Video reportage on Mama Matata's work

rs. Today we drove to the hospital ground to make the last arrangements for the installations of the toilets. Today I also realized a live video reportage on Mama Matata that we will also publish on this blog as soon as it is cut and finished. I filmed her explaining the hospital's activities. We started at the main entrance, then went to the ambulatory, laboratory, operation theater, storage room of the medications, book-keeping department and the sanitary rooms. We could also film the birth of a child. We just arrived some seconds before it happened! I never watched a birth in my life. The mother is fine and 3 minutes later Mama Matata made a little interview wit her. Then we watched the situation of other patients, among them two women with Malaria. We also called Nairobi to get the latest news about the container, waiting for the last papers to be released. Then about 2o IDP's came for their food rations; they couldn't make it yesterday. At 4 pm we rushed home but couldn't escape another heavy down pour.

Little malaria patient

The different tribes could live together peacefully

sh. This was a day of organization. We had to plan the last things so that the 30 toilets for men women in our camp can be installed tomorrow. The sanitary situation has to be under control, otherways it is not possible for us to handle the refugees in the camp. We have to be strict that all regulations are observed. Together with our medical care and the disposal of fresh drinking water the minimum requirements are given. Thanks to Mama Matata we also should get the 300 blankets donated by the Swiss Red Cross by tomorrow. We still had to pay 18,000 KsH but luckily the Swissport Kenya abstained from collecting the storage fees of 90,000 KsH.

These young men in our camp demonstrate that it is absolutely possible that people from different tribes can peacefully live together. All the hatred is only a dark vision
in some people's minds!

30 toilets and showers to be installed soon

This morning Mama Matata had to get up at 4 am to be able top reach the border to Tanzania to get a new Carnet. Normally this takes about 24 hours, but she got it in only one hour. So she had time to get the blankets that the Red Cross Switzerland donated through the initiative of kidstokids. But then she was amazed that the custom authorities wanted to charge her a big amount of money, probably more than the value of the blankets. Unbelievable! She is now trying to get them out for free. Let's hope for the best. As she won't be back before midnight, we will inform you tomorrow about the outcome.

While Mama Matata is on her misson in Nairobi, I was with the delegation of the UN World Food Program. Together we prepared for the 30 toilets and showers to be installed on Friday. We also built the central fire places (see picture) for the refugee camp here on the Rhein-Valley Hospital ground. A good organisation within these camps is of paramount importance as the number of refugees increases even more after the explosive political situation here in Kenya. Unfortunately there are still no signs of settlements within the Government and peace for the people in sight. The population asks for an immediate decision and a new election. As we heard all humanitarian organizations are at their limits and we do not know how all will continue. - Stephan Holderegger

In today's newspaper...

Clip from today's edition of Kenyan paper "The People Daily"

Easter Sunday together with the street boys

After the successful concert of dulcimer player Nicolas Senn around the Rhein-Valley Hospital we planned to go to the city centre of Nakuru to play again for the street boys and bring them some food as a little Easter present. As soon as we approached the main post office the people rushed from all sides towords us and were astonished about our colorful outfit in the Swiss tradition. We also were astonished to see so many poor people on the street that have nothing but their life, and the youngsters most of the time spend their time with sniffing. After the concert started the children were laughing and seemed to get some happiness. It didn't matter if it was a traditional Swiss country song or a American Rock'n Roll. Gaby Schädler from Swiss TV was trying hard to capture the atmosphere without being overrolled by the masses. The situation became tense when we started to give out some food for the people. They feared not to get anything and were panic-stricken. Mama Matata had to climb on the roof of her car to bring herself in a safe position. From there she tried to continue with the food distribution but finally we had to stop the action and escape in the car. It was not safe for us anymore, to say the least. Anyway, we manged to make around 1500 young people happy this Easter Sunday! - Nicolas

Swiss donate 150,000 CHF for Kenya

km. The popular Swiss weekly "Migros-Magazin" (circulation of 3 million) again presents the issues of the Rhein-Valley Hospital in today's edition on 4 pages. After a first report of the magazine there was a huge reader response and a total of nearly 150'000 Swiss Francs were donated. Dispite all problems Ruth Schäfer (Mama Matata) speaks about first signs of hope! Here is the link to the article in the online-edition:

Italians bring pharmaceuticals and more...

shh. We had a hard working day. Mama Matata and our book- keeper Niaga got a visit from a Government agent because of the papers for our container. In Kenya you learn to be patient. Today we also got a visit from three Italian friends: Enio, Gabriella and Gianni. They brought several pharmaceuticals as well as food and clothes for the refugees. Our Italian friends were enthusiastic about our work at the hospital. Last October they organized an exhibition with drawings from Italian children for their Kenyan brothers and sisters and are helping the "kidstokids" organization in Italy. The drawings should be in the big "kidstokids" container that is planned to finally arrive next week. We also installed the first 10 tents; we hope to finish the camp by the end of the week.

Enough drinking water thanks to our fountains

sh. With the current high temperatures water is the gold for Kenya's population. Thanks to our two fountains that we built in and above the Rhein-Valley Hospital thousands of people luckily still have enough fresh drinking water. Today we were in the town (Nakuru) and saw some used shoes on the street. We just wondered if these were the clothing collections from the help organizations that are being sold instead of being given to the poor...? On the market there are enough fresh fruits (see picture) but the people don't have the money to buy them.

Mama Matata did the planning for the coming week, so that the food distributions on Tuesday and Saturday can be done without problems. And on Monday we will start installing the tents. There will be a whole tent camp and all the sanitary facilities have to be organized. So a busy week is in sight.

Mama Matata's friendship with streeet boys

sh. Tonight Stephan Holdereger arrived in Nakuru as mentioned in yesterday's post. On the way to the hospital we saw 3 large fires, but couldn't find out any deatails. Today we discussed the program of the coming week and the street boys that always helped Mama Matata (Ruth Schäfer) came to see her. They haven't been around for quite some time. The boys were happy and greeted Ruth cordially. They all got 1 Liter of milk, 1 kilo of bread and a portion of French Fries. We also met a boy who has a mutilated leg. He recognized us because we previously checked the possibility of an operation, but it unfortunately was not possible. Mama Matata is the last resort for these boys.