Kaimosi’s joy at donations from British Friends

Friday 13th of 4th month was a lucky day for staff at Kaimosi Friends Hospital as they took delivery of over £500 worth of equipment donated by British Quakers.

The equipment included stethoscopes, thermometers and surgeons’ boots as British Friends arrived in Kenya for the World Conference of Friends, which took place in Kenya from 17/04 to 25/04.

The items were handed over by Jez Smith of London West Area Meeting (Westminster Local Meeting) who is visiting Kenya for the world conference. “These gifts have come from Friends across Britain,” said Jez. “I hope that this may be the start of a new longer-standing relationship between the Quaker witness here and contributions Friends in Britain could make. Ways of being involved could include volunteering at the hospital and facilitating gifts of surplus equipment from hospitals in the UK.”

Jez’s inspiration for collecting the equipment was his own recent experience of good medical care at his local hospital. “We have some great doctors and nurses in Britain and so I felt that it would be a good idea to support staff doing their best in more challenging circumstances. When I heard about the work that Quakers are doing in Kaimosi through their hospital, I knew that I wanted to help.”

Nursing Officer Irene Gulavi said: “We have had the previous surgeons’ boots for over 20 years so you can imagine that they were getting worn out. We had been praying for new ones and God has found a way through British Friends.”

Agatha Ganira, Comprehensive Care Coordinator for HIV and AIDS at Kaimosi Friends Hospital said: “I would like to thank you for the stethoscopes. They are a basic item but until now we have had to share them across the wards. Thanks to these donations we will have a stethoscope in every department. I am pleased that they have been branded ‘Kaimosi Friends’ Hospital’ as this means that no one can take them away from us. Thank you very much and God bless you.”

 Officially the hospital serves around 18,000 people locally but people also often come from further away to be treated. The current buildings were opened in the 1965 and work first began at Kaimosi hospital in 1911. Since 2006 Kaimosi Friends Hospital has been under the auspices of Friends United Meeting.

Further donations can be made for Kaimosi Friends Hospital via the online giving facility at http://www.fum.org/contributions/index.html and indicating that you wish to support the hospital (please also mention Nayler).

Kaimosi Friends Mission Hospital staff accepting the donations

Kaimosi Friends Mission Hospital staff accepting the donations. Photo: Tom Gates

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