a long meeting!), but let me give you some highlights:

IT - John heads the IT training, which is free to the community.  John told a great story: he trained one of the women who did laundry for us at the PFC house. She took her new IT skills to apply for an office job. While she was at the office applying, the hiring person was having trouble with Skype.  John had taught the woman to use Skype as part of the "internet training" (there are seven packages plus internet to complete under the IT program) - so, she was able to assist the person and was hired!  John just beamed with pride!  So precious.

Second Chance Educational Program - Sam M heads the second chance program; also free to the community.  In the Marurui slum where the center is located, 85% of the adults never finished high school. In Kenya, getting a high school diploma is accomplished by sitting for exams. The second chance program saw four students sit for their exams in December - we won't know until February whether they passed or not. There are currently 15 students enrolled in the program.

Football (soccer) - Sam G heads the sports program for football. To hear him talk of his vision was so inspiring: to capture the hearts of the young people in the slum in order to keep them away from bad behavior (idleness, drugs, etc.). You could just see the passion in his face as he talked about the kids. When they started the program, there were no teams in the Marurui slum - now there are twelve (with substitute players)! And two players did so well that they were recruited into what is the equivalent of the "minor leagues" here in Kenya - paid positions!

Poultry project - The PFC house has a poultry project led by committee. It's actually chickens and rabbits. This was the last presentation and it had us all cracking up with laughter!  Turns out, it's sort of hard to be a farmer. :)  But, the project is on the cusp of turning around! We all have high hopes!

Medical clinic - Dr. Vincent officially opened the clinic on October 5th this year. There are approximately 900 households in the Marurui slum. Dr. Vincent has seen 536 patients since opening! Wow. Peter and Charles, who also work in the clinic, have distributed bed nets to almost 75% of the households. They were very excited to report that some of their healthcare instructions to the community have been taking root - for example, they've seen people placing their captured rain water barrels on their roofs (it boils in the sun and kills the germs).  Dr. Vincent and his team have great plans for this clinic!

It was such a great meeting!  I loved being able to sit in to see and hear the passion and plans these guys have for their community!

On Thursday, I spent the day in Mathare slum with Community Transformers, an organization that PFC supports. Mathare is the second largest slum in Kenya with approximately 800,000 people. It's always hard to see the poverty in the slums - I prepared with lots of prayer (thanks to those of you who are praying for me, too). The CT center volunteers visit the sick and help where they can. I tagged along for two house visits to clients. The women we visited were so grateful for how they are cared for by CT - I was encouraged.  The center facilitates a beaded jewelry and note card making business to help cover costs of the center (the clients do the work). In addition, they have a cyber cafe.

I'm looking forward to the staff Christmas party tonight.  We've all had a fun time joking about the killing of David, the sheep, for the celebration.  This sheep was given to Connie last year as a thank you from Sam G's mother. David's life ended yesterday - I didn't watch the killing, but caught a glimpse of the draining and skinning - glad to be a vegetarian! Ha! (And, by the way, Moses has been feeding me quite well with lots of vegetarian dishes!)

I hope you can sense my excitement about what PFC is doing in Kenya!
Mindy

An exciting day for PFC - implementation of mHealth has begun

If you read the last update you know Partners for Care is partnering with Global H.E.E.D. to implement mHealth. We have been working with Global H.E.E.D. for the last 6 months developing the technical side of the program. Global H.E.E.D. Has done all the work on the technical side with PFC developing the medical protocols for the program. I came with four smart phones that were programmed with the medical protocols.

We have struggled with technical difficulties all week but this morning I received the following message from Dr. Vincent:
"We just recorded the first patient on the device and its working well. The data has also uploaded to the server." And, to make it even more special, the first patient - patient 001 was one of Pastor Hirbos's children. Pastor Hirbo has been with us all week and had brought his children with him to attend a camp.

The way the program works is we will have two of our non-medical staff collect information from a patient in the slum sending the information via the internet to a server creating a secure medical record. Dr. Vincent can access the information on his computer and provide recommendations in real-time to our staff who is with the patient in the slum. Our staff then advises the patient. The devises take and transmit photos of the patient for Dr. Vincent.

The advantage of mHealth are many including:

• Quicker access to healthcare for people living in a slum with poor infrastructure and limited transportation to health facilities
• Increased number of patients one physician can manage as he has more people collecting information for him
• Improved follow-up to determine resolution of patient's complaint
• Better tracking of patient's compliance with treatment regime 
• Improved surveillance of diseases

Phase I of the project will be in Marurui slum. Phase II we are looking at implementing in Mathare Slum through Community Transformers with Nick and Charles. And, Phase III we want to implement in government facilities with Dr. Joe.
There are many key players to a successful implementation of mHealth including Dr. Vincent who is our physician using the program, Sam who is working with the technical team in the US, Dr. Joe who is our consultant on the project, Sammy who is the PFC Director in Kenya and the Global H.E.E.D. team - Chris, Sonny, Igor, Ling and Shreya.

We are all very excited to be involved in improving health care in Kenya.
A good day in Kenya....Connie

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Can't even begin to tell you how exciting this is!  This is just the beginning of great things to come! Partners for Care and Global HEED are on the verge of revolutionizing access to health care in developing nations.

Sharon Dicks

More convinced than ever....

This trip to Kenya, I have become more convinced than ever that people in developing nations can and will reach their own people, care for their own people, and build their own bridges to their future. We in the developed nations can help by equipping them to do the work. And, together we can celebrate as they move their villages, their nation towards development. Let me share a few examples of equipping that we are blessed to be able to do because of our donors and partners in the US.

First, there is Pastor Hirbo. We have equipped him with the resources to reach the children of Parkishon treating their hands and feet for jiggers. He has reached 113 children in the last three months treating them for jiggers. Twenty-three of these children have now returned to school. They had stopped going to school because of being infected with jiggers. He told me last night he has expanded his territory to other villages in his area. And, he has done this without any means of transportation! Imagine what he can do when someday we are blessed to be able to equip him with a motor bike. Jackie Scott is with me this trip. She sat and talked with Pastor Hirbo last night. She said to me his eyes light up and dance when he talks of reaching the children.

Then there is Dr. Vincent and Charles, Franko and Peter who we have equipped with a medical clinic. They have treated in the first 3 months 350 patients, distributed 250 bed nets and screened 250 people for hypertension. Everyday they see more patients. This trip we have brought smart phones for them to implement mHealth. With this program Dr. Vincent can reach thousands with the help of his non-medical staff using smart phones in the slum to collect and transmit medical information to his computer. These smart phones serve as Dr. Vincent's eyes and ears...these devises can take photos and even video tape the patients. Our partners on this project is Global H.E.E.D (globalheed.org). who is partnering with SANA (sana.mit.edu). If you are interested in learning more about this Initiative go their websites. The staff here are so excited about this new initiative...they are already talking of Phase II of implementation - Mathare Slum and Marsabit.

Next is the ministry of Nick and Charles. We only equip them by paying their salaries and helping sometimes financially with the 34 children they care for. Their ministry reaches to the very heart of Mathare slum - 2nd largest slum in the world. They have helped almost 500 people who are infected with HIV/AIDS through the mobilization of young men and women volunteers. We don't need to tell Nick and Charles how to care for their people...and we don't need to do it for them. I am a nurse and a social worker and I have been in healthcare my entire professional career. I have seen healthcare in health care settings in 35 states in the US. I am in awe of what I see in Nick and Charles' ministry. A ministry without nurses, social workers and medical supplies and equipment. But, what they lack in degrees and equipment they make-up for with a heart and passion to care for their people.

And, the Temples of Worship have been equipped with a keyboard , drums, guitars, microphones, speakers and a saxophone. They use their music to reach thousands with the message of salvation and HiV/AIDS prevention. Next they want to make and distribute a video of their song Peace and Love. It is a song they wrote during the Post-Election Violence. It is a message that will inspire Kenyans as they move toward elections next year. A message of peace.

We have also equipped the team with two vehicles so they go and spread the gospel.
The last example I want to share with you is the equipping of the sports program. Partners for Care staff here started a what if? football team in Maruri Village. Now there are 12 football teams in this village. Thanks to our partner PEACEPASSERS we have been able to bring football equipment for the players equipping them with what they needed to play football.

This trip I have brought the information about the Atlanta Food Bank. I was truly blessed to spend time with Bill Bolling a man who has had a passion all his life to eliminate hunger. Bill is the founder and Executive Director of the Atlanta Food Bank. Bill connected me to the Global FoodBanking Network. The Global FoodBanking has helped create food banks in 30 countries. They have given me the Feasibility Analysis:Starting a Food Bank System Toolkit. My part is to pass this information to people here who like Bill have a passion to eliminate hunger. PFC will play a role in the development by partnering with others and equipping where we can.

Ryan Morris who spent three months with the team here in Kenya once wrote that he was blessed to have a front row seat to watch God at work. I feel the same way - blessed to be a small part of equipping this team on the ground in Kenya to reach their people.

I am grateful for mentors like Steve Saint and my daughter Mindy who continually teach me ways to help and not harm.

Connie
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Remembering Elizabeth and Baby Diamond on this World's Aids Day 2011

On this World's Aids Day I am remembering two very special little children - Elizabeth and Baby Diamond. Both Elizabeth and Baby Diamond were born infected with HIV/AIDS. Both died from this disease - Elizabeth was 4 years old, Baby Diamond just 1 1/2 years old. Both gave a mighty fight but the disease ravaged their bodies and left them unable to fight off the secondary diseases they died from.

Elizabeth

Baby Diamond

Sometimes it seems the world has forgotten that HIV/AIDS is still a threat. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 34 million people living with HIV. During 2010 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus, including an estimated 390,000 children. Despite a significant decline in the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths over the last five years, there were still an estimated 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths in 2010.

Imagine 390,000 children born with a disease that could have been prevented. The Partners for Care team in Kenya everyday fights to prevent babies from being born infected. Everything they do is focused on stopping this disease that either has infected or affected everyone they know - their families, their friends, their neighbors. Through their what if? campaign they call the youth to do their part to create an HIV/AIDS - free generation.

On this day, I also remember Nick and Charles who mobilize young men and women to go as volunteers to minister at the bedside of those infected with HiV/AIDS. Those who live in the 2nd largest slum in the world - Mathare Slum. Nick and Charles have seen 77 people die from HIV/AIDS including 22 children. Two of these children were Elizabeth and Baby Diamond.

Today...I remember and for me I pledge to do whatever I can to support to support the team on the ground in Kenya who are fighting the giant of HIV/AIDS.

Grateful for those who also help support them in this fight,

Connie
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God answers prayers for Marsabit

When you search information about Marsabit a town in the far northeastern part of Kenya, you find the precipitation for the year is 0. This lack of rain causes severe hardship for the people of Marsabit. But, God has answered the many prayers for Marsabit. Yesterday Pastor Hirbo sent the following text:

God is so great and wonderful,the face of Marsabit changed from dust to green, from dry to wet. God has remembered Marsabit. The Marsabit Dam is full. (Pastor Hirbo reminded me that is where I slipped and fell once when I visited this dam). I was in Parkishon on the 16th.

Marsabit dam before

The new face of Marsabit dam now

I tell you the situation is improving, but the need of food is very high. I have also been introduced to a new jigger medicine by a pastor from Malindi. I used it and it is so wonderful and powerful. It worked well. After one night the feet are clean and it is locally made.

-- Pastor Hirbo.

Imagine a pastor who is so excited for rain and a new treatment to treat the children's jiggers. Truly this man pleases God each time he kneels and washes and treat the feet of the little children.

Praising God this Sunday morning for Pastor Hirbo and for remembering Marsabit,

Connie
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Meeting an extraordinary man

I am at the Medical Missions Conference in Louisville, Ky.- one the largest in the country. It is a little overwhelming with 150 vendors and thousands of participates. Partners for Care is sharing a vendor space with MedShare. We shared a vendor space at the Emory Conference, also. It is always a blessing to be with MedShare as we support what they do in the world to help improve healthcare in developing nations. MedShare bridges surplus medical equipment with need by sending hundreds of containers worth millions of dollars to equip medical clinics and hospital in developing countries.

One of the speakers at the conference is Steve Saint, the son of Nate Saint one of the five missionaries murdered by the Waodani. The story is told in the movie End of the Spear. The story is one of incredible forgiveness and healing.

I have been blessed to meet and spend time with Steve. We share a belief in the way missions can be done in the world that respects and honors those we go to serve. I had given Steve one of our what if? bracelets when we were talking. To my surprise when he spoke the next day he told the audience about his bracelet...and he asked them. what if? we served as God served?

Connie in interview with Steve Saint

And, I would add what if? we could all live in a spirit of humble service and forgiveness like Steve Saint, Elizabeth Elliot and Steve's Aunt Rachael? what if?

Blessed to meet a true servant of God,

Connie
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Dadaab Report

This summer I along with my son David and members of the Partners for Care staff in Kenya visited the Dadaab Refugee Camp. We were saddened at the desperate conditions of the Somalia refugees as they walked thru the desert seeking help. We were heartened by the response of the world to help them. Below is our report.

Some of the photos of the children are graphic. We can tell you that the stories on the news of the desperation of these children when they arrive in the refugee camps are not exaggerated. But, we can also tell you that the doctors and nurses there are performing miracles as most of the children are recovering but not all of the children survive.

Click here to download a PDF version of the Dadaab Refugee Camp report.

Continuing prayers for peace in Somalia,

Connie

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Run for a life

We ran...they ran. Together we ran to save the life of a child. Together we asked the question what if? 472 children didn't die every day in Kenya from diseases that can be prevented...

On November 5, 2011 Partners for Care held its third annual run. Charity runs in the US are common...but this run was different. While runners were running in Brook Run Park in Dunwoody at 8:00 in the morning, Kenyan runners were running through Marurui Village on dirt roads at 3.00 in the afternoon. All the funds raised go to support the work of the Partners for Care staff in Kenya. Just like us here, the Kenyan team had worked for months to organize their race. Many in Kenya were doubtful PFC could really organize a run.

Some of the runners before the race

Here runners ran for beautiful Kenya handmade soapstone bowls...in Kenya the children ran for pencils and notebook paper for school. Here runners ran through a beautiful archway as the finish line, there they ran over a rope laid on the ground. Here every runner had shoes - nice shoes like Nike. There some of the youth ran without shoes - not by choice but because they don't have running shoes. We ran 5K, they ran 8K.

A girl running without shoes

But, though there were differences the joy and excitement of the runners and those who organized the runs were the same. The pictures from the US run are posted on www.partnersforcare.org. Below you can see the story of the Kenyan run through their photos and here is Sam's report about the run...I hope it touches you heart like it did mine.

From Sam

We had 60 runners register with 47 actually running in the race - 5 women, 8 children and 34 men. The oldest was 30 years old, the youngest 6 years old. The overall winner was 24 years old.

Victor Njogu, our youngest runner (6 years old)

We had spent months planning the run. It was difficult to get sponsors and people to support the run as people weren't sure we could actually organize a run in the slum area of Marurui. It was the first run ever in Marurui and Kasarani region, and many critics said it was the most successful event after the tournaments we held earlier this year. They said we've opened the door for more runs and marathons to come, as no one saw the run succeeding until they saw it happen. It was also good awareness for our programs as the runners ran by the United States International University (USIU) where so many students had come out to see the runners pass by.

Next time we expect many more runners, people are already asking when the next run will be. Many were afraid to register as they weren't sure if it would succeed, but now they're more willing to participate. Individuals are also coming forward asking how they can participate in the next run, through sponsorships and other aspects.

Here are some highlights:

• Agnes, Anastasia's daughter (remember Anastasia is the woman who has been blinded by a brain tumor) came in 2nd in the women's category, running without shoes. She's in our volleyball program, computer class and 2nd Chance.
• Esther, another one of our volleyball player. She came in 3rd in the women's category, and her mom was there to congratulate her and receive the prize on her behalf. Her and her mom were in tears when they were called to receive the prize. Her mom said she'd never been that proud of her daughter. Esther and Agnes had vowed to do the volleyball and what if? program as a whole proud, which they did.

Esther (center) being awarded in the presence of her mother

• Stella, another one of our volleyball player came in 1st in the children's category, and when she received the top prize she refused to open it until she got home so that they could open it together with her mom. She had promised her mom to do her proud. She ran the whole 8kms or so and finished first. Justus hugged her as she crossed the finish line. She was in tears also when she finished, she couldn't believe she came in first. It was the biggest day of her life then when she ran towards the finishing line and everyone was clapping and shouting, motorbikes hooting and applauding her all the way from the matatu stage. (I also teared up when I saw her cross the finish line).

Stella running towards the finish line

Justus proudly hugging Stella when she won the race

John awarding Stella the 1st Position award

It was an amazing run, the team did a commendable job and I've never been more proud of every team member for their participation in the planning and implementation processes.

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Add 22....

Before the team completed their weekend event at the boys high school 22 more said yes to Christ...a total of 166.

More for the kingdom,
Connie
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Spreading the good news

This weekend the Partners for Care staff are at a boys high school spreading the good news of Christ and the prevention message of HIV/AIDS. Sammy just sent me the attached photo - 144 young men have accepted Christ. This is the heart of the ministry...equipping those on the ground to do God's work. 

Students giving their lives to Christ

Thank you for all those who donate to their work, help with our annual run and pray for the Partners for Care staff in Kenya.

Praising God this morning for the good news,
Connie.

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Wow, great picture!  Very inspiring to see the heart of the ministry in action!  Lifting Sammy and team up in prayer.

Sharon Dicks

Director of Development

Partners for Care

http://www.partnersforcare.org