RC Mtwapa, Partners Establish Model Maternity Health Centre In Kilifi County
By Francis Mwasho Righa
Rotary Club of Mtwapa, in partnership with several entities including 11 Rotary Clubs, have completed a project to upgrade the Bomani Malde Maternity Project in Kilifi County to provide better care for mother-child health needs.
The project was initiated in 2018 to address mother-child health needs, following a needs assessment that involved a village Health Committee, through Community Health Volunteers in Bomani Village, Kikambala Division.
The objective of the project was to enhance ability to provide more and proper mother-child care, reduce infant mortality/morbidity, provide ante-natal care for at least 500 pregnant women per year, assist at least25-30 women during delivery every month, provide ante-natal, natal and post-natal education and care.
RC Mtwapa provided the necessary equipment and supporting refresher training in basic life support and management of acute complications during labor & delivery. Staffing for the health centre is provided by the County Government of Kilifi and it receives support from nearby North Coast Medical Training College.
The Rotary Clubs raised $13,730 while District Designated Funds provided $12,200, $21,545from The Rotary Foundation and 4,960 from non-Rotarian Organizations matched by TRF at $4,960 and the World Fund matched by TRF at $21,545, giving a total of$52,435.
The project included removal and disposal of asbestos roofing, concrete Works (reinforcements, superstructures, roofing, walling & piping, Finishes (plastering, painting, tiling, doors, windows electrical wiring and fittings, External Works(pathways & drainages, Installation of equipment and staff training.
By the end of December 2024, about 761 safe deliveries had been made at the health facility, with no maternal deaths and without any fresh still births. There was one macerated still birth recorded.
After some cost variations, RC Mtwapa still has some funds equivalent to $5,393 at the prevailing exchange rate, which it intends to apply to other needs of the facility.RC Mtwapa has received approval to use the remaining funds to provide a walk way-for exercise of near due expectant mothers, a washing machine room and refurbishment of dilapidated water tank.
The health facility still requires additional equipment including a manual vacuum aspirator, delivery packs, autoclaving machine, trolleys, wheelchairs two beds, Bedsheets, two featal scopes, drum sets, both disposal and reusable speculums, manual blood pressure machines, examination lamp and oxygen masks for neonates, pediatric and adults.
A dozen Rotary Clubs participated in the fundraising: the Rotary Clubs of Mtwapa, Uppingham, Stamford, Rutland, Stamford Burghley, Hertogenbosch-West, Purmerend-Polderland, Oostburg, Salmon Arm (Shuswap), Deeping, Oadby, Bussum. The District Designated Funds were disbursed by three Rotary Districts: 1070, 5060 and 9212.
Non-Rotarian entities that raised funds for the project include Community Health Promotion Fund, a local entity, Mama Na Mtoto UK, a British charity organization, German Doctors, a German charity, Swiss women organization of St. Moritz, Mr. & Mrs Zender (St. Moritz, Switzerland), Catholic Women Association and German Doctors, a non-governmental organization.
