Rapha Medical Centre in Eldoret, Kenya

Background

Eldoret is situated in the Western Highlands of Kenya on the Northern Rift. Hundreds of thousands in the district live below the nation’s poverty line and cannot afford basic medical care. They have to suffer with health problems that could be treated relatively easily.

The Deliverance Church in Eldoret longs to provide quality and affordable healthcare to the suffering households within their community. Aylesbury Vale Community Church shares this vision and is raising funds to build, equip, staff and run a desperately needed health centre in Eldoret.

Objectives

The Eldoret Health Project (Rapha Medical Centre) will make healthcare available to over 200 Kenyans each day. When complete it will host a MTCH (Maternal Child and Health Care facility), a counseling room, laboratory, pharmacy, examination room, injection room and a clinician’s room.

Besides the physical facility the RMC will involve in preventive measures to maintain a healthy society and campaign on healthcare services. Currently, the programme is undertaking an Hiv/Aids response initiative this in terms of sex education, awareness creation, prevention of the spread, home-based care and curative measures.

RMC shall embody an all round health care provision for the family and shall spear head health education in order to maintain a healthy community. The church through the RMC shall liaise all with other other stakeholders in the government in enhancing an effective healthcare system. The aim is to efficiently respond to health issues and health and shall seek growth and expansion to other remote areas where medical facilities are not available.

Mission Visit to Eldoret

Three members from Aylesbury Vale Community Church visited Eldoret during November 2006. One of the main objectives was to advance the Eldoret Health Project.

On the afternoon of 20th November, the three on mission left for Kisumu accompanied by three friends from the Deliverance Church in Eldoret. The three from the UK were to fly to Nairobi and finally head back to the UK. At around 3:00pm, they were involved in a fatal road accident.

The accident claimed the lives of two friends: Colin Blamires from the UK and Pastor Nicholas Isiaho from Eldoret. Three others were also injured. Martin Oliver suffered a serious head injury and was taken to the ICU at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret. Pastor Clive Mickleburgh from the UK had an injury to his left arm. The Kenyan driver broke both of his hands as he tried to steer the vehicle to safety. The car in which they were travelling was written off.

The accident has strengthened our resolve to see the health centre running at full capacity as soon as possible.

Update on latest progress

Recent developments

• The plumbing has been completed.
• The electrical wiring and switches have been finished.
• The ceiling boards have been installed.

Next steps

• Work on the windows, (glasses and putty) has commenced
• Paintwork is imminent.
• Fixing the doors
• Complete remaining work on the toilets
• Installing disposal units to destroy all used medical supplies
  Finances

The cost of building, equipping, staffing and running the health centre is beyond the Church’s current capability. It is estimated that to construct and run this health centre for the first year, £36,000 will need to be raised. To date, we have been able to transfer £20,000 for the construction & equipping of the medical centre.

We do not want to lose momentum, and a donation from anyone viewing our website would really help. The Medical Centre will make a substantial and long-term difference to the impoverished and sick people of Eldoret.

We need your support!

For an information leaflet or to make a donation to the Eldoret Health Project, please write to:

Martin Oliver
UK Project Manager
18 Craigwell Avenue
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP21 7AF

kenyahealth@avcc.org.uk