Birthing Center at Kagaa Dispensary
We have adopted the Birthing Center at the Kagaa Clinic in order to assist the Clinic staff with their delivery of services. In 2013 there were 100-recorded live births at the center. This was projected to be only 40% of the births in the area. The other 60% were delivered at home. This placed 60% of the Mothers and Newborns outside the Center's services causing them to potentially miss prenatal care, well baby follow-up, and early childhood vaccinations which are provided for free. It was felt that the mothers were not coming in because the Center had no blankets or pillows, the room had no heat source, and there were no newborn clothes.
In 2013 blankets, pillows, and newborn clothes were secured for the Center. The Clinic staff had painted and touched up areas that needed maintenance.
In 2014 we donated 2 birthing beds, maternity pads, and newborn clothes to further the Center's goals. The 2014 statistics show an increase in the number of births at the center.
Kagaa Clinic
Sam’s family has a history of service, volunteering their time and providing financial support for their community. Sam's father, Simon Kaniu, provided financing and other assistance in constructing the Kagaa clinic in 1972. He continued to support the clinic and, along with Sam’s older brother Josphat, was instrumental in the construction of the Birthing Center at the Kagaa clinic.
The Kagaa clinic is in the Lari division, Kiambu district in central Kenya approximately 50 kilometers from Nairobi. Although the distance from the city is small, it is quite rural and connected by rutted dirt roads making travel slow and at times difficult. The local economy is farming, including tea plantations, dairy, and basic food crops. Prior to the Kagaa clinic's construction, the local population would have to walk to a small clinic with limited resources 10 miles away. If women wanted a delivery center, it would be another 25 miles. Most people still walk several miles to the clinic with limited options of travel either on back of a motorbike (boda boda) or infrequent van (matatu).
Our team has done mass screening for hypertension and diabetes as well as offered medical advice and treatment for a variety of conditions teaming with the staff of the Kagaa clinic and utilizing its small dispensary. We also added a medical camp at the minimally resourced Kagwee clinic.
Our medical camps attract many patients who were unaware of the no charge services offered at the clinics and with our encouragement we hope they will return for ongoing care.
Over the years we have seen the local government and the clinic staff become more engaged with new buildings, landscaping, walkways (on a small scale compared to the West) showing pride and dedication to making Kagaa one of the best rural clinics.