Van Update #2

Inching Along to Getting Our Van….

Many thanks to every one of you who have caught the vision with Olalo and know that providing a van for transportation is vital and essential to getting people to the hospitals for urgent medical care, kids safely to school, and for the delivery of food and other life basics to those in desperate need in Oyugis, Kenya.

In just the last three weeks a cab was hired and cars rented to transport very ill children to hospitals two and five hours away…they were necessary distances to get them the kind of help they needed. Thanks to you, our Van donors, we know that in time Olalo will have the necessary funds to purchase a van to make these types of trips and save the money for medical care rather than it being spent on hiring cars/cabs. (You can read more about one baby we got into the hospital in our latest report under our Urgent  Medical Care Project.)

Drought conditions in the area are making it difficult to provide food for families.  In the last month Olalo was able to deliver food to several families.

The van can also be used to transport others who need to go into the city. Passengers would be charged a fee which will help to maintain the van. 

One of the recipients of Olalo’s medical fund will travel six times to Nairobi for surgery and follow-up care. Due to the nature of his disease he is not able to work and has no way to travel there except for going by bus. Those are 6 trips which could be made to Nairobi with paying passenger riding along with him in our van. As you can see, a van would certainly be a benefit in a variety of ways.

So even though we are only inching toward our goal of purchasing a van, we are so very thankful for your continued support and encouragement! 

Thank you for standing with us…thank you for supporting our efforts in Oyugis, Kenya!

With Much Appreciation
Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya

A Dream ALMOST Derailed

Frederick

Another dream is back on track thanks to YOU!

Frederick had dreams of becoming a nurse to help others in his country when the death of his father derailed that dream. He was allowed to continue school for a period of time, but with fees and unpaid tuition accumulating, he was forced out of school…his education was over. 

When we learned about Frederick and his situation, Olalo was able to pay his back fees and cover his fourth and final year of Secondary School. His dream is back on track and he will graduate this December!

The statistics show less than 50% of students finishing Primary School (8th grade) go on to Secondary School because they do not have the funds to continue their education. Many of those who begin Secondary School are then forced to end their education because whoever was originally paying their tuition and fees can no longer pay either due to illness, loss of life or other life circumstances.

The World Health Organization recommends to cover essential health services that the number of nurses for every 10,000 in population should be a minimum of 23. According to the Nursing Council of Kenya, there are only 5 nurses for every 10,000 in population.

With those stats, we are thankful to YOU our supporters that Frederick will be able to continue on with his education and his goal of becoming a nurse.

Thank you for Caring! 

Your support not only gives Frederick the opportunity to fulfill his dream, but in the future adds another much needed nurse to care for the people.

Thank you!
Merry Broughal
Project Leader

Medical Program Update

It’s been a busy few months for Olalo getting the ill to the hospital for treatment and medications, and MANY THANKS to YOU, we were able to offer assistance to everyone coming to our attention who needed help.

There were many of the usual cases…typhoid, malaria and upper respiratory infections, (our most common illnesses), but then we came across someone diagnosed with an amoeba.

According to Harvard Health at drugs.com, “About 10% of the world's population is infected with amoebas, particularly people who live in Mexico, India, Central America, South America, Africa and the tropical areas of Asia.”

An amoeba is a parasite that causes infection in the large intestine. It can live there without causing much damage until it gets into the wall of the large intestine and causes ulcers, bleeding and other symptoms. It can travel to the liver causing additional symptoms including fever, severe pain and worse.

Most people get the parasite by consuming unwashed fruits or vegetables, produce grown in contaminated soil and general unsanitary conditions.

Our gentleman with the amoeba also had contracted both malaria and typhoid as well, leading to his need to spend 5.5 days in the hospital for treatment. Had this occurred here in the US, I’m not sure we’d have the funds to get him the needed treatment and pay for his hospital bill. But since it was in Kenya, the hospital charges amounted to a grand total of $116.87.

THIS is exactly why we get excited about our medical fund and we hope you do, too! 

With your support, Olalo is able to help countless people- children and adults in Oyugis when the need for urgent medical care arises and they have no money to get help.

Thank you for making this all possible! Thank you for the healings that can take place and the lives that are saved! Thank you!

Merry Broughal, Project Leader
Olalo of Hope-Kenya