The Rhein - Valley Hospital in Nakuru-Kasambara opened in 2004 and is directed by Ruth Schäfer of Switzerland. The hospital relies solely on donations for buying food and medicine for the poor and suffering locals. Moreover, all funds are used directly for patient care. Every year thousands of people visit the hospital for medical help and nowadays also for food and shelter. Blog Editor: Kedar Misani.

You can send your donations to the Alpha Rheintal Bank, CH - 9442 Berneck, Switzerland; Clearing 6920, BIC RBABCH22926;
IBAN: CH75 06920016 1856 71206, Verein Rhein-Valley Hospital, CH - 9450 Altstätten, Switzerland.


Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Ending the year with a corn control


rs. Because of the hot weather our corn supply suffered and we had to control all bags today, before they could be returned to the storage container. This was a last hard working day for this year. Tonight we will celebrate the beginning of the New Year. Here, the Kenyans use to place a string from one tree to the next and then the people jump over it meaning to jump into the New Year. Let me also take the opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year, also in the name of the Rhein-Valley Hospital association.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A new medication delivery



rs. Today we received a new medication delivery. We were lucky to get the boxes because usually there are no deliveries over holidays. As the driver wanted to visit his parents in Nakuru to celebrate the New Year festivities with them, he could combine it with the delivery to the Rhein-Valley Hospital.

Monday, December 29, 2008

A gratitude letter for Ruth

Today I got a nice letter:

Hi, my name is Regina. As the year ends, I have a message for you; you touched my heart. To me you are more precious than gold and more expensive than anything that money can buy. I am an IDP at Mbaruk. I visited the hospital that you sacrificed and started for the less fortunate. When our country was rocked with post-election violence, I became a victim and found myself and family at Mbaruk and that?s how I came to know about Rhein-Valley at Kasambara. Currently, my son is being treated there with rheumatic fever. Thanks to Dr. Wanjara who is so kind and good to all. Also sister Ruth.

To me you are the woman of the year 2008. Thanks for your Big Heart and may God bless you so much and may you live long enough to enjoy.

Regina Gathaiya

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Urgency in the night: a malaria patient


rs. Tonight we had an emergency case: an old man was brought with severe Malaria. We immediately gave him an infusion with medications which helped quite well. Often patients were brought much too late. At an earlier stage it would be much easier to help.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Wanjara stopped her strong bleedings


rs. This woman is at the hospital since three days. After she gave birth to a child, she suffered of strong bleedings. Fortunately our doctor Wanjara gave a good medication that helped.well. The woman was happy and grateful that she could leave the hopsital earlier than expected.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas gifts in our own way




rs. Today our crew members wanted to give a gift to each other. Each one bought something and marked it with a lottery number, then each member could choose one of them. Today we had this ceremony together with some singing and a lot of joy - to celebrate Christmas in our own way.


Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas in the Nakuru National Park


rs.
I celebrated my Christmas in the Nakuru National Park. I could watch the animals and enjoyed the peace and warmth (still 35 °C!). I wished this tranquility could be felt and manifested throughout the world. (Click on the picture to see it in large size as it appears on our Photoblog)




Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Thanks a lot for all donations!


Ruth Schäfer and Erich Kühnis in front of the Hospital

Thanks a lot for all the donations that we could receive towards the end of the year and during the whole year. As most of the donors are from German speaking countries, we publish this gratitude message in German.
*
Im Namen des Vorstandes und ganz speziell von Ruth Schäfer (Mama Matata) und Stephan Holderegger danke ich Ihnen ganz herzlich für Ihre grosszügige Spende. Ihre Solidarität mit den ärmsten Menschen der Welt ermöglicht uns in Kasambara-Gilgil (Kenia) eine einfache medizinisches Grundversorgung und sauberes Trinkwasser langfristig zu sichern. Dies ist leider in Kenia bis heute die Ausnahme. Das vergangene Jahr 2008 hat uns sehr gefordert und unser Spital wurde zur ersten Anlaufstelle in den schweren Zeiten der politischen Unruhen. Was Ruth Schäfer vor Ort geleistet hat kann ich in Worte kaum fassen. Für Tausende von Vertriebenen war Ruth Schäfer die einzige Hoffnung und sie hat die viele Hoffnungen nicht enttäuscht. Die leuchtenden Augen der traumatisierten Menschen sprachen wortlos von grosser Dankbarkeit und machten Ruth Schäfer glücklich. Die Vertriebenen erhielten in ihrer grössten Not nicht nur Essen und Trinken sondern auch Wärme und Geborgenheit von Mama Matata. Diese gelebte Nächstenliebe macht das Rhein-Valley Hospital so einzigartig und wichtig. Wir dürfen die Hoffnungen dieser vielen Menschen, vor allem Frauen und Kindern, nie mehr zerstören. Sie machen dies mit Ihrer wunderbaren Spende erst möglich und bringen die Augen dieser ärmsten Menschen zum Strahlen. Oft habe ich mich gefragt, wie kann ein Mensch so viel leisten. Ruth Schäfer fragt nicht, sie packt an und findet für jede noch so schwierige Aufgabe eine passende Lösung. In der Krisenzeit organisierte sie neben der alltäglichen Arbeit zusätzlich die Essensausgabe für rund 4'000 Menschen, leitete ein Flüchtlingscamp mit 780 Vertriebenen und im Spital wurden rund 150'000 Behandlungen durchgeführt. Neben organisatorischen Fähigkeiten braucht es vor allem eine starke Psyche viel Mut und Gelassenheit. Mama Matata gibt nie auf, auch nicht in ausweglosen Situationen. In Kenia hat sich das Leben wieder normalisiert und wir können uns wieder unseren Hauptaufgaben Spitalbetrieb und Wasserversorgung widmen. Ruth Schäfer ist nun seit rund acht Jahren in Kenia vor Ort und ist verantwortlich für einen reibungslosen Spitalbetrieb, Abgabe von sauberem Trinkwasser und die zweckgebundene Verwendung der Spendengelder. Aus eigener Erfahrung und tiefer Überzeugung kann ich Ihnen sagen: Effizienter und gerechter kann Ihr Spendengeld nicht eingesetzt werden. Jeder Franken wird ohne Abzug für die ärmsten Menschen der Welt verwendet. Der gesamte Vorstand und ganz speziell auch Ruth Schäfer (Kost und Logis sind bezahlt) arbeiten unentgeltlich. Ihre Spende macht Tausende von Menschen glücklich und schenkt Hoffnung. Die Lebensqualität hat sich durch die ständige Verfügbarkeit einer medizinischen Grundversorgung und sauberem Trinkwasser nachhaltig verbessert. In naher Zukunft wollen wir ein weiteres Gebäude erstellen, um die Behandlung von Zahn- und Augenerkrankungen zu ermöglichen. Nochmals ganz herzlichen Dank für al Ihre grosszügigen Spenden. Wir wünschen Ihnen gesegnete Weihnachten und ein gesundes, glückliches Neues Jahr.

Herzlichst, Verein Rhein-Valley Hospital,
Erich Kühnis, Präsident


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Last duties before Christmas Day



rs. Today the babies were weighed and some got their weekly vaccination because there are no vaccinations on Thursday because of Christmas Day. Many people go home and celebrate Christmas there. Some mothers thought they would get a present but I had to make them clear that it is already a big present to get so much care and help at the hospital for a minimal fee the whole year. Christmas time is not so easy here.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Fund-raising event in Linz, Austria


sh. Over the weekend a special Gala Evening for the Rhein-Valley Hospital was organized by the "Schilling für Schilling" in Linz, Austria. Among the 300 guests were Prince Georg von Starhemberg, Alfred Hiebl, Klaus Holzmann (African Safari Club) and RVH-Founder Stephan Holderegger. Musical perforances were by Waterloo and Giuseppo Palermo. Klaus told the audience about the climbing of Mount Kilimandscharo and Eddie Kroll (Project Coordinator) presented the new projects of a Eye- and Dentist-Clinic in Kenya. By the end of the evening Eddie Kroll gave the sum of 6,000 € to Stephan Holderegger for the existing water station in Thugunui.

Friday, December 19, 2008

A baby as pre-Christmas gift



rs. A Christas Tree is not common in Kenya so our patients are always astound. And also astound and happy was this father: his child Jasmin was just born.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Each of our workers could plant a tree


rs. As a symbol of oneness each worker could plant a tree today. Our Fundi helped Marie to dig the whole. When the trees are large, they will be of great help to protect the people. This little tree is called "Artemisia" and has some healing power. When the leaves are well dried and stored, you get a healthy tea with a lot of Artemisin.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Building a hutch for the goat


rs. Today, our workers went to Thugunui to build a hutch for our new goat that Eddie got a couple of weeks ago. Our Fundi is a carpenter so he was happy to do it. Last year I bought a water-level but these people do not know how to use them. And the result are uneven levels...

Monday, December 15, 2008

Vaccinations bring full house



rs. Today we had many patients because of the rubella vaccinations. Everybody showed patience, some even had to wait outside...

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Only a broken puppet arm today ...



rs. These three women came to me with this little girl, called Wambu. She played with a puppet that I gave her and then an arm was broken, so I tried to fix it. Luckily no bigger problems today...

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Visiting a children's home in Nakuru


rs. Today I visited the Jacarande of Fans children's home in Nakuru, where I brought presents I still have from the "Kids to Kids" container from Switzerland. First the girls were shy, but then they realized what they got and they were all very happy. I wished I could send the smiles of these children by e-mail to all the Swiss children who helped to make these packages. But I definitely will forward all letters.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Taking care of the seedlings


rs. Today the women worked in the garden and cut the grass - manually as it is common here. Mama Peter and David took care of the seedlings. My mother used to say that you have to speak with the plants so that they will prosper. Hope they do it the same way in our Kenyan garden... (click on the picture to see it in large size)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Water and gymnastics are important


rs. Today's temperature is again very high with around 30°C. The mothers and their babies used the umbrella as a protection shield for the strong sun light. Our guard (Askari) chose the shadow of a tree to fulfill his duties to control the patients and the water station. We have to limit the water supply to 10 liters per person and we have to be sure that it only will be used for drinking purposes. The children are playing in the garden. We hope, to include also older people - grown ups - in future playing and gymnastic programs.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

A full waiting room


rs. When I entered our clinic today, it was already full of patients. Victor completed the list of the vaccinated babies. In the waiting room I found a woman, who forgot her registration card, so we had to find out the details in our book. In the same room there was a mother with her baby that had a high fever.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Meeting Eddie's goat in Thugunui


ws. Today we went to Thugunui, where we also met the goat that Eddie got some weeks ago. As we are here on 2800 m it can be very hot so we made a little hut for the goat. Our guard Egidion takes care of the goat. His father was also present, but I cannot speak with him because he only speaks Kikuiu, which is a very difficult dialect.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Quiet Sunday


Today it was fairly quiet as usual on a Sunday. A woman waited with her daughter and a boy got an injection after being injured outside. I still had enough time to go home early and to relax a little. - Mama Matata

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Larger children take care of the small ones


rs. While the parents are working in the garden the larger children take care of the small ones. Also Jakob, our guard, likes to be with the children.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Drinking water most needed


rs. If you drive around Nakuru, busy traffic marks the image of the region and you can feel Christmas time approaching. If you are on the road you better keep all valuable things at home, otherways you risk them to be stolen. The temperature is still very high, we measured 35 °C today. It's not only the heat that bothers the people but also the dry warm wind. So our water station is used very frequently especially by the children because they have now holidays. I always tell our guards to ask the children only to use clean vessels, but what can you do. Also their outfit is dirtier than dirty. Even at night many Kenyans do not change clothes, so it is also not easy to convince them to change into proper clothes when they are in our hospital.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

An emergency case



rs. Yesterday night we had an emergency case. A young woman was brought to the hospital in strange conditions. It seems that she had been raped. We always tell our people to be cautious when it is dark; best is to go in groups.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Preparing for Christmas and 2009


rs. Christmas time is approaching and we have a lot of work, also in the administrative sector. We have to order the lacking medications until December 15 and the holiday plans for our crew have to be made for the coming year. Everybody speaks of Christmas although we do not know it in Kenya as we do in Europe. Still it is a nice time where people sit together and have a nice meal. As my family is not here, I will be together with my staff members.

Monday, December 1, 2008

More exercises would be of great help


rs. Today we had our weekly children's and babies' day. Our doctor is not only prescribeng medications, but he also informs the patients how they can take care of themselves, especially by doing some physical exercises which are not very common among the average population. It would also help the children in the schools to have some gymnastic lessons.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Tourists are still lacking


rs. Today we had again hot temperatures with 32 °C and I took the chance to visit a sightseeing point, the highest in Nakuru. As I entered the ground, an Askari asked for an entrance fee. Although this is certainly not a good decision to ask for money, I wanted to go in but realized that there were no tourists, not even locals.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Our potatoe harvest is ready




rs. It is time to harvest the potatoes. Men and women helped in the garden. We were happy with the total of 150 kg. We also discussed what we want to sow next. People would like Sukumu Wiki, a Kenyan form of spinach, which is eaten together with Ugali, the white, fairly strong corn we only know in Kenya. If I eat Ugali, I am not hungry anymore for the whole day, but in fact I prefer lighter meals...

Friday, November 28, 2008

Positive and negative sides of life



rs. Our gardener David took care of the garden today. He loves the garden and 3 years ago he had the idea to plant a small banana tree with the hope to have our own bananas some day. Nobody believed him and today he proudly presented me the first fruit. It was delicious and sweet, I really enjoyed it. At 3 pm a rainstorm announced itself and I went home. As always the traffic was crazy and again I was witness of a tragic accident. These moments are especially hurting me. I am always grateful and happy when I reach my home.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The baby's prolem was also her mother's



rs. Before I entered the hospital, one of our patients came to me. He laughed at me and said that is already feeling much better. He also praised our doctor Wanjara. In the waiting room there was a mother with her baby that had a high fever. Suddenly the doctor realized that the mother also needed an examination but she didn't want to spend some extra money. We told her not to worry and when she finally was examined we found out that she carried worms and this was als the reason for the baby's problem.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Very busy the whole day


rs. Early this morning we already had a lot of patients. Victor was busy preparing all the medications. Kennedy and Mathew were taking care of the mothers ans their babies. Also doctor Wanjarawas als busy until 3 pm before he found the time for a little lunch break. (Click on the picture to view it full size as it is published on our Photoblog)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Controlling the corn in the team


rs. The refugees helped controlling the corn today. Often, little stones are mixed with the corn and they have to be eliminated. As we grind the corn ourselves, it has to be clean, otherways it would demolish the machine. Still there were some stones to be foud in the grinding process and we had to carefully remove which was quite time-consuming.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Increased use of our water station

rs. Although there have been a lot of rain in recent times, we still have a water shortage in our region. Our big water tank has to be refilled daily. Because of the cholera, the people became more cautious about their drinking water also take more care about the purity of the vessels they use. Also we have a lot more refugees and therefore a lot more water use. With clean water we can reduce many illnesses like typhus, stomach inflammations and diarrhoea.


Sunday, November 23, 2008

Enjoying the peace of the animals



rs. Today I did an excursion to the nearby Nakuru Park and visited the African animals. Although the Government is trying to bring back the tourists, the park is still not very frequented. I only saw some Indian tourists from Nairobi and rich Kenyans who have the money for a Safari. I enjoyed watching the animals and thought how nice it would be if the human beings would live as peacefully as these animals...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Busy hospital and 34 °C heat


rs. Our medical crew was very active for a Saturday. The waiting room was full with patients of all ages. Some came for a routine control only, others got their second injection of a 3-day treatment and to were Malaria cases. In the camp there are no holidays so we had a lot more going on. As it is snowing in Europe, we had again high temperatures of 34 °C.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Eddie Kroll vists Thugunui water project



rs. Today Eddie Kroll visited the water project in Thugunui together with family and friends from Austria. Since one year the locals of this area have access to fresh drinking water. The project is called "Schilling für Schilling" and came into life through the initiative of Eddie Kroll who wanted to create it as an act of gratitude for the survival in a serious boat accident in Kenya. Eddie was amazed how well the project is functioning. After giving out some presents for the local children and receiving a goat from the inhabitants, he descended the mountain to the Rhein-Valley Hospital and there also he praised the purity and order established by Ruth Schäfer and her crew. Soon he had to leave to catch a flight to Mombasa, his next station of his short African visit.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Waiting for the survey of our land


rs. Today we waited in vain for the surveyors who intended to measure our borders with the neighboring church. They said they didn't have a car to take, so they asked us to go to town to make a new date. We probably have to wait until next week for a new appointment...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

4 hours by foot to bring the old father


rs. She had to walk for 4 hours to bring her sick father to our hospital. The father has high blood pressure. For the past few days he had pains in the heart region, but he was nto strong enough to go to the hopspital by himself. So his daughter who lives in Gilgil went to Thugunui to get her father and then together they came to this place. Our doctor Wanjara examined the man carefully and informed the daugther in all details. He also asked if it would not be better to bring the father to her home. The daugther herself has four children and had to leave again, but the father will stay here for a coupe of days. By the way the father already missed medical examinations in the past. Otherways perhaps the doctor could have acted earlier.