“Your nutrition program is just amazing; you are doing a magnificent job! We refer all our malnourished children to you!” This compliment by the head physician of our health district counting 400.000 inhabitants is a confirmation that we are on the right track as Keru Yakaar. There is still inadequate care for women and young children in the clinic’s surrounding area.
Pregnant women are not getting the necessary care, there are few facilities for family planning and we are the only ones for miles around who treat malnourished babies. It is clear that our dream of a Mother and Child Center is springing from the harsh reality of every day life.
With gratitude I look back at what we have achieved at the clinic in the past 2 years. Since a year we offer contraceptive care, prenatal care since 7 months and the new nutrition program was launched 2 months ago. Moreover, the laboratory and pharmacy have extended and we have performed about 60 ultrasounds. The nurses have been trained in reproductive health and we have had 10 specific teaching sessions on the topic at the clinic. About 120 women received prenatal care and 45 children are no longer malnourished.
Every week the number of patients increases, and so does our staff; an obstetrician has been recruited, an additional nurse appointed, a pastoral worker added to the staff and a doctor employed to replace me during my leave. All these developments lead to an urgent lack of space and we even think about constructing some more wards! During our time in Holland we will explain more about our plans and how you can participate.
