Family Support

As well as our focus being on our babies it is also on the families of our babies..............it is one thing to get our babies on track and improve their health but it is another thing to rehabilitate the families..............you see our babies can only be with us no longer than 3 years so it is very important that we work with their families to improve their cirsumstances so that these babies can return home...........to a safe environment and live long and healthy lives. We have started by issuing Water Drums and Wheelbarrows to the families as all of them without exception have nowhere to keep clean drinking water..............

As you can see on their faces the joy in having somewhere to store clean drinking water. They use the Wheelbarrows to carry the water from the lake or pond as it means they only make one trip with 3 jerry cans as opposed to 3 trips................as well as giving them the drums for the water they also have to attend family planning programmes as the major problem is around them having too many children.................this is what we see as the major exit strategy for our children. ........our area has the highest mortality rate in babies and women giving birth in Kenya. Babies die due to home birthing without support and women die due to multiple births and their bodies never recovering from the previous..................so it is important that all the women take part in the Family Planning Programme and they are encouraged to choose the necessary contraception that suits them best. Kate our volunteer has printed T Shirts and all profits made from the sale of the T Shirts go to paying for the transport to the major hospital to have the necessary treatment. The government provides these services free but the major problem is that they can not afford to get to the city...........We are happy to say the our very own Clinc in the village will open in one weeks time. This is temporary until our real one is built some time next year and this will provide good basic service to the community 3 days per week. This is supported ofcourse by our Women's Group who have saved over 120,000ks and will pay the wages and provide the drugs for the clinic................an amazing achievement by these women.........we have also been able to provide HIV/Aids testing, pregnancy testing and working hard to provide more services as approved...............this will be wonderful for the community as they will now be able to be treated immediately for the basic health needs instead of many people / children going untreated.

So things are happeing in Odede every day and the people are smiling more and more. I will keep you up to date.

Cheers - Marilyn