NEWS FLASH:

THE MAKUPA HOSPITAL

News Flash 1:

SHELTER FOR KENYAN I.D.P's

Makupa Hospital provides shelter for internally displaced persons...

Makupa hospital in Mombasa has provided shelter for over 200 families displaced as a result of the post election violence that hit parts of the country.

It is the only private hospial in Mombasa that provided free medical care and shelter to the IDPs in the region. The hospital networked with other organisations like red cross, government and other donors to provide foodstuffs, clothes, mattresses and general medical care.

Victims were also offered counselling services by Amani counselling centre, Anglican and Catholic churches. The IDPs were from Changamwe, Mikindani, Mishomoroni, Magongo, Chaani and Diani among other areas.

Of the 200 victims 141 were children under 18years, adult female 50, udult male 41. The most vulnerable groups were children and women. although victims have since left Makupa hospital they are still in need of special rehabilitation.

Most of their homes were looted or burnt down and without financial support they were unlikely to resume normal life soon.

Dr. Muinga Chokwe, the Makupa hospital's director says he took the initiative to accomodate the displaced persons as part of the hospital's social corporate responsibility and giving back to the community.

The hospital he says has in the past taken similar intervention measures especially accident victims who are normally dumped at the hospital's doorstep due to the institution's proximity to the accident prone Makupa causeway.

He says for this reason the hospital is seeking to upgrade its equipment together with a strategic partner(s) in order to attend to trauma, accidents and emergencies that continues to increase.

The hospital is currently involved in identifying children who were affected by the violence and have not been able to resume schooling for purposes of appropriate intervention. This is a joint project with various NGOs and the government through the children's department.

News Flash 2:

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH UNIT (BEMEHU) AT THE MAKUPA HOSPITAL
Matibabu Ya Afya Ya Akili Na Madawa YA Kulevya

In response to the rising concern regarding mental health and particular, Drugs / Alcohol Abuse, Depression, Suicide And Para – Suicide, Childhood Emotional And Conduct Disorders Etc, The Makupa Hospital has launched a ‘BETTER MENTAL HEALTH UNIT’ (BEMEHU) within the Hospital in order to address these matters in greater details.

Various other disciplines like occupational therapy, physiotherapy, counseling, and social work (Psychiatry) are intergrated with specific cases during rehabilitation.

The services are available on both out patient and in-patient basis where applicable. The functions of the unit go hand in hand with general medicare given at The Makupa Hospital for the past 17 years. Other Mental health specialists will also have access to the facility on arrangement with the management. Better Mental Health Unit (BEMEHU) concept will help spur the Coastal region into addressing these medico – social problems more professionally and thereby promote Better Mental Health.

Our Reporter

News Flash 3:

MAKUPA HOSPITAL – SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AFTERMATH OF DISPUTED KENYA GENERAL ELECTION 2007
Emergency Intervention Memo

CLASH VICTIMS RESCUE PROGRAMME 18/01/2008

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The events unfolding in the immediate aftermath of the General Election created a situation that called for emergency intervention measures by all kind-hearted, peace-loving and spirit-led individuals, corporate and civil society entities touched and roused by the wail and desperate sound of distress clamoring for rescue and refuge, to sacrifice their wherewithal and help the government mitigate the anguish and suffering experienced by a kindred section of the Kenyan Society. It was an ultra-emergency situation.

Makupa Hospital established a temporary emergency refuge for the rescue of affected victims.

Makupa Hospital undertook both residence for the victims and treatment for the physically injured and related diseases at no cost to the victims.

There were three cases with fully blown AIDS and were referred to Coast General Hospital and Port Reitz for further treatment.

REGISTERED VICTIMS

The first group of fleeing victims began arriving at the emergency rescue centre from the 2nd of January and by the 5th of the month, the centre had registered a total of 215 displaced victims as follows:-

CHILDREN

Children under 18 ………………………………… 141

Children under 12 ………….……………………… 56

Children under 5 ……………...………………….. 48

ADULTS

Female …………………………………….......…..50

Male ……………………………………………….. 41

Total ……………………………………………...…91

Registered population …………………………..215

DONORS

Individuals and institutions that rose to the Center’s SOS call, and facilitated the rescue effort by donating foodstuffs and other materials necessities as follows: -

FOODSTUFFS, DOMESTIC & SUNDRY CONTRIBUTIONS

The Kenya Red Cross Society
World Vision Kenya
Southern Cross Safaris Ltd
Bomu Medical Centre
Mugethi Gitau Kaggiah and Family
Dr. J. M. Muturi
Mombasa Catholic Cathedral
Kaluworks (Pardini) Ltd
Sri Sthys Sai Centre

COUNSELING AND ADVICE

Kenya Inst. Of Professional Counseling

Amani Counseling Centre

Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics

Rotary Club of Bohars

ACK St. John’s Church, Buxton

ACK St. Luke’s Church, Makupa

Dr. Hassan Zuber, Deputy Pasco

Coast Aphia Prophet

Snr Chief, Old Town

DQASO Municipality, Mombasa

Coast Provintial Public Health Office

Medicines Sons Frontiers

Coast Provincial Medical Office

Ministry of Education

ACK-Pwani Christian Community Services.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC MITIGATION

Such clashes tend to create economic havoc in society with most of the victims reduced to object want and poverty.

The Centre identified some of the victims having upto form IV level of education, with a few of them having had some technical training.

The Makupa Hospital as part of its commitment and social responsibility absorbed some of the victims with technical know-how, while undertaking arrangements with its private sector friends and partners for placement of those victims.

Contacts of such victims having the capacity to be assisted are held, even as they go back to their respective homes or other areas of safe heaven.

COST TO THE HOSPITAL

The Hospital incurred unplanned expenditure in the process of meeting its social responsibility ..The hospital went out of its way to give medical and surgical care to victims who had been attacked with crude instruments including pangas, bows and arrows. Others suffered from physical illnesses including Malaria, Typhoid, Diahorhea, Chest Infections, Skin Infections and HIV. The seriously sick patients were referred Coast General Hospital.

The Hospital has experienced shortage of drugs and surgicals and other materials. To this end Makupa Hospital requests for well wishers to come foward to assist in cash or kind.

The 200 plus victims who went through this center remain in unassisted financially. However most affected are children and women.

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