Shelter of Hope Medical Clinic is doing great service to the community. The medical facility aims to make access to healthcare for both orphaned children at Shelter of Hope Academy and the community easy and affordable. The primary beneficiaries are the less fortunate persons, community at large with illness concerns that need medical attention and a general wellness check-up. The prevalence of common diseases such as malaria, typhoid, HIV/AIDS, Urinary tract infections, sexual transmission infection, pneumonia among others still remain challenge in rural areas. The condition is even worse for the poor in remote areas where access to essential human needs like shelter, food, and healthcare are still major problems. It is estimated that 82% of health is lost to communicable diseases every year (World Health Organization, 2007). The figure is an indication of serious problems in healthcare sector that must consolidate participation of the government and non-governmental sector.

Evangelistic Outreach and Free Medical Camps

Shelter of Hope in collaboration with local churches conducts free medical and evangelistic outreach very year. In the year 2020, it wasn’t possible for us due to COV[1]ID-19 government rules on social gathering. Shelter of Hope considers of the view, spiritual is part of health, not peripheral but core and central to it. Spiritual and health are bonded to each other, inseparable companion in the dance of joy and sad[1]ness, health and illness, birth and death. The World Health Organization has made many statements describing the need for holistic care and the integral nature of this spiritual dimension. “Until recently the health professions have largely followed a medical model, which seeks to treat patient by focusing on medicine and surgery, and gives less importance to beliefs and to faith. This reductionism or mechanistic view of patients has being only a material body is no longer satisfactory. Patients and physicians have begun to realize the value of elements such as faith, hope, and compassion in the healing pro[1]cess. The value of such spiritual in health and quality of life has led to the research in this field in an attempt to move towards a more holistic view health that includes a non- material dimension, emphasizing the seamless connections between mind and body.” WHO 1998. In today’s world, a number of people suffer from high stress level leading to more diseases that are communicable. Sharing the word of God, through the promise of peace, joy, and happiness from Christ, alleviates the suffering of mankind, and so help the community served by shelter of hope Kenya. The free medical camp strives to treat the people and also heal their souls through Jesus Christ.

Medical Clinic & Response to COVID-19

On 11th March 2020, on the advice of the Emergency Committee, the WHO Director-General, declared the COVID-19 out[1]break a Public Health Emergency of Inter[1]national Concern (PHEIC). The corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic, which continues to evolve rap[1]idly, with the number of countries affected in the WHO African Region steadily growing. Kenya confirmed its first case of COV[1]ID-19 on 13th March, 2020 and the cases have continued to steadily rise and spread across the country. In response to this new health changes due to corona virus disease, Shelter of Hope Medical clinic developed COVID-19 emergency and Response plan in consultation with various government and non-government health actors. The plan aims to ensure well-coordinated approach to health matters with keen attention to community interest that promotes good health, safety and well-being of community members and all our project beneficiaries- orphans and vulnerable children. This Emergency and Response plan is a good planning tool for Shelter of Hope Medical Clinic as it has guided our operations with regards to medical and non-drugs aids distribution.. The implementation of the plan began immediately when corona virus disease was declared as health emergency in Kenya and still continue to guide our operations despite the challenges due to low funding. The COVID-19 pandemic has subjected the poor and the vulnerable to lots of suffering. People lack basic sanitary and hygienic items that can cushion them from virus. The government has been overwhelmed by rising needs of infected persons coupled by limited funds.

In our small effort to supplement the government, contain the virus, we initiated Community public awareness and sensitization. Health talks focused on good personal health habits such as hand washing actions to keep COVID 19. The school children and local church congregations have been our key implementers. Public communication strategies including use of community health dialogue spearheaded by community health volunteers. Print media services such as posters, fliers have been used targeting all the residence of Kagan village and beyond. We managed to procure and distribute through Shelter of Hope medical clinic face masks, face shields, goggles, and hand sanitizer, bags for medical waste or bio hazard.