This newsletter highlights Dr. Patel's mission trip in January 2015.

1. Dr. Parag V. Patel, FICCS Founder and Chairman, trains cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
FICCS Newsletter
Heart Surgeries
for Needy Patients
In January 2015, Dr. Parag Patel
and Dr. Erin Nasralla, both from
Advocate Medical, trained
cardiologist in Nairobi, Kenya
Stacy Harris/EditorMarch 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Erin Nasralla, MD,
(pictured above) from Advocate
Lutheran General Hospital in
Park Ridge, IL teaches young
women CPR at the FICCS
Women’s Center in Nairobi. 45
women participated in the
training to provide the women
with new skills.
CPR Training
Dr. Erin Teaches CPR at Women’s Center
Dr. Parag Patel, DO and Dr. Erin Nasralla, MD, work
together at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park
Ridge, IL. In January 2015, they combined forces to
train Kenyan cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital
in Nairobi. Kenyatta is the only public hospital in
Kenya that performs catheterization procedures. The
program included “hands on” training in the Cath Lab,
with supplies donated by Medtronic, presentations and
supervised patient consultations. In
addition, FICCS donated medical
equipment, including an ECG and
AED machine and medical books.

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Dr. Patel Teaches Pilates
to Women in Nairobi
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Dr. Patel (pictured below) surprised the women at the
Center by teaching them his own Pilates routine. In
addition, he showed them other fitness routines that can
help the girls stay healthy and strong. The center is
complete with an all-purpose fitness machine, weights and
bench, stationary bikes
and much more. The
program is designed to
promote “Healthy
Hearts” and to teach
the young women how
take care of their
minds, bodies and
spirits. There are no
facilities for women in
the slums to work out
so the center provides
relief from daily life.
50 Girls Graduate from
FICCS Women’s Center
In December 2014, 50 girls graduated
from the FICCS Women’s Center
Health Training program. Pictured
above, Program Manager, Millicent Ila
and FICCS Volunteer of the Year,
Magda Harris, present a young lady
with her award. The 6-month training
program consists of weekly classes,
which ranged from learning about
communicable diseases to CPR. In
addition, the classes include nutrition
training to help teach the women how
to provide healthy diets for their
families. In the slums of Nairobi the
women are the one’s who take care of
their siblings so this training is
designed to give them the skills
necessary to share with their peers and
family members and ultimately they
will benefit the entire community.
Helping Disabled Children
FICCS donated wheelchairs, crutches, medicines and other
first aid and hygiene supplies to 60 disabled orphans in
Nairobi. There are little or no services available for disabled
children in Kenya leaving them to suffer in silence. Their birth
mothers give up most disabled children because they simply
cannot take care of them. Most end up on the streets and are
often sexually abused and exploited. Their life span is typically
short as many are discarded like trash at birth for fear that they
are a curse from God. Thanks to our partner Compassionate
Hands for the Disabled Foundation we are able to support the
health and emotional needs of these vulnerable children.
FICCS

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Girls Center Destroyed by Fire
Unfortunately in February 2015 the Hawker’s Market
Girls Center (HMGC) burned down as the entire
facility was consumed in a massive fire that lit up the
Nairobi night. Pictured above are the remains of the
center as they literally lost everything. HMGC has
been our best partner since 2010 having graduated
nearly 100 girls from our FICCS Health Training
program. Several HMGC girls are on FICCS
scholarships including, 2 Nursing College; 1 Teaching
College and 1 B.S. in Counseling scholarship.
Caroline Akinyi, a graduate of HMGC is now the
FICCS Assistant Program Manager and HMGC’s
Rebecca Maundu is our Outreach Coordinator.
However, FICCS has opened its doors to HMGC and
they will continue their 2015 program at the FICCS
Women’s Center. Shriya Patel is pictured below with
the girls in January, only one month before the fire.
Of all our programs the most amazing transformation
has to be Celestine “Nasha” Mainka. Above left the
young Maasai girl is receiving donations in 2013 at
her home in Magadi and above right in 2014 she is
receiving her Health Training certificate at the
Women’s Center in Nairobi. After less than one year
working as a FICCS intern and attending sewing
school she has not only changed her own life for the
better but she is changing lives in her rural area by
being a role model and an inspiration to the girls.
Because of Nasha, many more Maasai girls will be
able to follow in her footsteps and become interns at
the FICCS Women’s Center. Nasha received a
scholarship in 2010 but by 2014 her father was ready
to marry her off to and elderly man. These are a few
of the hardships these girls face without our support.
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Most Maasai girls will become the 4th
or 5th
wife to an elderly man only to bear many
children and live in servitude.
Maasai girls cannot inherit land so if they
leave their husbands they are left with nothing.
School is not a priority for Maasai girls as
they are being trained to become wives and
are married off as young as age 13.
A Maasai Girls
Transformation

4. Nearly $1 Million in Medical Supplies
Donated to Ukranian Soldiers and Kenya
Tragedy turned to triumph thanks to a team of volunteers from Chicago. After years of free
warehouse space to keep all the FICCS donations, Dr. Patel was given short notice as he was
ordered to clear the FICCS belongings. But thanks to Luba and Gene Andrus, pictured left
with Dr. Patel, not only were the supplies moved, but also they were actually able to get
transportation for the overseas donations. 35 pallets worth nearly $1 million are on their way
to Ukraine and Kenya. 27 pallets with stress machines, incubators and other state of the art
medical equipment and consumables will be delivered to Ukrainian soldiers and 8 pallets
including books, clothes, medial supplies and other goods will be delivered to Kenya.
FICCS (Foundation for International Cardiac & Children’s Services)
All donated supplies (pictured right) to Ukraine and
Kenya are dedicated to the Todd Perry Benefit.
Supplies will be delivered to a Ukrainian Hospital
that services the Ukraine military and the FICCS
Women’s Center and partners in Nairobi.
Dr. Parag V. Patel Chairman/Founder
Stacy Harris Managing Director/Editor
Millicent Ila Program Manager
Caroline Akinyi Asst. Program Manager
Rebecca Maundu Outreach Coordinator
Peter Ole Tingai Rural Coordinator
For more information contact us
USA Office Nairobi Office Women’s Center
1010 Sheridan Road House of Vanguard, Fuji Plaza Outering Road (Faulu Building)
Wilmette, IL 60091 Westlands, Nairobi Kariobangi, Nairobi
224-875-1631 +254-20-733-512-802 +254-20-722-824-364
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info@ficcs.net * www.ficcs.net * stacy@ficcs.net
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