Missions

Laikipia, Kenya

September 2007

BABY UPDATE: 60 babies born to date at the clinic.

August 2007

The collaboration of Dr. Din & the Global Foundation for International Cardiac Services (GFICS) and PCCHF resulted in the first local mission to Ol Moran. An all-Kenyan venture, the medical team focused on eye & dental care with previously booked ENT cases. The team consisted of an ENT, Dr. Mujahid Din; an ophthalmologist, Dr Ahmed Parkar; a dentist- Dr. Allan Mulandi and an anesthesiologist, Samna Mir. The doctors were assisted by four Nairobi-based nurses and one nurse from Kinamba.

The team performed: 8 cataract surgeries under local anesthesia, treated 59 dental patients with 1 or more extractions. The ENT performed a tympanoplasty surgery, surgical repair of a perforated eardrum, and numerous cyst removals.

A second local mission is scheduled for October.

June 2007

The Paul Chester Foundation completed a full surgical and medical mission in Ol Moran, Laikipia, Kenya. The mission included 27 volunteers providing full medical screening and patient follow-up for one week.

The medical team consisted of a general surgeon, Dr. Frost; two anesthesiologists, Dr. Park & Dr. Bill Chester, one pediatrician, Dr. Carol Plotsky; an internist, Dr. John Plotsky & five nurse specialists who were critical in making the program safe and effective. The logistics personnel were vital in keeping supplies, communication, and equipment organized for the clinical team. Supporting these efforts were eight students who served an essential role screening patients and scribing.

The team saw and treated 1000 medical cases and operated on 55 patients. The surgeries included cataract and trachoma surgery, thyroid, hernias, and mass removals of lipomas, cysts, solid tumors. Several cases of children with pneumonia, severe dehydration, and potentially lethal infections were treated and on follow-up had responded well to our interventions. One patient who was blind for over 5 years greeted his surgeon with the following (in Jemps tribal language) after removing his eye patch: "My God, you are a white man!" He was extremely grateful for PCCHF's services, as were the other patients - some who traveled over 40 miles in rough, dangerous terrain to reach Ol Moran.

The mission's other triumph was the continued expansion of our collaboration with local Nairobi medical and surgical specialist, Dr. Mujahid Din. Dr Din (ENT) has organized a local team of volunteer physicians and support staff (nurses, biomedical technicians) who will begin operating a "local mission" every other month. Each mission will include pre-screening of surgical patients and referral of more complicated non-surgical patients for consultation. The local nurse practitioners and midwives will be afforded on-site consults and education by medical specialists from Nairobi and other large cities, with the intent that they will be better able to care for the community on a daily basis.

As the Ol Moran project expands, we hope to refine the role of the Paul Chester Foundation to one of logistic, financial, and highly specialized support of a primarily local surgical and medical team. This will extend the impact of our work by keeping logistics and transportation costs to a minimum, allowing us to bring even better supplies and equipment that would otherwise be unavailable in this remote community.

We have also made the first installment of a solar-powered pump to run a community well. The current wind-powered system pumps about 500-1500 liters per day, and none when there is no wind. The solar system will increase the average output to 4500-5500 liters per day and will go a long way to bringing potable water to each villager, possibly impacting on the health of the community as much as our medical missions.

January 2007

PCCHF's January mission established the efficiency & capability of the medical facility to service the community of Ol Moran.

Primary care patients totaled over 300 with some receiving surgical care. The medical team of doctors & nurses performed 37 surgeries with local anesthesia and 15 surgeries with general anesthesia, a first in Ol Moran.

The Foundation has liaised with Dr. Mujahid Din, an ENT surgeon from The Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. Dr. Din will be assisting in the establishment of an ongoing local mission. Funds permitting, Dr. Din will coordinate 10 missions a year to the clinic.

Over the next year, The Paul Chester Children's Hope Foundation will also be assisting in the update of the water supply for the clinic by replacing the current well, which only provides 500 liters of water per day, to a solar pump which will generate up 4000 liters per day.

August 2006

PCCHF's 10 day return mission to Laikipia, Kenya marked the completion & opening of the Ol Moran Maternity Clinic and Health Center. This landmark mission was made possible by contributions from our May 2006 NY Benefit at Cain which enabled the completion & addition of an operating and consultation room at the Ol Moran Maternity Clinic and Health Center.

Funds raised went to the purchase & installation of a solar power & water system, international shipping of donated OR equipment, in-country transportation of people & supplies, & a donation to Gallmann Foundation for maternity expenses.

The team reassembled over 4000 lbs of medical equipment and supplies, including an entire operating room transported from the US to Kenya. After installing and testing the equipment, surgeries were performed in a solar powered operating room.

Over 300 patients with eye and ear diseases were examined and treated & a large percentage returned from September 2005 mission for eye exams. Many were referred to return back in January for possible surgery or re-examination. Others were seen for general medical conditions, and routine pregnancy exams.

The Ol Moran Maternity Clinic and Health Center launched on August 20th 2006. Opening ceremonies included dance & music performed by women from Kikuyu, Samburu, Turkana and several other tribes from the region along with a beautiful dedication to Paul Chester and Emanuele Pirri-Gallmann.

The Gallmann Foundation has employed a full time pharmacy tech, a security / ground person & the government has provided a nurse midwife.

UPDATE:
As of December 8, 24 babies have been born in this facility!

September 2005

Noted author (I Dreamed of Africa) and conservationist Kuki Gallmann approached the Foundation with concerns about the increased occurrance of trachoma, a bacterial infection by chlamydia trachoma that results in eyelid and eventually corneal scarring and blindness. The realization that the blinding consequence of trachoma can be relatively easily diagnosed and treated led us to believe that establishing a medical presence in Kenya's Rift Valley should be a high priority for our mission.

During the 10-day Kenya mission, the PCCHF team was provided treatment to over 250 individuals from 4 surrounding tribes, with outreach facilitated through the Gallmann Africa Conservancy. In addition to the optical treatments, the mission underscored the pressing need for gynocological services among these communities. Toward that goal, the Foundation has committed to partner with the Gallmann Africa Conservancy on a long-term initiative to provide ongoing family care and education to the Laikipia natives.

For more information on the Gallmann Africa Conservancy, visit www.gallmannkenya.org

Quito, Ecuador

February 2005

PCCHF's inaugural mission focused on corrective surguries for children suffering from deformities such as cleft lip, cleft palate and club foot. Working in partnership with the respected aid organization INNFA and local specialists, the 22-person volunteer team performed over 100 free surguries at Quito's Military Hospital.

Through the support of INNFA, the team was able to reach out to families in the remote villages and rural provinces of Northern Ecuador. Beneficiaries received transportation, family accommodations and post-surgical examinations free of charge. Above all, dozens of young people were given a rare opportunity to eradicate the discomfort and stigma of their birth defects.