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
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
Olalo Van Update
Hello Olalo Van Supporters!
We are making progress on getting the funds for an Olalo Van for Oyugis and we have YOU to thank for supporting us!
Though making headway has stalled a bit, we are still forging ahead to purchase an Olalo Van which will be used for saving the lives of the sick. Our Kenyan volunteers are still paying transportation costs to get the sick to the hospital for medical care. Through just six weeks this summer, Olalo covered the hospital/medication bills for 10 people and also paid and extra $200 in transportation costs to get four of them to the hospital. (Ambulances don’t exist).
An Olalo Van can be used for a variety of purposes in addition to our medical program. One of those is to offer transportation twice a week to nearby cities. In Kenya, Matatus (vans) are used to provide public transportation to nearby cities. There are many services that aren’t available in Oyugis town, so citizens regularly travel to neighboring small cities for many purposes.
Using the Olalo van for this purpose just twice a week will not only save the money we spend for taxis, it will also provide funds for medical needs, van gas/upkeep and other basic needs for the people of Oyugis. The need for reliable transportation is huge and we don’t anticipate any lack of need for this additional service.
On an average week, using the van twice a week for travelers would raise enough profit to cover:
- 280 tests for malaria,
- 10 days of antibiotics for 94 people,
- 23 x-rays or
- 140 doctor consult fees.
A little goes such a l-o-n-g way!
Your past support for the Olalo Van is very much appreciated! Thank you! Thank you!
If you would like to continue to support our campaign for the Olalo Van, there is an upcoming opportunity to increase any donation by 30% when given on September 21 through GlobalGiving, who is sponsoring the bonus day. Here’s how it works:
“Online donations of up to $1,000 per unique donor are eligible to be matched at 30%, while funds last. The $60,000 available in matching funds will be divided into two equal pots. Those pots — of $30,000 each — will be available as matching funds beginning at 03:00:01 am Pacific Time and 9:00:01 am Pacific Time respectively. Having two release times will allow GlobalGiving to accommodate our nonprofit partners in different time zones. All matching will end at 23:59:59 EDT on September 21st, or when funds run out.”
Thank you for considering continued support for the Olalo Van. Matching funds do run out quickly, so if you plan to make a donation, do so at either of the two times listed above.
Whether you choose to make another donation or not, please know you are highly valued by Olalo of Hope-Kenya and You are making a difference in the lives of the poor in Africa! We couldn't do it without YOU! Thank you!
Merry Broughal, Project Leader
Olalo of Hope-Kenya
YOU are Saving Lives in Kenya - Thank You!
On behalf of the many children, women and men that received urgent medical care in just the last month…and from Olalo of Hope-Kenya, we want to say THANK YOU! Your generous donations allowed Olalo of Hope-Kenya to provide the funds needed to get the urgent medical care for those who would otherwise go without due to their poverty.
Malaria, typhoid, diabetes, asthma, injuries, intestinal viruses...all diagnosed and treated in May, and most are on the road to recovery. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our supporters...without YOU!
Most times the need for urgent medical care comes to Olalo through others who are aware of the need. Sometimes, it just happens.
Like the day one of Olalo volunteers was talking with the pharmacist about our vitamin distribution plan when a woman runs in struggling to breathe. Gasping for breath, she pleaded for something to help but was told they couldn’t give her anything without permission from a doctor. In despair she said she had no money for a doctor. Our volunteer got her in a cab, brought her to the hospital and covered the cost of the cab, the hospital and the medication.
Sometimes, it just happens.
We are thankful he was in the right place at the right time, and because Olalo had the funds to get her help…that is all because of You and your generosity!
On June 15, GlobalGiving is running a campaign to match donations given online that day by 50%! If you would like to contribute to Olalo of Hope-Kenya to our medical, education or computer lab projects, check it out! It’s a great way to increase your donation without increasing your costs!
Thank you for joining with us at Olalo of Hope-Kenya to save lives and improve the health of those in need of urgent medical care!
With much appreciation….
Merry Broughal, Project Leader
Olalo of Hope-Kenya