JANUARY 2025 MISSION TRIP
In January, Tom and Jill Moller visited the area in West Pokot, Kenya served by Grace4Kenya. We are pleased to report that all four branches of Grace4Kenya are thriving and looking for ways to grow and serve even more people. We will cover each branch individually with a separate spotlight newsletter: health, education, faith, and then opportunity. This newsletter will focus on health. We are grateful for all your financial support for Grace4Kenya and for the prayers that carried us through a busy, fruitful, and safe mission trip.
SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH
The health branch of Grace4Kenya consists of three parts: the BFC Medical Services Hospital and Clinic in Bendera, the Mobile Medical Clinics that serve six rural villages, and Community Health Evangelism that also serves six villages. Grace4Kenya awarded two major capital grants for healthcare in 2024. One was for an ambulance that has significantly improved the hospital’s delivery of care. Patients can be transported to other hospitals for CT scans and MRIs, referred for major surgery, or admitted to an ICU, all services not currently offered at the BFC hospital. Also, patients can be transported from their home, an accident site, or the Kapenguria County Hospital to the BFC Hospital. During our brief visit, the County Hospital's surgical suite was not functional, so the ambulance was used to transport five mothers to the BFC Hospital for c-sections, all in one day!
The other major capital grant was for a new Landcruiser for the Outreach Programs of Community Health Evangelism and Mobile Clinics. The previous Land Cruiser, bought in used condition in 2012, and became too unreliable for use outside of town. Supplies are put on the roof rack so the vehicle can carry as many as nine staff members.
A brand-new mother we met at the hospital told us she chose to deliver at BFC Hospital because she heard they provide such good care. She said everyone was friendly, cheerful, and did an excellent job. She was especially pleased with the caring and compassionate doctors. She even liked the food! At the Government County Hospital, a patient’s family must bring them food, clothes, and clean linens. At the BFC Hospital patients receive food, linens, and even pajamas as part of their care.
During 2024, the hospital started engaging consulting doctors employed by the Government County Hospital. Each has assigned days they come to the BFC Hospital to provide private patient care. Their availability to patients is listed on a Specialized Clinic sign located just outside the hospital. There is no unused space at the BFC Hospital so consulting doctors use an administrative office which displaces a BFC employee. The shortage of hospital space is the result of the hospital's rapid growth and development over the past four years. Additional space is at the top of the hospital's capital requests for 2025.
Since the BFC Hospital does not have a proper radiology department, ultrasound equipment, funded in 2024 by Grace4Kenya, makes a world of difference. The cart-based ultrasound used in the hospital was purchased with a grant from Grace4Kenya this past year. It is used over 100 times per month, so often that the hospital had to hire a second sonographer.
In addition to the cart-based unit, two Point of Care Ultrasounds (POCUS) were donated by a third party directly to the medical unit. These portable POCUS units include a typical ultrasound probe and an iPad loaded with sonography software that displays and stores the patient's ultrasound images. One POCUS unit is used in surgery at the hospital. The second POCUS is used in mobile clinics for prenatal care to identify any risks and confirm gestation. These mothers, who live in a very rural and impoverished area, typically lack a calendar to record the date of their last period which is used to calculate gestational age. Instead, they guess gestation by considering how many market days (which are held every Saturday) have passed since their last menstrual period.
As part of the monthly mobile clinic in the village of Kameris, healthcare was also provided to the local government school. This part of Kenya is so arid that many families had left the village and temporarily moved across the border to Uganda in search of better grazing areas for their livestock. While the school typically has 208 students and 3 teachers, only 46 students were still attending the school during the January, dry season. All children received deworming medicine and Vitamin A to protect their eyesight. All were also given a carton of milk and a muffin. Children that were sick were then treated at the mobile clinic.
At the clinic, villagers waited in the shade of a large tree to be seen by one of the two doctors in the medical tent. Behind the tree, the Landcruiser used to transport the medical team, equipment, and supplies was set up as a temporary pharmacy. The village chief kept track of those needing care and calling them when it was their turn to see the doctor.
Each mobile clinic has several stations including prenatal with ultrasound, well baby with immunizations, pediatrics for sick kids, urgent care for adults, laboratory testing, and the pharmacy. Everyone in this very impoverished area of Kenya is seen by a doctor or nurse, sent for lab tests if needed, and given medication for free. The average cost of providing all these services including the medical staff, medicine, and transportation to the village is only $2.50 per person. Over 200 people are served during a typical mobile clinic. Pictured under a tree is a lab tech testing for malaria, typhoid, HIV, syphilis, and urinary tract infections.
Toddlers, who are generally too wiggly to stand still on a scale, are hung from a tree in a harness to measure their weight. Each child’s weight, height, and head circumference is recorded on their chart each month and those needing supplemental food are referred to the County Health department. The mothers are responsible for keeping each child’s medical record and bringing it to the mobile clinic or to register for school.
Our dear friends and longtime supporters of the medical ministry, Mike and Susan Williams, joined us in West Pokot for the medical ministry days. Their previous trip to Kenya with us was in 2012. They were amazed with the growth of the hospital, mobile clinics, and CHE over the past 13 years. Shown in one picture is Mika, our trustworthy driver, along with Rachel Kendagor and Susan Williams. Rachel, a nurse by training, oversees patient care at the hospital and clinic 24/7, supervises mobile clinics, and coordinates the CHE program. Susan Williams went to nursing school with Jill and rejoiced in how the work and growth of Grace4Kenya has glorified God.
Shown in the other picture are Samuel Kendagor, Tom Moller, and Mike Williams. Samuel wears many hats as a pastor with Bible Faith Church, CEO of the BFC hospital, preacher at mobile clinics, and secretary of the BFC Church Council. Tom Moller, president of the Grace4Kenya board, has served alongside Jill in the medical ministry since 2009, primarily by mentoring Rachel and Samuel in business matters. Mike Williams recently retired from many years of consulting for hospitals in the US on finance and administration. (Jill Moller also wears many hats in her role as Executive Director of Grace4Kenya and is absent from the photos because she also served as the trip photographer!)
Grace4Kenya is a 501c3 tax deductible Charitable Foundation that provides financial grants to medical, educational, evangelical, and vocational faith-based missions in Kenya.
Our Contact Information
Grace4Kenya Charitable Foundation
7750 Maryland Ave.
P.O. Box 11502
Clayton, MO 63105
+1-314-920-1614
Grace4Kenya.org