An Amazing Week In Health
It’s been an amazing time in the lives of many of the poor and sick in Oyugis in the last few months, in the last few weeks! And what has made it so amazing?
YOU!
It was your support to our medical fund that made it all possible. Thank You!!!
It was just a few weeks ago when Sonko, our amazing volunteer in Kenya was at the hospital with a person suffering with pneumonia when he overheard the nurses talking about three-year-old Joram.
Joram had been left at the hospital 5 days earlier. Her father had abandoned her, her mother rarely visited and no one was treating the large open wound on her thigh because there was no money to pay. It also meant she hadn’t eaten for awhile. Sonko bought food for the child and paid to cover her medical expenses from Olalo's Medical program and Community Support for her food and water.
While he was still there, Sonko met a young mother of 3-month-old twin boys who were both admitted into the hospital, but again, no money, so they weren’t being treated. Just the week before, this mother had lost another child although we don’t know why. One of the twins, Denis, was suffering with malaria, the other, Evance severe malnutrition. Sonko immediately paid for the twins’ care, but sadly it ended up being too late for Evance who died later that day. Denis is recovering and getting stronger.
And then there is 17-year-old Alex. Alex was brought to the hospital by a person who saw him get run over by a passing motorcycle while walking to school. He broke off a tooth and was having pain in his chest area. He had no money so he didn’t want to go, but the person who rescued him insisted on dropping him at the hospital. When they discovered he had no money, they would not treat him. Sonko heard about him and immediately paid for his medical care out of Olalo's Medical funds.
These are just three stories and there are more…all within hours and within days. Injuries, disease, accidents and illness – all with one thing in common…they received urgent medical care because YOU cared enough to give to our Urgent Medical Needs Project.
On behalf of Olalo of Hope-Kenya and all the family and loved ones of our patients, and future patients because of your continued support, I thank you! Your generosity is saving lives.
We can't do it without you!
Nyasaye Ogwedhi!
Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya
Getting a Ride to Health & Life
I want to personally thank everyone who has joined with Olalo to purchase transportation for our Medical program in Oyugis.
We still have a long way to go and we will continue to raise the necessary funds to purchase a van. It may not be a glamorous or exciting project, but we continue because it is a noble cause.
In just the last four months, 35% of our medical costs have paid for car/van rentals to get those in need of urgent medical care to the hospital for treatment. Thirty five percent…money that could have been used to cover the medical or medication costs of an additional 18-25 people.
A recent video from Kenya highlights the transportation need to get people to medical help. Olalo volunteer, Sonko, has traveled 3 hours away to check on a mother and son who have been ill for quite awhile. The mother is having chest pain and the son is having vision problems and cannot see well.
The vehicles Olalo has access to rent aren’t always the most reliable or in good mechanical order. The car in the video doesn’t have lights that work well and they are in doubt of even making the three-hour drive back home to Oyugis that evening.
On occasion, people we help are referred to Kisumu or Nairobi for more specialized treatment. During trips into the cities, the van would be used to transport other paying passengers who need to travel there for other purposes. It is a much-needed service and would help to offset costs of running the van.
We certainly appreciate your continued support of our efforts. Thank you all for sticking with us.
Coming up in just a few weeks the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has generously provided $500,000 in matching funds for #GivingTuesday on Global Giving!
- The 2016 #GivingTuesday campaign will begin November 29th, 2016, at 00:00:01 EST and end at 23:59:59 EST on November 29th, 2016. (For us west coast folks, that is 9:00:01PM on 11/28 and ending at 8:59:59 on 11/28.)
- The campaign will run on GlobalGiving.org Our Van project is located here
- There will be $500,000 USD in matching funds on #GivingTuesday, applied at 50% to all donations of up to $1,000 USD per unique donor per organization to eligible projects while funds last.
- The previous 50% match bonus day for $110,000 ran out in the first few minutes…so if you plan to donate, then it’s best to do it right at 9:00:01 PM on November 28 for us on the west coast.
Your generous contributions are bringing so many people to better health and saving lives!
With Much Appreciation,
Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya