Newsletter no. 280 from Sept. to Dec. 2018
Oyugis Integrated Project (OIP) Helping the HIV-AIDS affected and infected in reaching their wholeness
Contents 1. General Service Department 1.1 Introduction by Bro. Vincent Odhiambo 1.2 Interview with: Benta Atieno 1.3 The Home visit of Pastor John Okoth Awuor 2. Agriculture /Social Department‌ 2.1 Farming as an enterprise 2.2 Pass on at Mirondo 2.3 Appreciation for the support 2.4 Death of Lonah Adhiambo 2.5 Ondiko Cluster Group 3. Medical Department 3.1 HBC workshop on 13/9/2018 3.2 Screening of blood pressure 3.3 Retreat and AGM for HBC volunteers 4.
Did you know?
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1.
GENERAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
1.1
Mercy as the way for Oyugis Integrated Project The word “Mercy” is very dear to us as employees of Oyugis Integrated project. Why? Because mercy is seen as bringing out life where all hope is lost. Mercy is God’s gift to us to share with others. Mercy is seen as love and loving is doing something for someone else. It requires self-sacrifice and availability. Being merciful comes from the heart and cannot be copied from others. Mercy never asks for a “how” and a “why” because in the poor we are moved by the divine touch of God Himself. Mercy releases us from self-interest that seeks our own safety and security. Mercy flows from the simple unconditional love of God in us. It is rooted in our hearts. As merciful people we must be simple workers in the hand of God. In the poor, we are confronted by the face of God. In the face of the poor we see the Christ, he reveals to us the divine essence of human beings. The question we can ask ourselves” Do we really see the face of Christ in the poor? Only when our love is pure and simple we will be close to the poor. Christ Himself is the model of poverty. Christ in his total self-forgetfulness with regard to His divine dignity wants to be born of a poor mother, He chooses a poor tradesman as foster father, and in all things he opts for poverty. Christ has shown us that poverty is the way to get to heaven. When we see the face of Christ in the other person, His presence fills us with joy. Bro. Vincent Odhiambo
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Interview: With Benta Odhiambo Tell us something about yourself My name is Benta Atieno Odhiambo, I am a nurse by profession. I love Jesus the son of God. I am married and have 2 sons and 1 daughter How did you come to know OIP I knew OIP through my friend when I was working at Calvary Clinic (Oyugis) How is the work situation? The working environment is conducive, I work in the Outpatient Department (OPD), I love OIP because they are dedicated to the Lord. Patients are always happy and they enjoy our services. What is your future Aspiration? My future aspiration is to see OIP as a community that reached international level on quality care. 2
1.3
The home visit of pastor John Okoth Awuor Recently I visited the home of Pastor John Okoth Awuor. The Pastor died some years back and left Nancy Adhiambo with six children. From the six children some of them are HIV positive. The home is from a small village near Nyalenda in Oyugis known as Migwa. Nancy has been struggling alone with these children without support from the community. She came to Oyugis Integrated project to share her problems with me. I went to visit the home. At the Pastor’s house I was surprised to see the six orphans and some sick. I was touched deeply when I saw the conditions of the children and mother Nancy. Nancy shared with me as she said “Brother I am left alone to struggle with my children. The community looks at me from the fence and talks badly about the home. I just looked at her with compassion and encouraged her to be strong and trust in God. Later on, I talked with the children about their schooling and advised them to be with their mother who cares for them. I admired the way the widow Nancy faced the hostility of the community and continues to live her life with her children. I left the home and promised to support her by keeping them in my daily prayers and support here and there when it is necessary. Bro. Vincent Odhiambo
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AGRICULTURE /SOCIAL DEPARTMENT 2.1 Farming as an enterprise Early this year there was a vigorous training on fodder establishment. This was due to lack of enough feeds for our animals; the training was conducted by the Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in collaboration with ICPE and organized by OIP at Kodera. The groups also benefited from training in fruit farming especially Mangoes and Paw paws as an enterprise. The training was successful. Our clients took the initiative seriously as a source of income that people have neglected. Picture: The pawpaw farm at Mirondo. Gordon Otieno 3
2.2
Pass on at Mirondo Pass on is one of our activities that we do twice every year. It is an act of mercy. We trains our farmers to share whatever they were given with another member of the group. On September 5th 2018 we conducted the pass on of the gifts at Mirondo. Four families donated cows to be given to the other members of the group. The following were the donors i) Mary Akinyi ii) Emelda Ochieng iii) Jenipher Awuor iv) Susan Ochola. Four families benefited with a gift of a calf from the donors.
2.3
Appreciation for the support Following the good work of OIP, I write to appreciate the brothers CMM. I came from a humble family in Kodera cluster group B. I am a 1st year student at Moi University (Eldoret) taking a course in Bachelor of arts in Education. Through God’s Mercy, I managed to join Oletiptip girl’s high school and fees were my major problem. Thanks to the Agriculture Department which was able to recruit me as one of the beneficiaries of the school fund program that paid part of my school fee every year. Thanks to Gordon in the Agriculture office who was able to encourage me in my school work every year. In three years to come, I hope it qualify to be a secondary school teacher with a Bachelor Degree in Education. My aim is to give something back to the community. Many thanks to the Brothers CMM. Noela Achieng Oyugi
2.4
Death of Lonah Adhiambo Lonah Adhiambo was one of the oldest members of Ondiko cluster group. Before her death she served as assistant Secretary of the group from 2015 to 2017. Due to the weakness of the body she stopped from being group official. Lonah died and left behind three orphans with the eldest in form one at Nyandiwa sec school and the last born in class five at Ondiko primary school. Lonah went through many difficulties during her sickness and was rejected by close relatives. The project assisted her with food, blanket and many others things. May God rest her soul in peace. Eunice Awuor Atieno
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2.5
Ondiko Cluster Group Ondiko Cluster Group is one of the Tuvumiliane cluster groups. It consists of twenty members. The group activities are mostly farming and individual business. With this farming activity the group has been trying to be self-reliant. They applied for a government loan but and did not succeed. This did not hinder them from doing their work. They continue supporting each other by selling farm produces and buying goats for each member. This started in 2017; It is a good improvement and strengthening the relationship.
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MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
3.1
HBC workshop The HBC workshop was done on September 13th 2018. It is an annual event. There were 33 participants from all the twelve zones. The main topic was how to monitor adherence for our clients who come for care in our comprehensive care center.
3.2
Screening of blood pressure Studies show that in Africa, most people have never had their blood pressure taken. Most people have elevated Blood Pressure and are not aware since they’ve never had Blood Pressure Reading. Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) is an initiative by Astra Zeneca, a pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor company with experience in treating cardiovascular disease. HHA aim is to tackle hypertension by improving access to hypertensive care by raising awareness and educating around life style choice and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) Risk, training providers and facilitating access to low cost high quality Branded Anti hypertension. HHA Parted with Shirikisho Dispensary through KCCB and be part of this program of raising awareness and screening people for Hypertensive. The project was initiated in August 2018 and will run for two years. As a facility we aim to screen not less than 750 clients per month and put at least 32 clients on high blood pressure management per month. So far according to our data as at 12th Oct 2018, we had screened 1,939 clients and put on treatment 72 people. This is within our target and we still aim to screen more and also increase our target more than 750 people. Gedion Omogi HHA facility coordinator
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3.3
Retreat and AGM for HBC volunteers On 10th October 2018, we successfully had a retreat in our Library. The retreat was conducted by Fr. Erick from St. Peters Parish. Mary Mboya
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DID YOU KNOW? That this year, we were visited by Bro. Harrie van Geene, former Superior General and Bro. Ben Maijvis from Holland
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