This is a report of the 2012 Medical Mission trip to Kenya.

1.
FICCS
(Foundation
for
International
Cardiac
&
Children’s
Services)
CHANGING
LIVES
IN
KENYA
2012
Mission
Report
Private
vs.
Public
Hospitals
in
Kenya
12
Charity
Heart
Surgeries
and
Cardiac
Training
in
2012
Although
the
FICCS
team,
led
by
Dr.
Patel,
was
able
to
perform
12
successful
cardiovascular
procedures
in
2012,
the
difference
between
the
public
and
private
sector
hospitals
was
startling.
After
spending
the
last
2
years
in
private
hospitals
in
Nairobi,
the
team
performed
their
first
surgeries
at
public
hospitals
in
Nairobi
since
2003.
The
private
hospital
was
loaded
with
state
of
the
art
equipment,
well
skilled
technicians
and
a
plethora
of
medicine
and
medical
supplies.
The
facility
included
a
million
dollar
Cath
Lab
exactly
like
the
one
used
by
Dr.
Patel
at
Advocate
Lutheran
General
Hospital
in
Illinois.
On
the
other
hand,
the
public
hospital,
Kenyatta
National
Hospital
was
the
direct
opposite.
There
was
no
state
of
the
art
equipment,
only
a
black
and
white
X
ray
machine
rather
than
a
cath
lab.
Patients
had
no
numbing
medication
and
even
gowns
and
scrubs
were
in
short
supply.
The
theatre
was
small
and
cramped,
but
it
got
the
job
done.
However,
the
dedication
of
the
cardiologist
at
the
public
hospital
was
simply
amazing
as
regardless
of
the
lack
of
equipment,
they
proved
more
devoted
to
serving
their
patients.
Our
Team
Dr.
Parag
V.
Patel,
Chairman
Stacy
Harris,
Managing
Director
(Nairobi)
Karen
Mulcahy,
Managing
Director
(USA)
Cynthia
Coredo,
Program
Assistant
Millicent
Ila,
Health
Coordinator
Peter
Tingai,
Rural
Communities
Effects
of
Early
Marriage
“My
dad
came
into
the
house
nearly
midnight
and
woke
me
and
my
mum
up
and
said,
tomorrow
get
ready
to
move
into
your
house
and
become
a
woman,
someone
is
picking
you
and
he
has
already
paid
your
dowry.
In
fact,
I
have
just
finished
drinking
his
last
beer.”
I
was
only
15
years
old.
I
got
married
as
a
second
wife
to
my
dad’s
friend
who
was
45.
I
had
my
first
child
at
16
and
it
was
a
very
painful
and
difficult
birth.
I
finally
went
back
home
but
was
received
with
a
lot
of
hostility,
but
since
I
was
sick,
my
dad
let
me
in.
Written
by
Asnas
(Safe
Spaces)
FGM
Destroys
Families
She
was
only
six
years
old
when
it
happened.
She
had
cried
for
her
mother
for
the
rite
not
to
be
performed
to
her
but
the
mother
had
no
say
in
the
matter.
She
went
through
it
FGM
(Female
Genital
Mutilation
and
now
at
26
years
old
she
blames
her
father
for
her
misery.
Married
now
for
seven
years
she
has
no
child.
The
first
died
during
birth
and
three
miscarriages
followed.
The
doctor
confirmed
there
is
no
hope
for
a
baby.
Written
by
Prexedes
Mumbua
(HMGC)

2.
FICCS
SPONSORED
EVENT
IS
A
SUCCESS
Girls
Showcase
their
Talents
through
Sports
and
Fashion
Escaping
Early
Marriage
My
best
friend
and
I
were
like
twin
sisters
for
the
last
five
years.
We
were
inseparable
in
our
village;
we
even
did
our
chores
together.
My
parents
tried
to
separate
us,
but
it
could
not
be
done
because
Wangechi
and
I
were
best
friends.
One
day
while
in
school,
Wangeci’s
parents
tried
to
sell
her
to
an
old
man
who
was
very
rich.
Unfortunately,
she
knew
nothing
about
the
plan
that
had
already
been
decided.
Wangeci’s
parents
told
her
to
pack
her
bags
because
she
was
going
on
a
trip.
She
did
as
she
was
instructed
and
packed
her
bags.
After
a
long
journey
she
was
taken
to
a
room
and
locked
inside
so
she
could
not
escape.
She
did
not
know
that
her
parents
were
at
a
separate
house
dining
with
the
old
man
as
they
were
preparing
to
execute
the
plan.
The
girls
fate
was
determined
over
a
cup
of
tea.
Something
miraculous
appeared
in
Wangeci’s
mind
and
told
her
that
something
was
happening
between
her
parents
and
herself.
Five
seconds
later,
she
heard
some
boys
talking
around
the
house.
WOW!
That
lady
in
the
house
is
the
future
wife
of
Kigagi.
Wangeci
was
shocked
as
she
said
to
herself,
“No,
this
cannot
happen
to
me.”
The
girl
started
to
look
around
and
wonder
how
she
could
escape.
There
was
only
a
small
window,
which
was
very
high
up.
She
stood
on
a
stool
and
struggled
to
open
the
window,
but
as
soon
as
it
opened,
she
ran
towards
the
forest
and
disappeared.
She
had
finally
escaped
her
problem.
Later
on,
her
parents
were
arrested
for
taking
money
in
exchange
for
their
daughter.
The
old
man
was
not
charged
because
he
did
not
get
the
girl
offered
to
him.
She
escaped!
Written
by
Anne
Chege,
HMGC
1
On
Saturday,
September
1
st
,
2012,
FICCS
hosted
its
Second
Annual,
“Empowering
Women
in
Kenya”
day.
Over
300
people
attended
and
watched
the
girls
as
they
displayed
their
talents.
The
event
was
highlighted
by
Box
Girls
Coach,
Sarah
Achieng,
who
defended
her
East-­‐Central
Africa
Professional
Women’s
Featherweight
Title
at
the
prestigious
Galleria
Mall
in
Nairobi.
Sarah
won
in
a
7
th
round
TKO
after
the
referee
had
to
stop
the
fight.
“Thanks
to
FICCS
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
showcase
my
skill.
It
is
hard
to
get
people
to
support
women
boxers
in
Kenya.”
Sarah
Achieng,
Box
Girls
Kenya
Coach
Aside
from
the
three
professional
fights
organized
by
Box
Girls,
there
was
also
a
youth
boxing
tournament
featuring
the
team
from
Kibera.
Kenya’s
first
female
Olympic
Boxer
and
also
a
Box
Girl
Kenya
coach,
was
the
referee.
Hawkers
Market
Girls
Center
(pictured
above)
wowed
the
crowd
with
a
spectacular
fashion
show.
All
items
were
made
by
the
girls
through
their
“Earn
and
Learn”
program
where
girls
learn
sewing
and
tailoring
skills
which
they
can
use
to
make
a
living.
2
“it
was
the
best
event
we
have
ever
been
a
part
of.
It
gave
our
girls
a
chance
to
showcase
their
talents
and
promote
our
programs.
The
girls
ate,
they
boxed,
they
danced
and
it
will
be
a
day
they
will
never
forget.
Cynthia
Coredo,
Box
Girls
Kenya
Director
Special
thanks
to
Galleria
Shopping
Mall
for
donating
the
space
and
for
all
the
vendors
who
supported
the
girls,
including
Nairobi’s
own
KFC.
It
was
truly
a
day
the
girls
will
never
forget.
When
I
saw
the
smiles
and
the
roaring
of
the
crowd
as
the
girls
presented
their
own
fashion
styles.
I
realized
something
at
that
point.
The
smiles,
the
joy,
the
cheering
was
all
building
these
girls
confidence
and
boosting
their
self-­‐esteem.
Never
had
they
been
in
such
a
glorious
situation
and
never
have
I
been
so
proud
of
these
100
girls
who
participated.
“I
have
never
felt
this
good
in
my
life.
I
created
my
own
dress,
I
walked
the
runway
and
I
feel
like
a
new
woman
today.”
Prexedes
Mumbua,
HMGC

3.
Maasai
Girls
Responsibilities
and
Hardships
Health
Training
for
Girls
In
Kenya,
many
women
and
children
die
from
easily
preventable
diseases.
Small
infections
routinely
treated
by
a
hospital
become
complicated
for
those
living
in
the
slums.
To
combat
this
personal
health
issue,
FICCS
provides
over
100
girls
each
year
with
healthcare
training,
medical
check
ups
and
nursing
scholarships
for
top
students.
Not
only
do
the
girls
learn
how
to
take
care
of
their
own
personal
health
and
hygiene,
they
also
receive
skills
which
can
be
used
and
shared
in
the
communities
in
which
they
live.
Mosquito
Nets
Save
Lives
200
mosquito
nets
were
donated
to
rural
Maasai
communities
in
Loita
Hills
and
Magadi,
Kenya.
Due
to
increased
rains,
which
are
much
needed,
there
was
also
an
increase
in
mosquitoes
This
has
a
devastating
effect
on
rural
communities,
which
live
side
by
side
with
their
animals.
In
addition,
FICCS
supports
these
communities
with
malaria
medicines,
school
supplies
and
other
assorted
medical
supplies.
“Due
to
the
rains,
the
mosquitoes
have
been
bringing
a
lot
of
malaria.
The
children
suffer
the
most
because
we
do
not
have
nets
or
medicines.
Many
times
they
just
die.”
Peter
Tingai,
Maasai
Elder
1
The
Maasai
girl
compared
to
the
boy
has
a
lot
of
responsibilities
to
attend
at
home
due
to
the
fact
that
though
she
is
born
into
that
family,
she
is
being
prepared,
tortured,
trained
and
made
both
physically
and
psychologically
to
become
a
wife
in
her
future
home.
These
hardships
are
making
Maasai
girls
an
endangered
species.
Some
of
these
problems
go
to
the
extent
of
violating
the
girls’
rights
and
need
to
be
solved
if
the
communities
are
to
enjoy
the
service
of
the
Maasai
girl.
These
responsibilities
limit
their
ability
to
attend
school.
1. Fetching
water
and
firewood
–
They
begin
at
age
7
and
walk
up
to
10
miles
per
day
2. Cooking
food
for
the
family
–
Being
prepared
to
be
a
wife
she
cooks
for
the
entire
family
and
does
not
even
get
to
eat
the
food
she
prepares.
This
is
tradition.
3. Keeping
the
house
–
Domestic
chores
cannot
be
performed
by
boys
4. Cleaning/washing
–
With
many
pots
and
utensils
this
can
take
all
day
5. Taking
care
of
younger
siblings
–
In
absence
of
mother
the
girls
do
everything
6. Newborns-­‐
Learn
to
take
care
of
the
babies
to
prepare
for
their
own
children
7. Entertaining
morans
–A
moran
is
a
carefree
young
man
waiting
to
be
an
adult
and
warrior.
This
spreads
HIV
as
the
girls
look
up
to
the
morans
and
often
get
pregnant.
8. Washing
all
clothes
and
baby
items
9. Herding
10. Milking
the
animals
HARDSHIPS
include
the
following:
1. Early
Marriages
2. Denial
to
chose
husband
3. Discomfort
in
house
4. Load
of
domestic
chores
5. Not
allowed
to
inherit
family
items
2
Sanitary
Pads
Improve
School
Attendance
“Most
girls
use
old
rags
or
other
unsanitary
measures
and
are
forced
to
miss
weeks
of
school
each
semester”
Peninah
Musyimi,
Safe
Spaces
Of
all
the
surprises
in
2012
it
has
easily
been
the
introduction
of
our
Sanitary
Pad
program.
Girls
in
the
programs
lack
such
basic
essentials,
which
often
cause
them
to
miss
weeks
of
school
and
force
them
to
leave
their
jobs.
This
also
forces
girls
to
use
unsanitary
rags,
which
lead
to
further
infections
and
complications.
Combined
with
a
lack
of
clean
water
and
ignorance
among
male
community
members,
girls
are
often
discriminated
against
and
suffer
unjustly
during
this
time
of
month.
There
is
no
sympathy
for
the
girls
and
the
though
of
spending
money
on
pads
for
a
father
is
unthinkable.
This
leaves
the
girls
in
precarious
situations
whereas
their
health
is
in
jeopardy.
Thanks
for
FICCS
and
their
Sanitary
Pad
support,
many
of
these
girls
now
go
to
school
or
work
freely
not
worrying
about
their
menstruation
cycle
for
the
first
time
in
their
lives.

4.
2012
Achievements
and
Impact
Health
Training
40
girls
completed
healthcare
and
hygiene
training
130
girls
to
date
have
completed
15
week
health
training
class
Families
and
communities
have
benefited
from
girls
sharing
new
knowledge
Decrease
in
minor
wounds
and
injuries
Feeding
Program
Over
1000
children
receiving
direct
food
support
Increase
in
school
attendance
Increase
in
program
attendance
Boost
morale
and
improve
self-­‐esteem
Scholarships
Two
Teaching
Scholarship
begin
in
January
2013
Three
Nursing
scholarships
begin
in
March
2013
One
high
school
scholarship
begins
in
January
2013
UPCOMING
EVENTS
March
2013
–
Chicago
Fundraiser
–
Changing
Lives
in
Kenya
Olympic
Dreams
Come
True
Elizabeth
Andiego
(blue
trunks)
Box
Girls
Kenya
Coach
First
Kenyan
Female
Olympic
Boxer
Sponsors
and
Partners
Metronic
*
St.
Jude
Medical
*
Nairobi
X
Ray
*
Meditec
Systems
*
Fuji
Film
Kenya
*
Aqualia
Foundation
*
Hawkers
Market
Girls
Center
*
Box
Girls
Kenya
*
Safe
Spaces
*
Ramah
Care
Center
*
Shompole
Group
Ranch
Maasai
*
Loita
Hills
Group
Ranch
Maasai
*
Karen
Hospital
*
Melchizedek
Hospital
*
Advocate
Medical
Group
*
Advocate
Lutheran
General
Hospital
*
St
Pius
X
*
Grand
World
Wide
Logistics
*
Under
the
Acacia*
Kenyatta
Hospital
FICCS
(Foundation
for
International
Cardiac
&
Children’s
Services)
1010
Sheridan
Road
Wilmette,
IL
60091
1-­‐224-­‐875-­‐1631
info@ficcs.net
www.ficcs.net
Special
Thanks
to
the
Affinati
Family
from
Chicago