Step by Step. Progress!

In spite of all the challenges they face in keeping the clinic up and running, Moffat and the Fremo staff and volunteers work tirelessly to reach out and meet the health needs of the Kawangware community. Here's the latest on what they've been up to over the last couple of weeks:
March 8, 2011 Fremo staff spent the day in Kawangware doing Antenatal Care awareness. A 2006 report about reproductive health published by the University of Nairobi stated that an estimated 414 women per 100,000 live births die due to pregnancy related complication in Kenya every year. Over half of births are delivered at home without the supervision of a health professional.And the problems of malaria, anemia, TB, STD/HIV/AIDS only add to the high maternal mortality ratio. The statistics for children in Kenya are just as grim.
The awareness activities of March 8, were successful in reaching several women in the Kawangware area. With continued efforts we can increase awareness even further in hopes of reducing maternal and infant deaths in Kenya.
March 21, 2011 Fremo welcomed the Kawangware community to the clinic for free HIV testing.
Over 1.5 million people in Kenya are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV cannot be cured, but it can be treated and prevented. Unfortunately, misunderstandings about the cause, transmission, and treatment of HIV abound. As Fremo encourages community members to "know your status", myths about HIV can be dispelled, preventative measures can be taken, and not only treatment, but also hope can be given.
March 19,2011, Moffat posted a message on Facebook that read, "Hard work ahead this week. Making Hospital beds and tables. We need to make FreMo provide the best Quality healthcare to people of Kawangware. Support us all. Nice week."
In the midst of their community outreach, education, and testing, the Fremo staff still has to make time to improve their facilities. They do not, however, have the luxury of placing orders at the local medical supply store for hospital beds, so they have to use their resources to make their own. Whatever it takes to provide a clean, safe place for the people of Kawangware to receive decent health care.
I have a deep respect and admiration for these wonderful Kenyans helping their fellow community members.
Don't forget, you can help too! Donations are always welcome!

Nairobi Needs Your Help!

You may have noticed the new "donate" button on the right side of this page.
If you've been following my blog, you'll know a little bit about the cause I'm trying to support.
I spent several weeks in Kenya last spring working with Fremo Medical Centre, a small clinic that services the Kawangware slum district of Nairobi. Moffat Osoro, together with his brother, Fred, a physician in Kenya, founded the clinic in November, 2009 with the purpose of providing affordable, accessible health care to the under-served people of the Nairobi slums.


Not without struggle, Fremo has successfully survived a year of growth and progress, and is continuing forward with its goal to not only provide community medical services, but also to become a full-service hospital by 2030.
Moffat's leadership and committment to the success of Fremo, and the talent of local nurses and lab technicians driven by a desire to serve their fellow Kenyans has brought the clinic a long way. However, more than desire is needed to keep Fremo going.
Fremo's patients are humble, beautiful, and deserving of quality care, but many are poverty-stricken and are often unable to pay for their services. Moffat has been applying for bank loans, and has relied heavily on personal savings and the generosity of friends and family in order to supplement what little money does come in from patients. In spite of financial limitations, Fremo does its best, but unfortunately, the money they have is not always enough to provide the most appropriate sanitary care to patients, maintain the facility, buy medications, and pay staff members.
This is where you can help!
A little bit of money goes a long way in Kenya! I was able to help tile an entire room at the clinic for less than USD $100 (including labor). Any size contribution you are able to make will be meaningful, and 100% of all the money donated will go toward filling the most pressing needs of the clinic, e.g., sanitary plastic covers for beds, additional floor tiling (to prevent blood and fluids from soaking into dirt floors), proper toilets, delivery kits, lab analysis equipment...
With your help, the future of Fremo Medical Centre is bright, and so are the lives of the people of Kawangware!
To learn more about the Fremo Medical Center and how you can help, visit http://fremomc.brinkster.net/ or email me directly: cimcarr@gmail.com
Thanks for your support!
Stay posted for personal fund-raising ideas and progress with Fremo