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VMM Overseas Volunteer Programme 2003 - 2004. We supports projects in Africa and South America.
Paul Murray (VM), a trained horticulturist worked with a local team for two years, coordinating a horti-agricultural programme at Mukuru. The focus of Paul's work was to provide the children with an opportunity of hands on experience of working the land giving them a skill that will help them to become self-sufficient. Of equal importance is the fact that the students feel not merely involved in the programme, but have a sense of ownership, vital to the building of the children's self-reliance and esteem, which the Centre considers as its fundamental mission. With a view to further developing the opportunities and services offered to the children, after Paul Murray returned to England, VMM placed a further two British volunteers, Helen Bicknell and Nicky Rothon (VMs) to assist Sr. Mary Killeen (Mercy Sister) and her local teachers develop their educational and pastoral care programmes. To provide additional support to the work carried out by Sr. Mary Killeen, Nicky and Helen (VMs) and DKA in Mukuru, VMM also organised for Dr. Patrick Troy, a specialist in the treatment of addiction, to carry out an assessment of the extent of the problem and the facilities available in the slum areas of Nairobi for addiction treatment. Dr. Troy carried out a three-week consultancy in the slums of Nairobi, after which he presented a report and recommendations to VMM. Working with Dr. Paddy, VMM is now looking at a way to implement some of the recommendations made by Dr. Paddy Troy in his report. A lot of work remains to be done in this area.
The Catholic Diocese of Bungoma is made up of 4 Administrative Districts - Bungoma, Busia, Teso and Mount Elgon. The population of this area is approximately 1.5 million, made up of the Luhyas and their sub-tribes, the Teso and the Sabots. Only half have had any formal education and of these, most only to Primary level. The majority of these people are subsistence peasant farmers. Although more than half the population have access to water, there are questions as to its quality, and many families have no hygienic system of refuse disposal. Since 1974, the Diocese of Bungoma has been supporting and complementing the Government of Kenya in providing Primary Health Care / CBHC services at district and local levels. The main strategy is the promotion of self-reliance through developing and supporting the communities own Resource People. Over 78 community groups, run mainly by women, are operating in this Diocese. They centre around on spiritual motivation; health promotion, economic activities and schemes aimed at creating financial security. The most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the children of this area are - malaria, anaemia, diarrhoea, AIDS, Pneumonia and other diseases. The prevalence of still Births is also an issue of local concern. Within the Diocese of Bungoma there is one Government Hospital - Busia - and two Mission Hospitals - Nangina and Misikhu. The Mission Health Programmes also include mobile clinics, while the School Health Scheme has encouraged a "Child to Child" programme. The sustainability of the Diocesan Health Programme is guaranteed due to the level of local support, in cash and kind over the past 25 years, since the inception of CBHC in Bungoma. Although the Diocese had already established structures to co-ordinate the various elements of the Health Programme, the Diocesan Management Team realised that their policies and procedures needed to be further developed and documented. Hence, Jenny Adams (VM) was recruited and placed in Bungoma in July 2001, as the Diocesan Health Co-coordinator. As a well qualified and highly experienced Health Professional, Jenny is working with her local counterpart, to develop the structures required to ensure an integrated approach to Health Care delivery and a co-coordinated approach to the development of all Health Care facilities and services in the Diocese. In November 2001, VMM further assisted the development of Health Care in Bungoma by placing Dr. Carol Goulding (VM) in Misikhu Mission Hospital to work alongside, learn from and train local hospital staff in the areas of gastro-enterology, herpetology, and basic surgery - Caesarean Sections and Entopic. Dr. Hugh Nohilly (VM) replaced Carol in Misikhu Mission Hospital in July 2002 and is currently working in the areas of out-patient care, in-patient care i.e. ward rounds, general theatre duties and obstetrics. VMM fully supports the goals of Misikhu Mission Hospital - i.e. to deliver good quality Health Services, curative as well as preventative to the people in the hospital catchment area, while considering the issues of accessibility, equity and affordability. During 2002, Margaret Coakley (VM) joined the staff of Nangina Mission Hospital after the diocesan health team and the hospital staff development team reflected that there was a need for more training in the area of paediatrics nursing care, both within the hospital and as part of the community based health programme. Margaret completed her work as a Paediatric Nurse Specialist / Trainer in Bungoma and returned home to Ireland in December 2002. Pages Previous Next |
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