By Rose Hennessy | Operations Manager
Thank you for your support of this project helping to create stronger and healthier communities through this partnership with Londiani Sub-County Hospital and Mayo University Hospital.
Since our last report, the Living Hope Emergency and Trauma Centre was officially opened in November, marking an extraordinary milestone in at Londiani Sub-County Hospital and for this partnership.
This centre will transform emergency care for generations to come and we thank you for your part in making it happen – a centre built from tragedy and from hope.
Two members of the Mayo University Hospital team were in Kenya when the centre opened. They were part of a volunteer team from Ireland who spent 2 weeks working alongside the staff team and local volunteers supporting various programmes. Their first few days coincided with the final push to get the centre ready for the official opening. They rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in with a long list involving mops, brushes, assembly of beds and equipment and all the final touches needed. No request was too much and the centre shone and came alive with their input.
The centre was officially opened by the Irish Ambassador to Kenya, Caroline Ingoldsby. She was joined by Evelyn Maris (Deputy Irish Ambassador to Kenya), H.E. Dr. Erick Mutai (Governor Kericho County), Hon. Richard Langat (MCA Kedowa Kimugul), Dr. Betty Langat (County Director for Health), Dr. Collins Kipkoech (Medical Superintendent, Londiani Sub-County Hospital), families affected by the accident with representative Rosemary Chepkemoi and Martin Ballantyne (CEO), Maria Kidney (Director), staff, volunteers and board members of Brighter Communities Worldwide.
Next day, the very first Advanced Trauma Life Support training took place in the centre delivered with the volunteer team for hospital staff. The impact of this centre on the hospital staff, health-care workers and community first responders is enormous. Training and mentoring is building their skills and their confidence. The centre will grow step and step into a trusted and reliable part of the county health system, strengthening emergency response and improving care for those who need it most.
A second recent partnership milestone has been the publishing this month of a report on the 20 year impact of this partnership. The report is based on a survey undertaken by staff, volunteers and community members in Londiani and Mayo. This report captures something we all know deeply, the real and lasting impact of this link — on people, services and health systems — built patiently over years through trust, reciprocity and shared purpose. You can read this report here.
Thank you to all involved, for the commitment, generosity and professionalism you have brought to this partnership. The learning has flowed both ways, strengthening clinical practice, confidence and systems in Kenya and Ireland alike. What comes through so clearly is that this is not a one-off project, but a living relationship — grounded in equity, respect and a shared belief that we are stronger together.
We’re proud of what has been achieved, and even more excited about the journey ahead. Thank you for being such a vital part of this link and for everything you continue to give to it.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
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