Coastweek, Kenya Issue 3003 January 19th - 25th, 2007
NEW MUSAMARINI WELFARE TRUST COMMITTEE CLINIC AT KIKAMBALA
Coastweek - - Hon. Joe Hamisi M.P. for Bahari (Kilifi) is seen preparing to cut the ribbon assisted by Richard Cunningham, Dr. Geoffrey Cunningham and Assistant Chief Rose Kabibi.
OFFICIALLY OPENED BY BAHARI (KILIFI) M.P. HON. JOE HAMISI
Coastweek - - On Thursday, January 04, 2007 the Musamarini Welfare Trust Committee Clinic at Musamarini, Kikambala, was attended by the Hon. Joe Hamisi M.P. for Bahari (Kilifi) and an opening ceremony was performed and the
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completed buildings handed over to the Trust.
This complex consists of a two acre Plot within a Clinic building, Staff Quarter, Ablution blocks and a Well and has to date cost in excess of U.S. dollars $ 80,000.
In the Kilifi District Medical Plan it is scheduled to serve a population of 13,000 people between Mtwapa and Vipingo.
The ceremony commenced with an address and prayers from the local Pastor.
Then the ladies of Musamarini treated the assembled company to a beautiful display of singing and dancing followed by a spectacular exhibition of acrobatics from the young men of the village.
There followed speeches by Richard Cunningham and his father Dr. Geoffrey Cunningham describing the background of the Clinic.
The local District Councillor, Mr. Moses Mtepi then spoke on the need for Harambee efforts from the local people to improve the Road Access to the Clinic.
He was followed by the Hon. Joe Hamisi who expressed the thanks of the Community to the Charity for assistance in building the clinic and also supported applications for Mains Electricity Power supply to the Clinic and neighbouring enterprises.
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Coastweek - - Completed buildings at the Musamarini Welfare Trust Committee Clinic at Musamarini, Kikambala.
The Hon. Joe Hamisi then cut the ribbon and declared the clinic open. Refreshments were served and the proceedings closed with further Prayers.
The Clinic is currently awaiting Registration with the Ministry of Health.
Richard Cunningham, who works in New York, had arranged to run in the London Marathon with other work colleagues in April 2003 and was training for this in late 2002 when the El Qaeeda Bomb atrocity happened in December 2002 at the Paradise Beach Hotel.
Sadly the villagers of the welcoming Giriama Dance Troupe caught the worst of the blast with several casualties.
His family had previously owned a nearby property which became part of the Paradise Beach Hotel.
Richard was so concerned what the effects of this would have on the local people that he decided to set up a charity for them with the proceeds from sponsorship
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of the London Marathon run he was participating in. A considerable sum of money was raised then, and subsequently.
In September 2003 the villagers were approached to ascertain what their requirements were.
A Village Committee was established and they requested a Medical facility as a project of which they were most in need.
This Committee, now called the Musamarini Welfare Trust Committee consists of the following:
Chairman Jilani Mongo Mad-zayo (Mwalimu), Secretary Moses Msobo Kortok, Singari Ngala Chandugu, Evans Makane Mazia and Ms. Magdalena Mwakiki.
At his request a Scientist from KEMRI, at Kilifi, Dr. Jeff Dorfman undertook the project and enlisted the help of a colleague at KEMRI, Moses Mosobo who became Secretary to the Musmarini Welfare Trust Committee.
Unfortunately Dr. Dorfman had to return to the USA in 2005 but still maintains a keen interest in the project.
Throughout the planning and commencement of the project the District Medical Officer and staff were involved.
The land was purchased in March 2005. Brian Lees took over supervising the building work of the Clinic.
In October 2005 a meeting was held at the DMO's Office in Kilifi with the principal parties involved including Richard's father, Dr. Geoffrey Cunningham, who had come out from the UK specially to participate.
At that meeting arrangements were made for the Clinic to be completed and equipped according to Ministry of Health specifications for such a facility.
It also transpired that the Ministry planned for the Clinic to serve a population of 13,000 people when completed.
This was a much larger undertaking than had been originally envisaged.
The Clinic is now completed and fully equipped and currently awaiting registration with the Ministry of Health.
In addition, the Charity has sponsored a local boy from Musamarini, Robert, to undertake a three year course to train as a Clinical Officer at the Medical Training School at Port Reitz.
He is now in his Final year and it is hoped that in due course he will be available to work in the Clinic among his own people.
