Government promises support in the future

rs. Today we had the visit of several Government officials in connection with the cholera outbreak, that we realized a couple of days ago and which we also immediately reported to the Health Ministry. Among the guests were the Secretary of the Parliament Dr. James Nyikal as well as Dr. John Odondi of the Province Ministry of Health and Dr. Nyakiba, the District Minister of Health. Our two doctors Wanjara and John proudly showed them our hospital and all guests were very impressed with what they saw and with what we have done for our patients, our staff and the refugees in the camp. Dr. Nyikal thanked as many times and promised full support of the Government in the future. The above picture shows Mr. Nyikal greeting Ruth Schäfer, director of the Rhein-Valley Hospital at the end of today's meeting.

TV interview with Stephan Holderegger

km. This evening the popular Swiss local TV station TeleZüri invited the founder of the Rhein-Valley Hospital Stephan Holderegger for a 30-minute live interview. They also broad- casted recent video footage that Stephan took in Nakuru. Ruth Schäfer, the director of the Rhein-Valley Hospital and partner of Stephan, joined them on the phone from Nakuru. It's great to see that Tele-Züri fully sympathizes with the project and asked the viewers to participate with a donation. At the end of the interview Stephan also mentioned that all the donated money is used 1:1 for the help in Kenya. The full interview can be seen as podcast here.

Baby Food Delivery in Nakuru

rs. Stephan and Hennie left Kenya and went back to their countries. So here I am back alone with all the burdens at the Rhein-Valley Hospital. Fortunately the air cargo delivery with baby food arrived today and we were busy unloading the truck. We had to wait 4 weeks to get it through customs in Nairobi! Next week we will transport the food boxes to the hospital and distribute them to the mothers.

Waiting for the Red Cross delegation ...

sh. The Red Cross in Nairobi promised to visit the Rhein-Valley Hospital this morning at 10 am, to discuss the arising problems with the increasing number of refugees in our region. Many of the refugees came to our facilities in order to manifest their cause. We waited until 2 pm but nobody from the Red Cross arrived. We will try to intervene in Switzerland and Holland after we return home tonight. We have enough video and photo material to convince the organization on the urgency of the situation. Thousands of people are on the move and fear to go back to their homes. We promised them that we will do our best to improve the sad situation. Ruth Schäfer, the director of the Rhein-Valley Hospital will stay here and still hopes for more cooperation and support for the coming days and weeks. The picture below was also taken today and shows patients waiting to get their vaccinations; in the middle Ruth Schäfer.

Hoping for some help from the Red Cross

sh. There were again a lot of activities at the Rhein - Valley Hospital today. The situation is not improving and again thousands of refugees came for their food portions. Thanks to Soyana and Hero we could offer them soya protein, milk rice, bananas and cookies. The people were all very patient although we suffered from the heat at 50° C in the glazing sun. The faces we met were still sad but they are all happy to get something to eat. The work volume is increasing every day and we hope to get some help for Ruth Schäfer in the near future. Tomorrow the head of Red Cross Nairobi will visit us thanks to the assistance of Heinz Heer from the KidstoKids organisation in Switzerland. Kennie from Holland and myself (Stephan) will have our last mission before we return to our countries in Europe.

Stephan and Dutch friend visit the Hospital

sh. Stephan Hoderegger, the founder of the Rhein-Valley Hospital and his Dutch friend Hennie arrived in Kenya yesterday. Only 10 people left the plane in Nairobi. At the airport as well as on our route to Nakuru, not many people were on the streets. The population still lives in fear and from 7 pm to 7 in the morning there is a curfew. Stephan and Hennie visited the poor today and realised how severe the situation is. The world only saw the brutal pictures of the fights but does not see the calamity behind the scenes. So many people - women, children and men - are on the run. Die big organisations are completely overstrained. Ruth Schäfer of the Rhein-Valley Hospital gave food to 3000 people in one day alone and took 100 childern in her shelter. She also plays with the children, teaches them in mathematics and still tries to remain happy! The pictures were all taken today.

That's all what they have ...

Problems with the Custom Authorities

rs. Today the telephone rang and the authority in Nairobi were on the other end. They still didn't want to accept the food offerings that were at the customs: Two palettes with baby food that we got by Air waited for approval and they wanted 47,000 Kenia Shilings for it. We could reduce it to 7000. After a moment of relief a second call: the Ministry of Health asked for 3000 KSh to test the baby food in the laboratory in case the food was poisoned! I was very angry and asked the lady if she also had children at home, who were starving. Hope we have more luck tomorrow.

Interview with Stephan Holderegger online

km. Through my connection with Kids To Kids (a Humanitarian Aid Programme inspired by Sri Chinmoy) I met 60-year old Stephan Holderegger from Switzerland. Since his childhood he has been handicapped by a severe immune deficiency disease that destroys the lungs. Two weeks before his predicted death, he got a phone call, inviting him to the main hospital in Zurich for a lung transplant. He grabbed his prepared suitcase and jumped into the ambulance. He called all his friends and told them if he survived the operation he would open a hospital in Kenya for the poor. Stephan got a second life and started his ambitious project right away. Not only did the hospital open in 2004 under the guidance of his partner Ruth Schäfer, but Stephan started various ventures promoting the hospital and donating organs. First he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, then he ran the New York City marathon. If you want to know more about the founder of the Rhein-Valley Hospital, watch this interview of LIFE Voices, a monthly podcast presenting fascinating people from around the world. Just click on the image and the video will start! The HD broadcast version can be seen on srichinmoy.tv and soon also on vimeo.