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GRACI AnD comPASIIon en EnT·munDIKA
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n,e"\ Email: graceandcompassion@gmail.com
Indeed it isour pleasure to present to you our six monthly activity report with hopes that
all of you are keeping well.
Since the year began up to date a lot has taken place with the aim of improving on
older persons' living standards. Although some incidents took place unexpectedly, e.g.
deaths, drought, hunger and sickness,with the help and support from the Stitching Oud
in Africa, we have been able to cope. and life still goes on.
The report shall be tackled under the three main areas of operation in regard to the
care for elderly. These headings are as follows:- 1. Old Peoples' Home (OPH)
2. Home Based Care (HBC)clients. 3. Abakofu Belinda Self Help Group (ABSHG).
After these, each of the seven volunteers will report on what is taking/ has taken place
in her/hls department. The departments with their stakeholders are as follows;
property of their own hence, are fully dependant on Sistersof Grace and
compassion for their livelihood.
Recently one of them died, her short story will be mentioned in the
obituaries.
For the up-keep of the home the congregation relies on the support from
England, weil-wishers from around, these includes businessmen as weil as some
religious organizations. These support the home by giving some donations in form
of material, mainly second hand clothes and sometimes the businesspeople
offer food. Thisimplies that, every little gift counts and it is helpful to those that
receive and use it. With that in mind, we don't chose what should be donated to
us; any form of donation is utilized with care.
For the past few years the home for elderly has existed at Mundika, had not
received much support trom the Government officials. The only NGO that took
interest in the care for elderly as trom the year 1996is Helpage international, now
has a branch in Kenya known as Helpage Kenya. The Sistersof G & C, (whose
main charism isto cater for the needs of elderly) have been in Kenya Busia-
Mundika, since 1990.Withthe support trom the HAl/HAK, we have been able to
reach few more destitute older persons and give them a better home to stay
and a happy dignified death! In other words, most of the residents at OPH are
sponsored by HAl/HAK. As from 2004 up to date, the work for caring and support
of the elderly has also been complimented by another NGO trom the
Netherlands known as 'the Stichting Oud In Atrica'. Hence, the Sistersof G & C,
HA and OIA, all support each other in the care for elderly destitute.
Having said that, HAKsupports many older persons in the developing countries,
and as a result of the increase of older persons worldwide, there is a shortage of
finance to meet all the needs for an older person.
Thisyear (2009) the OPH has been blessed to receive some support trom the
government via the Social Service department branch in Busia District.
Hunger was declared among the national disasters by Hon. President Mwai
Kibaki in March 2009. To that connection the home received a cheque of
KSH.15,000/-and 17 bags of maize to help combat hunger among the older
people at the OPH. With the KSH.15,000/- the mattresses + covers were
purchased for the older persons ' use at the OPH. These are of great help
especially for the residents that are incontinent and bed-ridden. For the 17 bags
of maize was a fair supply of food for our older persons at OPH. In a month, our
older persons at OPH consume at least 4 bags of maize grinded for both ugali
(stabie food) and porridge. Although for porridge maize is mixed with millet and
soya beans before it is grinded into flour. At present a bag of maize costs Ksh.
3000/-, a bag of Soya beans costs Ksh. 9000/- and a bag of kidney beans Ksh.
6,750/-. (A bag is equivalent to 90kgs). The Sisterstogether with the residents
appreciated for the support and wrote a letter to thank the District Officer and
his team for their thoughtfulness.
Some farming is also done at OPH's grounds, of which most of it to do with crops
wil! be reported on by Mr. Kennedy Langiri, since that falls under his department.
Apart from thct. there are dairy animals at the OPH grounds. These produces milk
enough for our older persons' consumption and the Sisters.With the help and
support of OIA program in the Netherlands, we we re given these cows via Heifer
International program as one way of reducing poverty among the people. The
agreement with the Heifer international is that, atter the cows have calved
down, we are expected to pass on those calves to other needy persons/ person.
The first passing on of five calves trom us to other needy persons took place on
29/05/2009, of which I hope Sr. Beatrice (Srin-charge of farm) has reported
about. Besides the cows, there are also local chickens reared at the OPH for
resident's consumption. Recently some of the chickens we re coughing. When
the Sr in-charge for elderly inquired what could be the cause, she was told by
Kennedy (a volunteer) that it was typhoid for birds. He advised on what
medicine to buy, it was bought and he treated the chickens. Coughing ceased
within a period of 3 days post-treatment. Now the chickens are fine, two of them
have hatched with eight chicks each. We also have 2 guard dogs at OPH. One
of the dogs has 3 puppies: they have been booked to be bought by 3 business
men in Busia town. Now the puppies can't be released because they are still too
young to leave their mother. They are usually sold out after a period of 6 weeks
of their birth. Both the mother and puppies are doing weil!
On the other side of the coin, Grace (one of our dairy cows) is unwell for over 3
weeks now. The vets have been in and out to see her and they say she is
suffering from anaplaxis (disease that attack the larger joints of an animal)
among the five cows that we have, Grace has been producing plenty of milk
more than the rest, now that she is unwell, it an implication that milk production
has dropped! AII in all, we still manage and hope that she will be weil soon.
On the side of the residents, since Felister died on 10thJun '2009, it was suggested
by the Sistersthat we consider taking Mariana Nekesa in place of Felister R.I.P.
Therefore, with effect trom 13thJun'2009, Mariana is a resident at OPH. Below is a
short story of Mariana Nekesa' 67 years old.
Mariana lived alone at her house (built by the project) at Igero village, Central
Busia District. She is one of the HA beneficiaries that never had the opportunity of
enjoying family life with her husband due to lack of children. In summary,
Mariana was not blessed to bear children for her husband: this resulted into her
being chased away from her marital home by her brothers' in-Iaw af ter the
death of her husband.
In March 2008 Mariana developed 2 nasty wounds; on her leg and on top of her
left leg. The wounds became necrotic with debris around them. For the wounds
to progress weil and not cause more harm/ infection to other parts of the body, it
was important that they are cleaned and dressed at least 3 times daily. Since
Mariana lived approximately 10 km away from the convent, it became difficult
for Sr to be visiting Mariana x3 daily with regard that she has other older persons
besides Mariana to cater for. Therefore, Sr in-charge decided to bring Mariana
to OPH to be treated and nursed from there. The wound dressings that were sent
to us by ship from Holland have really done a wonderful job on Mariana's foot
and the rest! Mariana has been to OPH for over a veer. the foot is progressing
weil although slowly, while the leg part has healed and left a scar.
Previously Mariana received HBC support, but now she receives residents'
support. She is pleased about it. now that she is unable to walk around and do
things for herself as she used/ would like to. At OPH Mariana has learnt how to
weave baskets and make mats using palm leaves. Thisskill she has been taught
by Teresa and other residents. She seems to get on weil with other residents and
she is grateful for the care and support she receives.
HBC comprises of 86 older persons that are beneficiaries of the project and receive
care and support from their own home environment. For the sufficient delivery of the
services to the older persons. Sr in-charge of the elderly work hand in hand with the
volunteers and ensure th at most of the needs of beneficiaries are addressed and met.
HBC is the area whereby most of the financial support sent to us by the stichting oud in
Afrika is fully utilized. It covers salaries for volunteers and for nurse services th at assist to
care for older persons. nutritional values and healthcare for older persons and
volunteers, building/ construction (shelter provision and toilets) for older persons. The
money sent by stichting oud in Africa is also used to purchase bed/ beddings, clothing
for older persons and to meet many other needs for the elderly. A summary of all these
needs will be reflected in the financial report. Besides what will be mentioned in the
financial report, a sum of money also goes to home visits. guiding and counseling of
older persons and offering moral and financial support when needed. For that reoson.
some cash goes to vehicle maintenance, petrol and transport. OIA also supports the
training of volunteers e.g. computer skilts. driving/ riding a rnotorcvcle. agricultural
seminars, etc.
2. Communication:
AII volunteers were provided with mobile phones by the OIA project to
keep them connected to each other and for easy and efficient
communication. Whenever any of the volunteer encounters a problem
with his/ her phone. Sister in-charge for elderly is notified and arrangement
on how to assist that particular volunteer is made. Either another phone is
bought or the old one is repaired according to the state.
machine to cut, clean and tidy up even the thickest and toughest nails of
some of our older persons. We experimented using the machine on the nails
of our residents at OPH, and they were thrilled!
The project provided the following items for the purpose of cleanliness and
hygiene: 4 basins (different sizes), heavy duty gloves, razor blades,
disinfectant, detergent, safety pins, nail-cutters, hand tewels. flannels,
slashers, pangas and jembes.
We clean the surrounding area of older persons by slashing the grass and
burning unwanted rubbish. Those that are frail and leave alone we bathe
them twice a week, shave them and cut their hair short sweep their houses,
air beddings, make beds for them and wash their clothes.
The plan for clothing is, to buy material and stitch for all beneficiaries' suitable
clothing in the month of August'2009, shoes and cardigans in Sept'2009.
Sr in-charge has already provided 7 jackets for volunteers @ Ksh. 700/- each.
As for furniture i.e. a table and achair x58 are in pracess. So far Sr has paid
Ksh. 10,000/- as deposit to our local carpenter and he has started making
them.
Hendrika was 92 years old when she died. She lived with a grandson who
went back to his father offer the death of Hendrika. The sum of money that
was spent in her funeral was Ksh.9000/-.
Lucia Auma was also 78 years old. She was blind, lived with grandchildren
who were of great support to her. Funeral expenditure was ksh. 9000/-.
Felister had suffered stroke 10 yrs ago at her home in Port Victoria, South Busia
District. Most of the time since 1997 she has been in and out of hospita!.
In mid 2008 Felister was admitted to OPH as a resident, because she was left
alone with no one to care for her at home. She was wheelchair bound and
had lost half of her speech as a result of stroke she had suffered.
Besides thot. Felister had arthritis, hypertension and she was also type 2
diabetic that had not been discovered for the past few years.
At the OPH she was welilooked af ter and received all the necessary
medication with proper nutritional intake and the company of others. AII
these contributed to the weil being of Felister and within a period of 2 months
at OPH, she seemed to have improved drastically. Her family visited her and
they were so pleased and amazed to find her looking so weil!
Felister took ill on 6thJun'09 and died on 10th Jun'09 at 8.00 pm in the sick bay
at OPH. She was buried on 20thJun'2009. May she RESTIN PEACE!AMEN.
Chicken rearing.
Lastyear five homes were identified to serve as pass on chicks to other
households after hatching took place. The projected supported the
construction of poultry houses in the identified homes. The OIA also
purchased the chickens to be supplied among the 5 beneficiaries.
Each household was allocated 4 hens and one cock.
We learned the system of Heifer international in that atter the cows calving
down, the Sistersare expected to pass on ca Ives to other needy families.
Likewise,af ter the hens have hatched, the chicks are passed on to other
household of beneficiaries. The chicken project is doing extremely weil and
beneficiaries are already passing on chicks to other HBCclients.
With those few remarks, we say thank you very much to our donors for giving
our older persons a life to live.
For that reason the work of building was delayed. But now I am glad to let
you know that the work commenced on 28th Jun'09 and the proceedings are
satisfactory. The problem we are facing and might drag the construction
work behind a bit islack of sufficient finance.
The remaining KSH.240,000/- af ter the land transactions, has been spent on
the following:-
Relating to the work plan, we have purchased quite a few things to complete
the structure.
The group kindly requests for more money to be send so as to enable us forge
ahead in terms of construction.
NOTE:
THIS REPORT COVERS ONLY HOME BASED CARE, 86 CLIENTS I.E. OPA: 09-01-02-01.
NOTE: some items that were mentioned on the 2009 budget (HBC) are missing on this
financial report because they have not vet been accomplished but we are soon to
start working on them.
We kindly request for more money to be sent. so as to enable the smooth running of the
project. We are very grateful to you for your untiring financial support extended to the
older persons of mainly western Kenya and Eastern Uganda.
On the column of salaries, services delivered by Mr. Juma and volunteers have been
merged together. i.e. 444,000/- (volunteers) + 180,000/- (Nurse Services). = 624,000/-.
On the other hand, I am totally impressed with the way the finance office is run over
there. The system of sending money to this ends has really improved a great deal! Since
the year begun our older persons/ beneficiaries have lacked nothing they are entitled
to get. Thisis so because there is no single day I went to bank and turned off due to
finance shortage. A big thank you to oll our Donors and Sponsors. May your life span be
elongated so that you continue supporting our elderly destitute people.
BANK DETAILS
BIC NBKEKENX828
ACCOUNT
NUMBER 0124237092601
ACCOUNT HOLDER