Thursday, October 15, 2009

Arrow Web Hospital says Goodbye to Dr. Sharmini Ragunathan




Today the staff at Arrow Web Hospital said goodbye to Dr. Sharmini Ragunathan from Manchester Medical Center in the UK.  Right before her departure, an expectant mother, 6 months pregnant was admitted into the hospital in active labor.  Dr. Ragunathan was able to help her safely deliver a tiny baby boy.  Our staff was able to get the mother and child safely transferred to Pumwani Maternity Home, about 28 kms from the hospital.  He was placed into an incubator and the great news is that he is alive.  




Arrow Web Hospital is very much in need of a baby incubator so that we are able to manage situations such as this one effectively at our facility.  We are very grateful to Dr. Ragunathan for her work at the hospital during the past month and for your support in helping us handle this high risk birth today.  We hope to share more from Dr. Ragunathan about her experience once she is settled back at home.






Wednesday, October 14, 2009

To the readers

As a Documentary Filmmaker/Journalist, one of the pieces of advise we are given is to never get directly involved with the subject or subjects that we are filming or interviewing. I never understood this logic, until I arrived in Kenya to shoot the Arrow Web project. I have committed to write a couple more blog entries with the emphasis on needed hospital equipment and volunteers, my intentions are to still fulfill my commitment. However, this particular blog is written for myself and the thousands upon thousands of children that live in the Kayole-Soweto and even Kibera area. It is written for the millions of kids worldwide that continue to live and survive in harsh, politically corrupt and socially insensitive environments.

Since my return to the States I have not been able to find comfort in my own familiar surroundings. My mind is constantly replaying the images, the voices and the pleas from the people that I met while in Kenya. As a Filmmaker/Journalist I did exactly what I was advised not to do...I got close and personal with the people that I was there to film and interview. The project quickly became less about the film and became more about what I needed to do to find a way to help and protect. There is an old saying, "bite off more than you can chew...then chew it"! Have I bit of more than I can chew? As a society we have failed. We have, and I say WE, as in all of us..have failed. My opinions do not reflect the opinions of the hospital or those that host this site, these are my opinions based on my own personal experiences. I have made a decision to take a few more days and sit in limbo trying to make sense of the message I am trying to relay to the readers. I ask for your patience during this time. One thing is certain, serious attention needs to be given to Arrow Web and the surrounding area. I have said before, I chose not to live my life out of sight, out of mind. I never have nor will I ever.