Het team van Wakonyu, in het Nederlands ook wel het OMA-project genoemd, brengt geregeld bezoeken aan de mensen in de gemeenschap. Hieronder lees je het verslag dat zij maakten van het werk en de mensen die door het project geholpen worden (in het Engels).

Two executive board members Mr. Luke Onditi, Sophie Okello and I, decided to visit some of the Wakonyu beneficiaries to know about their health progress. The first home we arrived was of Mr. Akacha.

(Mr. Akacha with Mr. Luke Onditi at his home in Nyalenda)

We were give  a warm welcome by his now aged wife Wilfrida in her 80s and as we took our respective seats we couldn’t help but notice the distant smile on her face. She was glad to see us. After exchanging the usual pleasantries we asked her about the progress of her husband and herself but instead of answering us, she ushered us to the bedroom where her husband was. Wilfrida is not only old but sickly too, she suffers from diabetes and arthritis.  Despite that she still has to take care of her sick husband. When we entered the bedroom we could tell Mr. Akacha was pleased to see us. He gave us a weak smile as he stretched out his hands to greet us.  We asked him how he was feeling and he said he woke up feeling slightly better that day, but added that the problem he had was the uncontrollable flow of urine. Mr. Akacha has been ailing from prostate cancer since 2007 when Wakonyu Project was started. His grandchildren are beneficiaries of the NHIF scheme.

He has had two major prostrate operations at St. Georges Hospital of which Wakonyu catered for. Mr. Akacha is still bed ridden but he is grateful to Wakonyu for helping him prolong his life.

The next home we visited was of Mama Rosalia Odeny. We were amazed by the vibrant smile  that welcomed us. Instantly we

Rosalia Odeny outside her home in Nyalenda Estate

saw Rosalia was happy we had visited her at her home. As we sat down Luke asked her how she was progressing since the operation and she responded with a smile which was an  indication that she was now doing fine. Rosalia can now see perfectly without putting on glasses.

Wakonyu had helped pay for her right eye operation at Sabatia eye hospital. As we bade her farewell she couldn’t help but express her gratitude for what Wakonyu had done for her.

Beatrice

Her emptiness doesn’t have a lid; it spills against the sides without answers. She is Beatrice Akinyi a partial orphan. As we walk into the room we find Beatrice has just woken up, her eyes with a faraway look. This is the third day that she hasn’t gone to school. She is just 7 years old and it’s sad to say that her condition had deprived her of school for a longtime. Beatrice is epileptic and often gets seizure attacks. Initially the seizures would prevent her from going to school for weeks. . She is no longer having seizures frequent she can now attend school. This is a miracle in itself.

But thanks to the Wakonyu support her guardian can now take her to clinic at the Star hospital. Her physician Dr. Muga has put her medication and has improved remarkably

Joseph Obuogo outside his house

Joseph Okoth Obuogo has been paralyzed for the past eight years and confined to a wheelchair. The family has been forced to take care of him with a little help from well wishers. Joseph’s condition is heartbreaking; initially he was the sole breadwinner of his family. Now his young family has to fully depend on his wife for survival. Joseph developed high blood pressure which caused the paralysis and now he has to go for physiotherapy to make his condition better.

Wakonyu has been able to assist him by catering for the physiotherapy sessions at the district hospital. Now he can walk with the help of a walking stick which gives him an element of independence.

From left, Mr. Luke Onditi, Mr. .John Polo, Silibia Opon and Sophy Okello

Silibia Atieno Opon is a widow. She got an accident and broke her left leg, but through Wakonyu catering for her medical expenses she can now walk with the little help of a stick.

The stories are presented by Wakonyu Team.