WE!! are ready!!

My colleagues and I dedicate ourselves to managing a division and concept known as WE villages. The idea here is that our Canadian based charity organization supports villages in rural Kenya (and other countries though not with my involvement) through 5 pillars of support. Those being:

1. Health

2. Education

3. Food

4. Water

5. Opportunity

Previously I have talked about WE farms ( and my rather steep learning curve here - in fairness -- call it a wall not a curve) and now I'll talk, at this most opportune time, talk about our 1st pillar  -- that being health.

We operate a clinic and hospital in 2 communities providing a soup to nuts suite of services provided at very affordable costs. It's a sweet partnership between local government and our charity that works really well. It saves community members from traveling great distances for medical care which translates to saving lives. We offer dental care, renal, surgery, eye care and a surprisingly comprehensive number of other services.

And now!!! perhaps our reason for being; responding to our globally shared crisis: Covid 19. WE Charity deserves full marks for quickly focusing on working hard to make Narok county (where we work) the least affected in all Africa. A lofty goal to be sure but better to shoot for the stars and settle for capturing the moon.

We are mobilizing with a 2- stage response. First - an awareness campaign bringing messages about the seriousness and prevention of this disease to the people in their communities where they live. These rural communities are well off the beaten track requiring Land Cruisers and motorcycles to get us where the people are. As a side note, our Friday campaign report highlighted the very concerning statistic that 20% of the people we reached were unaware of the virus. As we can't gather the people -- we use a Land cruiser with PA system and spread the message. We hand out soap and pamphlets ensure that masks are in place to help convey the seriousness of this situation. Also community leaders join us so that we can communicate to them in the Kipsigis and Maasai language as well as Swahili.



From previous blogs, you may remember my ever - amazing and good friend Lucy who has stepped up to assist us with her Mass Media engagement skills. Working with Lucy's firm, we are targeting the youth in the community through social media  - insisting that the youth explain to their parents the seriousness of the situation and what to do about it. Thanks Lucy - you rock!!

And now to treatment... In the shot below you see the beautiful WE College that for the time being is being converted to a mass treatment facility. We are diverting patients from the Baraka hospital through a series of tents that lead to hospital for sick but non-covid, isolation for potential contact with Covid infected, treatment/ referral for those with presumptive cases and of course testing.  As the next days pass we will be racing the clock to educate as many people as possible and prepare for any eventuality that may come our way. WE are Ready!!!!

The Administration block and parking lot are now converted to a mass treatment center - with the hope it will not be needed.

On a lighter note, I am grateful to colleagues Mike and Robin who returned to the USA recently but are allowing me to care for Lucky and Sunny for the time being. Both are super friendly guys also committed to helping with the Covid19 campaign.

Lucky hard at work

Sunny hard at work

Lastly, but most importantly --  yesterday marked the end of an era for me as my last surviving grandparent  passed peacefully onward. She helped raise me in my early years and was forever after a fixture in my life in both spirit and body. Lazy summer days on Saltspring island with her will always be my fondest memories. She was extraodinarily kind and fond of me and for that I celebrate her 99 years on the planet and the impact she had on my life. Time to hoist a single malt and reflect on how I got here and to whom I owe a great debt of perpetual gratitude.  Cheers Gran! Keep smiling brightly!

Gran with her 3 kids and my Dad in April of this year (2020)

Thanks for reading .......Layno!!