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Dear Parishioners of St Mary's,
Firstly, may I thank you sincerely for your generous donations at our
presentation on the 17th of February. Secondly, I have just returned
from a visit to Kenya to see the situation there, first hand, regarding
the problems experienced there recently.
All is quiet at the moment, but there is a report by Kenyan officials
expected in three months' time as to who shall do what in the
government. This might possibly give rise to a resurgence of the earlier
problem. Mercifully, this is thought to be unlikely, but none the less,
upon discussion with my fellow Explorer Scouts leaders we have decided
to postpone the 2008 project until 2009.
Naturally, we are saddened at having to make this decision. There is,
however, a silver lining. I have had discussions with the Malindi Health
Minister that have proved fruitful: to the extent that the services of a
doctor and the provision of drugs and medicine will now be supplied to
the clinic without any charge.
The arrangement now is, that each patient will pay 60 Kenyan shillings
for the course of treatment undergone - towards the clinic's running
costs, including the resident nurse's wages.
Furthermore, the status of the clinic has been upgraded to that of
dispensary, and a further upgrading is in the pipeline. The dispensary
is run by an elected committee which consists of highly committed Kenyan
women, elders, and young men. The committee sends me, every three
months, monthly figures of patients treated. I shall pass on this
information to readers of the Parish Magazine when I next receive it, in
June.
Again, thank you very much indeed for your support: all of which is
greatly appreciated by all concerned: the Explorer Scouts, the
dispensary committee and, most certainly, myself.
With kind regards
Clive Tullett
I have thought to write to accompany Clive Tullett's
letter telling us the full circumstances in which the Explorer Scouts
will be visiting Kenya to continue in the completion of the Cowdray
Clinic next year rather than this.
About a year ago, we at St Mary's decided to throw ourselves into
finding £5000 towards the £13000 cost of this work. We set ourselves a
date of the 1st of May 2008. It is my great pleasure to be able to write
that we have met this target. Many people have involved themselves in
working towards this success. I am personally very grateful to you all,
indeed.
The cost of an enterprise such as this is considerable, and not easily
met. There are costs in the shape of building materials; also
subsistence. So everyone as to pay his or her own air fare; and the
manner of living while in Kenya is spartan.
What a privilege it is to support our young people in the way that we
can.
Alan Morris
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