Club News
Added on April 11, 2006
Our Trip to Kilimambogo
By PE Diamond Lalji
Fellow Rotarians,
It's 9.34am on Saturday, 8th April 2006 and we depart the Grand Regency Hotel parking on a brand new Citi Hoppa bus. Thanks to our group leader Rtn. Halima Shaiyah. Our driver is the polite Joram Ng’ang’a.
Present are Rotarians Jerry Owuor, Sudesh Walia, Atia Yahya, Rhoda Orengo, Romy Madan, James Mwangi, Halima Shaiyah, Sally Gitoho, David Wafula and myself. Along the way we pick Rtn. Jessica Kazina and her spouse David. Owing to the rains President Eric Krystall and Rtn. Moh’d Rahemtulla are unable to make it. On board are Rotaractors who include the hilarious and comical duo of Chris Otera & Dan Alego. There's also Steven Ogola, Steven Omondi, Steven Biko, the birthday girl Emily Nyagaki, Elizabeth Mwangi and Kevin Mududa. Rotaractor Dr. Benjamin Wambugu and his colleagues Dr. Gilbert Mulanda and Ms. Marilyn Omondi, Ms. Susan Karanja and Ms. Esther Munatia who are 4th Year Medical Students at the University of Nairobi Medical School are also present.
It’s an enjoyable journey as Rotarians and Rotaractors get a chance to chat and bond.
We arrive at 11.15am and the jovial Sister Mary Casimir welcomes us and thanks the Club for support given to the hospital especially the dental clinic. She also acknowledges support given by the Rotary Club of Thika who have donated drugs and food. We meet Dr. Martial Kambumbu the Medical Officer in Charge of the Hospital and the Secretary of the Rotary Club of Thika and Dr. Shashidhara who is the current Rotary Dentist in residence.
In return we thank Sister Casimir for welcoming us. We introduce ourselves and present a 14 inch coloured TV and thanks to Rtn. Jitu Brahmbhatt for purchasing it and Rtn. Romy and Rtn Atia for procuring it. Next is a bale of maize and a bale of wheat flour courtesy of Rtn. Nick Hutchinson. Thanks Nick! In addition, we present cooking oil, biscuits and other foodstuffs. We also present the 4 Way Test poster and many thanks to Rtn. Kanu Devani for producing it.
We then tour the facility. Sister Casimir informs us that the hospital was founded in 1946 and its official name is The Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital Kilimambogo and is run by the Catholic Church. During the tour we meet some patients. The compassion of Rotarians is demonstrated when an impromptu Harambee nets Kshs.7,600 to bail out a patient who was unable to be discharged owing to a bill of Kshs.4,700.
The Rotary Club of Thika led by William Mwangi (President), Linda Longstat (Charter President), Dr. Steven Muguchia, Mugo Kirika, Joe Thiga, Jimmy Gitau, and Dr. Martial Kambumbu along with 16 Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Arts and Technology) join us and we spend some wonderful times in fellowship and getting to know each other. They inform us that they have been keen to meet us and believe that this was the beginning of a great partnership.
At about 1.00pm we have lunch and more fellowship with our partners from Thika along with the Rotaractors. Our meal consists of sodas, samosas, mandazis, spring rolls and fruit salad. Thanks to Rotarians Sudesh, Halima, Sally, the Rotary Club of Thika and the hospital.
Earlier, within minutes of arrival, Dr. Benjamin Wambugu and his team rapidly set up a medical camp. Nairobi Central and JKUAT Rotaractors provide backup to the doctors. Vice President Atia Yahya acquires new skills by assisting in writing prescriptions and dispensing drugs. Rtn. Sally Gitoho later takes over from her in the same capacity. Meanwhile, Rtn. David Wafula learns how to check blood pressure. Even our driver Joram Ng’ang’a joins in and assists with registration. About 100 people are examined and at 2.45pm the doctors close shop and hand over to the hospital to continue.
We wish to express our most profound thanks to the generosity of Rtn. Moh’d Rahemtulla for donating the drugs along with Vice President Atia Yahya’s donation of a box of drugs.
Sometimes after 3.00pm we bid everybody goodbye. Sister Casimir, Dr. Shashidhara, Dr. Kambumbu, the patients and the staff are most grateful for our visit. Certainly we promise to return.
Before we shuffle into the bus we sing Happy Birthday to Rotaractor Emily Nyagaki. She is showered with sweets by Rtn. Sally Gitoho. Her fellow Rotaractors shower her with water!
We get on the bus and our hardworking doctors get a chance to eat something as we cruise back. All are elated at the successful tour but wished we had adequate time. Along the way we are stopped by the boys in blue. One of them gets in and says we will be fined Kshs.500 for not belting up! Luckily, the Rotaractors hilariously charm him and he lets us go! And we also learn some new terms from the Rotaractors. Rotaractor Chris Otera tells us that the meaning of PILSNER is People In Luoland See Nothing Expect Raila!
We get back to Nairobi safely some minutes after 5.00pm. It’s the conclusion of a successful tour to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital Kilimambogo and one of the finest fellowships we have experienced in the family of Rotary. Special thanks to the organisers led by Rotarians Halima Shaiyah, Atia Yahya, Romy Madan and Stephen Mwenesi for making it happen. Lots of photos were taken and will soon be circulated.
Yours in Service,
Diamond Lalji, PE
PS:
Some pictures of this trip will be added here, shortly...
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