Suzanne Barkley, Dean and Lenore McCall

 

Our own Suzanne Barkley, Leonore and Dean McCall provided us a behind the scene view of the successes and challenges facing the people in the Kenya region supported by Harambee.

 

Suzanne told us she was drawn into this summer’s trip to Kenya by her interest in serving people with disabilities, because of her family experiences with a child and grandchild with disabilities. In Kenya she learned that the services we have in our country do not exist in Kenya.  Most families do not understand what is happening when their children show signs of  a disability; diagnoses are very limited.  Less than 10% of these people have access to medical services. There are many misconceptions about the causes of disabilities in Kenya.

 

Mortality for children under 5 is almost 50% and Malaria is the leading cause of death for them.  Malaria also causes many neurological disabilities, including hearing, sight, speech, seizures and more.  Our visitors to Kenya observed two family focus groups and they learned the many issues that make life especially difficult for disabled people. Bathroom facilities are rarely handicapped accessible, transportation is limited, and medical clinic visits are very difficult to get to.  If they do get to a clinic, the waiting lines are usually very long.

 

Lenore reported on the “Small Home”.  It is a home for disabled children, from toddler to age 20, where they are housed and cared for.  The facility they visited has the playground that our Rotary Interact clubs funded and the Conifer HS Interact Club built last summer.  Lenore created a video, featuring the children and staff of the Small Home.

 

Carol Carper offered the positive news that Sasa Harambee has the support of the sub-county (counties are comparable in size to our States) Minister of Health.  One suggestion from Carol that the folks with disabilities be moved to the front of the line at the health care services has been enacted.  Residents are spreading information to the families of disabled people about the services that are available to them.  Carol is also raising money to improve the training of health care workers to better diagnose disabilities.  There are many health policies changing with the information that Carol is bringing to the Minister.

 

The Sasa Harambee farm program is growing exponentially, providing income for the families and training farmer educators so that the program is expanding to other counties.  Leadership training is part of the long-term plan to keep these programs growing.  

 

 

Guests:  Carol Carper, Morti Longsdorf, Bambi Moss