Friends of Arrow Web Hospital: Ambulance

Sunday, December 4, 2011

MORE NEWS ABOUT MELISSA'S DREAM

Local publicity for Melissa

We are pleased to let you know that the funds raised via the Sunsuper website have now been transferred to us. Melissa's dream to fund lifesaving resusitation equipment for our newborn babies has been featured in two of her local newspapers the Kiama Independent and the Illawarra Mercury.

Bram is now researching the most suitable resusitation equipment for Arrow Web Hospital so that we can install it as soon as possible.

The mattresses arrive

The mattresses and covers which were bought with the money donated for the container have arrived. This will make a real difference to the comfort of patients and the mattress covers will help reduce the spread of infection.

Thank you to everyone who kindly agreed to the "container funds" being used for this purpose.

Bram is still awaiting approval from the Ministry of Health for use of our ambulance which was converted from a second hand mutatu (also from the "container funds").

Unloading the new mattresses outside Arrow Web Hospital

November visitors

Last month we welcomed Judith Barna a nurse from Germany, who came with her two colleagues from Kikuyu town orphanage. Judith hopes to visit us again next year.

Bram and our visitors on the roof of Arrow Web Hospital

"Sorry Bram not your size!"

Thursday, October 27, 2011

A HAPPY ENDING TO THE CONTAINER SAGA

An ambulance for Arrow Web Hospital

For those of you who have been following our blog, you may remember that Arrow Kenya board had to make a very difficult decision in August, to give up on our project to ship recycled medical equipment from the UK to Kenya. Although many of our UK supporters had managed to fundraise £1800 to pay the shipping charges, our main donor pulled out at the last minute. Everyone was really disappointed as we had been working on this for over two years with Aid to Hospitals Worldwide http://www.a2hw.org.uk , and Alison Lowndes from AVIF http://www.avif.org.uk/.

We contacted the UK donors and asked them if they would like their donations returned or used to pay for the conversion of a second hand matatu (minibus) to an ambulance and for new mattresses and covers for hospital beds. As we need to transfer about 20-30 patients per month to larger specialist hospitals, the Kenyan National Hospital Insurance Fund inspectors had told us that an ambulance was a priority. So, in August our local garage set to work on the matatu; meeting the NHIF standards which included a bed, water supply and first aid equipment.

Working on the inside of the ambulance after the seats had been taken out

Our new ambulance - fit for purpose

The ambulance is now being checked over by the Ministry of Health before we can start using it. This will make a big difference to patients who have had to be transferred in Bram's car or by board members in the past.

Thank you again to Alison Lowndes and all our very generous UK donors who made this possible.

Melissa's dream is still in the lead

With just over three days of voting to go, Melissa's dream to fund urgently needed resuscitation equipment for newborn babies at Arrow Web Hospital, is still in the lead.

http://sunsuperdreams.com.au/dreams/popular

With 4892 votes so far, we are nearly 1000 votes ahead of our nearest rival. However, a lot can happen in a few days, so please keep voting and pass on the link to your friends. Your response to this has been overwhelming- so a big thank you to everyone who has supported us, especially to Melissa Ostoga from Australia. Melissa started supporting us via our "village" on Nabuur, a global network of volunteers.

http://www.nabuur.com/en/village/kayole-soweto

Melissa's dream will help ensure all mothers will deliver healthy babies at Arrow Web Hospital

OUR CORE VALUES

Transparency and Accountability:

To be open and take responsibility for the affairs of the organization and make it easy for all stakeholders to understand the processes and action.

Honesty and Integrity:

To be principled and fair in service delivery and conduct all activities with unfailing commitment to high professional standards.

Teamwork:

To create a climate of trust and respect that empowers the staff to develop to the fullest by encouraging excellence innovation and shared ideas.

Innovation and Creativity:

Endeavouring to cope with constant change by cultivating a culture of creativity and innovation among staff and the local community and utilizing the most modern technology in the achievement of the organization objectives.

Quality Service Delivery:

To provide high quality and sustainable services which are timely and affordable.

Commitment to Duty:

To display commitment in whatever we do.

Non-discrimination:

To accord equal opportunity to all within and outside the organization.

Diligence:

To display steady effort and show of concern of the community.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH ARROW WEB HOSPITAL

Volunteer with us Online

We always welcome the help of volunteers both online and at the hospital. Nabuur.com is an online volunteering platform that links Neighbours (online volunteers) with Villages (local communities) in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Connected through Nabuur.com, neighbours and local communities learn about each other, share ideas and find solutions to local issues. Everybody has something to offer, and everything is done online. Do you have a little spare time and the desire to make a difference? You can contribute via http://www.nabuur.com and find Arrow Web Hospital's virtual village here:

http://www.nabuur.com/en/village/kayole-soweto.

Volunteers are also always needed to help with the following;

Community Outreach

Develops methods and opportunities to spread the message of Arrow Web Hospital, educate the community and elicit their active support. Recognizing the need for mobile clinic services and enhancing relationships with the community, Arrow Web staff members and volunteers, will develop and implement strategies to maximize community involvement and formalize partnerships between the community and healthcare workers on the ground both locally and nationally.

Event Planning

Deals specifically with planning and implementing events that will enhance our image, promote our message, and invite participation of others. This group will be responsible for developing an on-going calendar of events and will explore ways to involve the local and national community.

Fundraising

Assists in addressing the financial needs for Arrow Web Hospital through the design and implementation of fundraising activities both in our local communities and nationally. This is a critical undertaking and impacts directly on our ability to build capacity and respond to the needs of the local communities.

Procurement

Focuses on acquiring much of the medical supplies and material needed to support Arrow Web Hospital and respond to requests for assistance. There is an overwhelming need to involve as many as possible in this effort.

Research

Engages in research to help the hospital identify resources and strategic partnerships that support the mission of hospital and ongoing sustainability.

If you would like to inquire about current volunteer opportunities please e-mail info@arrowwebhospital.org with "Volunteer" in the subject heading. Please include your full contact information, professional background and what type of opportunity you are interested in.