Recent Reports

During this reporting period (January, February, and March 2019), we successfully carried out a total of 72 integrated outreach activities at the selected sites in the three sub-counties. These were made possible with support from RMF and the MOH.

Essential health services provided in the different regions:

Central Turkana

During this reporting period (October, November, and December 2018), we successfully carried out a total of 72 integrated outreach activities at the selected sites. These were made possible with support from RMF and the MOH.

Essential health services provided in the different regions:

Central Turkana

…

Lwala Community Alliance (LCA) is a community-led, nonprofit health and development innovator working in Migori County in rural western Kenya. Through Lwala Community Hospital, the organization provides approximately 50,000 patient visits each year. The mission of the organization is to build the capacity of rural communities, including their neediest residents, to advance their own comprehensive well-being. The hospital is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic development in Lwala and the surrounding community, including educational and economic development.

The primary beneficiaries of RMF-supported Lwala Community Alliance are children, women, HIV-infected persons, and the elderly. Prior to…

Project Goal

Provide funding and support to the Lwala Community Hospital that serves the population of North Kamagambo in Migori County, Kenya. Poor physical infrastructure, including impassable roads during the rainy season, lack of electricity and lack of reliable drinking water, have helped to create a critical healthcare challenge. 

The health center was recently upgraded to a community hospital with RMF funding, and is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic development.

Lwala school girls participate in a mentoring session (see Success Story below)

Background

Provide funding and support to the Lwala Community Hospital that serves the population of North Kamagambo in Migori County, Kenya. Poor physical infrastructure, including impassable roads during the rainy season, lack of electricity and lack of reliable drinking water, have helped to create a critical healthcare challenge.

Photo: Staff work with youth in outreach activity focusing on reproductive health

The health center was recently upgraded to a community hospital with RMF funding, and is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic…

Project Goal

Provide funding and support to the Lwala Community Hospital that serves the population of North Kamagambo in Migori County, Kenya. Poor physical infrastructure, including impassable roads during the rainy season, lack of electricity and lack of reliable drinking water, have helped to create a critical healthcare challenge. 

The health center was recently upgraded to a community hospital with RMF funding, and is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic development.

Photo: Lwala Community Alliance staff share health messages at the event on…

Photo: A mother participates in home-based outreach on maternal and child health through the RMF/Lwala Community Alliance  program (see success stories at the bottom of this page)

Project Goal:

Provide funding and support to the Lwala Community Hospital that serves the population of North Kamagambo in Migori County, Kenya. Poor physical infrastructure, including impassable roads during the rainy season, lack of electricity and lack of reliable drinking water, have helped to create a critical healthcare challenge. 

The health center was recently upgraded to a community hospital with RMF funding, and is part of a larger…

Project Goal:

Provide funding and support to the Lwala Community Hospital that serves the population of North Kamagambo in Migori County, Kenya. Poor physical infrastructure, including impassable roads during the rainy season, lack of electricity and lack of reliable drinking water, have helped to create a critical healthcare challenge. 

The health center was recently upgraded to a community hospital with RMF funding, and is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic development.

Other programs include Emergency Ambulance Services and a Safe Motherhood (Umama Salama) Community Education Program.…

RMF/LCA Health Race in Lwala, Kenya– simultaneous to the LA Marathon on March 18, 2012

By Kelly Baird

Only a few of the feet at the starting line were clothed in worn-out Keds, a pair or two of sandals, and a single pair of sneakers. The rest of the feet were bare. There were no iPods, no heart rate monitors, no electronic chips to tell the runners their speed and pace.  But there was a palpable excitement as runners bounced up and down, warming up as they waited anxiously for the start of the…

Project Goal:

Provide funding and support to the Lwala Community Hospital that serves the population of North Kamagambo in Migori County, Kenya. Poor physical infrastructure, including impassable roads during the rainy season, lack of electricity and lack of reliable drinking water, have helped to create a critical healthcare challenge. 

The health center was recently upgraded to a community hospital with RMF funding, and is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic development.

Other programs include Emergency Ambulance Services and a Safe Motherhood (Umama Salama) Community Education Program.…

Project Goal: The Lwala Community Alliance is a non-profit health and development agency working in Nyanza Province, Kenya.  Through the Lwala Community Hospital, the organization provides more than 15,000 patient visits each year.  The mission of the organization is to meet the health needs of all people living in north Kamagambo, including its poorest.  The hospital is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic development in Lwala, including educational and economic development.

Project Objectives during this reporting…

Project Goal: The Lwala Community Alliance is a non-profit health and development agency working in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Through the Lwala Community Hospital, the organization provides more than 15,000 patient visits each year. The mission of the organization is to meet the health needs of all people living in north Kamagambo, including its poorest. The hospital is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic development in Lwala, including educational and economic development.  

Project Objectives during this reporting period:

1. Actively engage the community through preventative health…

Project Goal:

The Ochieng’ Memorial Lwala Community Hospital is a community-based project that is managed and supported in partnership with the Lwala Community Alliance, a U.S. based humanitarian organization. The mission of the clinic is to meet the holistic health needs of all members of the Lwala Community, including its poorest. Whenever possible it addresses health problems at their roots through community health interventions. It aims to provide excellent community-based health care, not to become a tertiary care facility. The health center is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development…

The Ochieng’ Memorial Lwala Community Health Center is a community-based project that is managed and supported in partnership with the Lwala Community Alliance, a U.S. based humanitarian organization. The mission of the clinic is to meet the holistic health needs of all members of the Lwala Community, including its poorest. Whenever possible it addresses health problems at their roots through community health interventions. It aims to provide excellent community-based health care, not to become a tertiary care facility. The health center is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic…

In June, at our clinic in Lwala, we experienced a major shift in patient numbers following the implementation of the new patient fee. Under our previous system of free care, our outpatient numbers averaged about 1,200 a month, on top of our HIV visits of about 145 a month and our Maternal and Child Health visits of about 150 a month.

Since the implementation of the new fee, outpatient numbers have dropped to just above 400 per month, while HIV and Maternal Child Health numbers have remained constant since those services continue to be free. These…

During this most recent reporting period of March ’10 through the end of May ’10, there continued to be significant achievement by our health care staff at the Lwala Community Health Center. The primary beneficiaries of the Lwala Community Health Center’s work are children, pregnant women, HIV infected persons and the elderly. Prior to the establishment of the clinic, there was no immediate access to primary health care or HIV/AIDS testing and care. For this reason, the Lwala health intervention has focused on primary care for children, access to medicines (particularly vaccines and antimalarials), HIV…

During this last reporting period of November ’09 through the end of February ’10, there continued to be an enormous amount achieved by the health staff at the Lwala Community Health Center through their compassion, perseverance, and skills.

The primary beneficiaries of the Lwala Community Alliance work are children, pregnant women, HIV infected persons and the elderly. Prior to the establishment of the clinic, there was no immediate access to primary health care or HIV/AIDS testing and care. For this reason, the Lwala health intervention has focused on primary care for children, access to medicines…

The mission of the Ochieng' Memorial Lwala Community Health Center is to meet the holistic health needs of all members of the Lwala community, including its poorest. Whenever possible it addresses health problems at their roots through community health interventions. It aims to provide excellent community-based health care, not to become a tertiary care facility. The health center is part of a larger effort to achieve holistic health and development in Lwala, including educational and economic development. The primary beneficiaries are children, pregnant women, HIV infected persons and the elderly. Prior to the establishment of the clinic, there was…

Over the past few months, we have been successful in achieving many of our progress goals to improve our services to the community. Below is a partial list of what has been accomplished.

We have:

In the first quarter of the year the Continued to meet increasing demand and improve quality of care. Approximately 2,000 patients seen per month, approximately 100-120 per open weekday. Our community is very pleased with the services, and everyone feels they have access because the service is free for most patients and nearly free for the rest. The catchments area continues to expand, with reports of people coming to stay with relatives and receive treatment at Lwala.

We've implemented a number of new projects including a new pharmacy inventory system and to reduce drug stock outs. Pictured…

In May/June of 2008 Real Medicine Foundation Founder and Executive Director Dr. Martina Fuchs visited the Lwala clinic.

The summer months saw many welcome additions to the Ochieng’ Memorial Lwala Community Health Center: two new clinical officers were hired; a new staff house was completed; an improved rain water catchment system is supplying the clinic with clean, running water; a more fruitful partnership with nearby Tabaka Mission Hospital was forged; and a revamped village oversight committee was created. Each of these accomplishments has contributed not only to the quality of care offered by the clinic but also to its…

Read the PDF version here.

Since our last update in November, 2007, much activity has surrounded the community of Lwala, Kenya, as well as its new primary health clinic. Beginning in late December, post-election violence rocked Kenya, with a particular focus of the chaos centered in the Western provinces. Long standing inter-tribal conflicts fuelled riots sparked by the questionable polling and vote counting practices. By the time the two feuding political parties had signed a power sharing agreement in late February, more than 1000 deaths and 300,000 displaced citizens had been reported. Throughout these months of turmoil, my thoughts and worries were consistently…

The April 2008 Lwala Community Health Center Progress Report is available for download below.

The Lwala Community Alliance Spring 2008 Update Newsletter is available for download below.

The Lwala Community Alliance Holiday 2007 Update Newsletter is available for download below.

The Lwala Clinic Report for August 2007 is available for download below.

The Morbidity Report for Public Health Project in Lwala May and June 2007 is available for download below.

Ian Swan's Gallery

Project Background:

Lodwar District Hospital (DH) is the only functional government regional referral hospital for all of Turkana region, spanning a population of almost 1,000,000. This is where the vast majority of the Turkana and other populations of Northwestern Kenya as well as people from across the borders to Uganda and South Sudan seek help when they need more advanced care requiring medical equipment and specialized skills that cannot be provided at dispensaries, health centers, or private health clinics. Lodwar DH has been struggling for years with wards in need of major repair, and supplies and drugs…

Project Background:

Lodwar District Hospital (DH) is the only functional government regional referral hospital for all of Turkana region, spanning a population of almost 1,000,000. This is where the vast majority of the Turkana and other populations of Northwestern Kenya as well as people from across the borders to Uganda and South Sudan seek help when they need more advanced care requiring medical equipment and specialized skills that cannot be provided at dispensaries, health centers, or private health clinics. Lodwar DH has been struggling for years with wards in need of major repair, and supplies and drugs…

Project Background:

Lodwar District Hospital (DH) is the only functional government regional referral hospital for all of Turkana region, spanning a population of almost 1,000,000. This is where the vast majority of the Turkana and other populations of Northwestern Kenya as well as people from across the borders to Uganda and South Sudan seek help when they need more advanced care requiring medical equipment and specialized skills that cannot be provided at dispensaries, health centers, or private health clinics. Lodwar DH has been struggling for years with wards in need of major repair, and supplies and drugs…

Project Background:

Lodwar District Hospital (DH) is the only functional government regional referral hospital for all of Turkana region, spanning a population of almost 1,000,000. This is where the vast majority of the Turkana and other populations of Northwestern Kenya as well as people from across the borders to Uganda and South Sudan seek help when they need more advanced care requiring medical equipment and specialized skills that cannot be provided at dispensaries, health centers, or private health clinics. Lodwar DH has been struggling for years with wards in need of major repair, and supplies and drugs…

Project Background:

Lodwar District Hospital (DH) is the only functional government regional referral hospital for all of Turkana region, spanning a population of almost 1,000,000. This is where the vast majority of the Turkana and other populations of Northwestern Kenya as well as people from across the borders to Uganda and South Sudan seek help when they need more advanced care requiring medical equipment and specialized skills that cannot be provided at dispensaries, health centers, or private health clinics. Lodwar DH has been struggling for years with wards in need of major repair, and supplies and drugs…

Project Goal:

Enable the District Hospital to fulfill its role of providing back-up referral health care for the Turkana region.

Project Objectives:

Photo: Picture of a…

Project Goal:

Enable the District Hospital to fulfill its role of providing back-up referral health care for the Turkana region.

Project Objectives:

• Rehabilitate the infrastructure at Lodwar District Hospital, beginning with the pediatric ward • Rehabilitate equipment set at Lodwar District Hospital, beginning with the pediatric ward • Provide regularity to supplies of basic medical devices, disposables, and pharmaceuticals, complementing the items from Kenya Medical Supplies (KEMSA) • Provide equipment maintenance and spare parts management • Organize on-site clinical training, beginning general equipment use and care…

Project Goal: Enable the District Hospital to fulfill its role of providing back-up referral health care for the Turkana region.

Project Objectives:

Summary of RMF/MMI-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under…

This month RMF concentrated on ensuring that more necessary ward equipment was purchased. Items like a food trolley, patient stretchers, dressing trolley, ambu-bags, and a suction machine among other items were bought. Initially, the food at the pediatric ward was served using a wheel barrow and is now using a food trolley, patients are able to be served in a more hygienic way. Due to the availability of the dressing trolley, now the doctors have an easier way of doing the ward rounds.

Picture of wheelbarrow serving food  

Picture of the…

Project Goal:

Enable the district hospital to fulfill its role of providing back-up referral health care for the Turkana region.

Target Population: Over 900,000 residents of the Turkana region; Even though Lodwar District Hospital officially only covers Turkana Central, in practice the district hospitals in Turkana North and South are not functional, hence the patients from those areas also come to Lodwar for referral care.

Project Objectives:

• Rehabilitate the infrastructure at Lodwar District Hospital, beginning with the pediatric ward • Rehabilitate equipment set at Lodwar District Hospital,…

Introduction Turkana is a vast region of 450,000 migrant herders dispersed over 77,000km². With roughly 6 people per square kilometer concentrated in small villages of about 5,000 or less, it is sparsely populated; some villages are as far as 75km from a major town. Despite the significance separation between population clusters, Turkana’s physicians are nonetheless fewer than most other African nations, numbering less than 1.4 per 10,000 people (versus an average ratio of 2.2 per 10,000 over the continent of Africa as a whole) .

The remoteness of the local villages commonly forces patients to walk 20km…

HEALTH REPORT – TURKANA CENTRAL/LOIMA DISTRICTS

District profile 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Administrative, Geographic and Physical description of the district 1.1.1 Administrative Boundaries

Turkana Central/Loima districts are one of the 60 plus districts of Rift Valley Province. It previously formed part of the former Turkana district before its sub-division into six districts. Internationally Turkana Central/Loima districts district boarders Uganda to the west. The district also shares the waters of Lake Turkana with Marsabit district to the east. It lies between latitudes 0o 45’ South and 1o 07’ South and longitudes 360 East and 370 27’ East.

…

We are off to a great start! RMF has managed to set up a local office in Lodwar District Hospital for administrative duties and to enable day to day running of the project. We have spent the past few weeks adequately furnishing the office to ensure an efficient working station for the project.

Real Medicine Foundation has also painted the whole pediatrics ward that comprises of the Acute Room, 3 Side Rooms, 2 Medical Ward, 1 Malnourished Children Ward and 1 Surgical Ward. The paint job took over a week as there were several facades to paint.

…

Health systems strengthening in Turkana, Kenya

Real Medicine Foundation kick-started a new project in Kenya this month – supporting Lodwar District Hospital in the Turkana region in fulfilling its role as a regional health referral center. A vast desert region of 450 000 migrant herders dispersed over 77 000 km, Northern Kenya’s Turkana region has roughly 6 people per square kilometer concentrated in small villages of about 5000 or less and located as far as 75 km from any major town. The remoteness of the local villages commonly forces patients to walk a minimum of 20 km…

Background:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Since December of 2009, RMF has had a long term partnership with Share International supporting the only clinic…

Summary of RMF/MMI-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under each project objective (note any changes from original plans):  

Background:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Since December of 2009, RMF has had a long term partnership with Share International supporting the only clinic…

Background:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Since December of 2009, RMF has had a long term partnership with Share International supporting the only clinic…

Background:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Photo: Mobile Clinic Outreach in Nayuu Village

Since December of 2009, RMF has had…

Project Background:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Photo: Patients waiting to be seen in Nayuu Village

Since December of 2009, RMF has had…

Project Background:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Photo: Boy diagnosed with Tuberculosis

Since December of 2009, RMF has had a long term partnership…

Project Goal:

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Photo: A patient requiring referral from mobile outreach to the Lodwar Hospital

Since December of 2009, RMF has…

Project Goal:

To improve the delivery of primary Health Care Services within the Turkana Drought Region in Northern Kenya, its capital Lodwar and the people living in the remote villages of Turkana, Kenya.

Project Objectives:

• Provide Medicines and Medical supplies to meet the needs of the targeted population • Increase Mobile/Outreach Clinics in the remote villages • Provide Medical Services at the Health Facility in Lodwar town: • Supporting the physical/medical needs of the targeted population • Home visiting • Referrals of patients to tertiary care hospital, and HIV and TB government clinics…

Project Goal:

To improve the delivery of primary Health Care Services within the Turkana Drought Region in Northern Kenya, its capital Lodwar and the people living in the remote villages of Turkana, Kenya.

Project Objectives:

• Provide Medicines and Medical supplies to meet the needs of the targeted population • Increase Mobile/Outreach Clinics in the remote villages • Provide Medical Services at Health Facility in Lodwar town: • Supporting the physical/medical needs of the targeted population •…

Project Goal:

To improve the delivery of primary Health Care Services within the Turkana Drought Region in Northern Kenya, its capital Lodwar and the people living in the remote villages of Turkana, Kenya.

Project Objectives:

• Provide Medicines and Medical supplies to meet the needs of the targeted population • Increase Mobile/Outreach Clinics in the remote villages • Provide Medical Services at Health Facility in Lodwar town: • Supporting the physical/medical needs of the targeted population • Home visiting • Referrals of patients to tertiary care clinic/hospital, HIV and…

Project Goal:

To improve the delivery of primary Health Care Services within the Turkana Drought Region in Northern Kenya, its capital Lodwar and the people living in the remote villages of Turkana, Kenya.

Project Objectives:

Progress Report 2nd Quarter Turkana, Kenya

Our initiative for medical and drought relief in Turkana continues successfully with our partnership with the new Share International Health Program (SIHP) and an additional grant from Medical Mission International for food and water.

Our project has been operating successfully for the past quarter delivering primary healthcare services within the drought ravaged Turkana region of Northern Kenya. Specifically, the SIHP medical staff has been delivering much needed healthcare services to Lodwar and the surrounding remote villages, including the…

Through our partnership with Share International (SI), the new Real Medicine Foundation – Share International Health Program has been operating successfully for the past few months delivering primary healthcare services within the drought ravaged Turkana region of Northern Kenya. Specifically, the medical staff has been delivering much needed healthcare services to Lodwar and the surrounding remote villages, including the following:

The September 7th NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, called to action Real Medicine Foundation to coordinate a supply chain for water and food aid and medical support to the region.

The following week, enroute to Juba Southern Sudan, I met with World Vision’s Associate Director of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Nairobi, Ms. Jacqueline Rioba, Food Aid Manager Mr. Rotuno Kipsang and Finance Manager Moses Munui to coordinate aid to the Turkana region. Dr. Martina Fuchs, RMF Founder and CEO would…

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/world/africa/08kenya.html

"A devastating drought is sweeping across Kenya, killing livestock, crops and children. It is stirring up tensions in the ramshackle slums where the water taps have run dry… In Baringo, in the Rift Valley, people are eating cactus because corn and wheat have gotten so expensive. In Nyeri, in central Kenya, some have turned to pig feed. …Turkana children, dressed in little more than a sheet, are hiking 20 miles for a gallon of water. Turkana men are abandoning families, simply vanishing into the desert because they cannot face the shame of being unable to feed…

From May 12 to May 17, 2008 Megan Yarberry and Beth Cole trained 14 The Omari Project (TOP) personnel in the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) 5 needle protocol proven useful for supporting drug withdrawal. Original plans were to train 20 staff from TOP and a regional private hospital, however due to work commitments, only 14 were trained. Five of the trainees are ex-addicts who have successfully completed the Omari Project’s detox program.

The Omari Project has residential, outpatient, and outreach services all along the coast for treatment and prevention of heroin addiction, and for prevention of HIV…