Club News
Added on April 26, 2007
A Trip to Heaven’s Valley
Touring the venue of our Spina Bifida Matching Grant Project
By President Diamond Lalji
At this point, lets bring in Rtn. Dan Poenaru. A holder of a PhD in peadiatrics Dan is a man who without doubt lives the Rotarian motto of Serviec Above Self. Dan abandoned a rewarding surgical practice back in Canada and has settled very well in Kijabe where apart from performing surgeries at the hospital in addition to more than 15 outposts that stretch as far as the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps also plays a crucial role in the hospital’s management. Indeed, we are glad he is part of us.
The hospital’s mission is to provide excellent medical, surgical and spiritual care for the disabled, disadvantaged, and other suffering children and training for health care workers in the developing world for the glory of God. BKKH is a ministry of Bethany Relief and Rehabilitation International.
Undeniably the hospital is clearly fulfilling its mission from what we saw. During a very enlightening and heart touching tour of the facility that was facilitated jointly by Rtn. Dan Poenaru and Dr. Dick Bransford (another Godsend doctor and founder of the hospital but more in a little while) we see saw children with Spina Bifida and were also shown one who had just been operated on.
The trip was organized by the International Service Committee with Director Nick Hutchinson and Dan laying the groundwork. Also present was Rtn. Bill Gray a man with a perennial smile in his face from the Rotary Club of Catarraqui Kingston who was in town for this special event. Our Assistant Governor James Gachui and that lovely Anne were also present along with Rtn. Atia Yahya, Rtn. Christian Knochenhauer, Rtn. David Wafula who made it to Kijabe in less than an hour and was accompanied by Ms. Gladys Tetteh and Ms. Eme Essien. Rtr. Juliette Mutheu, from the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central along with PDG Vijay V. from Sri Lanka, PP Catherine Mogambi from the Rotary Club of Milimani, Kevin Mududa and myself were also there.
At the start of our tour we met Dr. Dick Bransford a man who speaks passionately and in well measured tones. In his introduction, he explained in detail about spina bifida including the technical and medical aspects of it and gave us a brief history of BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital. Spina Bifida he told us is caused by the lack of folic acid in diet and this can simply be solved by adding it to maize flour. Founded 25 years ago, Bethany is actually the name of his daughter.
The 50 bed facility is a centre of excellence in health care with very effective and erudite nurses who handle most patients both in the hospital and in the field. Rtn. Dan also took us on a tour of the hospital and informed us that the hospital offers specialized peadiatric surgical and rehabilitative services in neurological problems like hydrocephalus, encephalocele, intestinal problems, abdominal problems, ENT problems including cleft lips and palate, cystic hygroma, urinary problems including hypospadias and bladder exstrophy and burn reconstruction.
After the tour we all gathered for a brief meeting where Rtn. Nick Hutchinson conducted the session. The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Justus Marete expressed his appreciation for Rotary’s support and partnership. Mr. Malcom Robinson the Executive Director of BethanyKids and who may just be related to Bill Gray owing to his perpetual smile thanked Rotary for the visit and the partnership with Bethanykids and captured the mood of the day when he said that the project was giving hope to children and families who had none.
Rtn. Bill Gray gave a brief history on how he and Dan met and said it was a thrill, honour and privileged to finally see the project off the ground. Yours truly then said a few words and announced the club’s contribution of $2,000 towards the project. Our AG James Gachui thanked the hospital for hosting the project and praised the partnership that he said was going to change lives. He also thanked Bill Gray for facilitating the project.
We then had a tea/coffee break and fellowship and many thanks to Gillie and Rtn. Nick Hutchinson for the snacks and Dan and his staff for the beverages. Thereafter we visited Rtn. Dan’s residence which had a one of those pleasant view of the Rift Valley and then departed.
Many thanks to Rtn. Nick Hutchinson and Rtn. Dan Poenaru for organizing the trip and we also express our deep gratitude to the staff of the hospital, Bethanykids, Rtn. Bill Gray and his club and all the participants.
Diamond Lalji, President
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