The Koica Alumni Kenya Chapter (KAKC) had intended to visit Lady Hope Wellness Institute before Corona struck and an announcement for lock down declared by His Excellence the President. However, though delayed the visit was eventually
realized on one sunny Saturday, the 30th of October 2020.
The Koica Alumni Kenya Chapter (KAKC) had intended to visit Lady Hope Wellness Institute before Corona struck and an announcement for lock down declared by His Excellence the President. However, though delayed the visit was eventually
realized on one sunny Saturday, the 30th of October 2020.
The planning to honor the plan, KAKC was represented by four Alumni members, Daniel Sankaire, Executive Director KAKC, Florence Wanguku, Treasurer KAKC, Dr. Evelyne and Cindy who is also the Secretary to KAKC. Lady Hope who supports about 100 cancer survivors was ready to host KAKC representatives and was accompanied by about 56 of the survivors who danced and welcomed the team with joy despite their pain. As a way of introduction, Lady Hope narrated how the Institute came into being back in 2009 when she was a proprietor of a Laboratory and observed that most women who visited the facility were shy of requesting for complicated tests such as pap smear. She encouraged them to not only seek simple tests such as urinalysis and it was at that point it came to her realization that many women were suffering from cervical cancer but lacked means to access adequate and proper
treatment.
Her journey to accompany those whose results turned positive with cervical cancer begun and on visiting Kenyatta National Hospital Ward D twice a week, she met other women who had made hospital benches their home as they waited for days to undergo radiotheraphy or chemotheraphy sessions having come from upcountry. These women suffered silently and it was at this point that she felt the need to journey with the suffering.
The women required a shelter where they could stay and access the medical help that was their only hope of survival. Lady Hope rented a room in Kibera where they ladies found a home away from home and only required them to walk to KNH. It was at this time that she realized there were many more women suffering silently in the villages but had no means to access medical care or were shy of sharing their experiences with cervical cancer.
Due to the increased number of cancer patients who came up to seek for
accommodation, support with upkeep to access medication and food while in the City Lady Hope sought a bigger space in
Kihingo village through renting 3 rooms. She relies on well wishers to support with upkeep of the patients needs which
include paying the NHIF national cover which supports at least 60% of the cancer treatment. Other requirements include
food to those accommodated and also the 100 patients who attend support groups on a fortnight basis, bus fare to attend hospital visits which take about 3 months to access radiotheraphy and chemotheraphy. Lady Hope organizes a Cancer Awareness Walk every January to raise money to support the needy cases and also partners with well-wishers such as KAKC, organisations and individuals who see the need to support the initiative.
On this beautiful Saturday, KAKC team was able to share knowledge and create awareness on the purpose of the Alumni body which is supported by KOICA. They demonstrated on how to hand wash appropriately and spoke into the symptoms and preventative means to avert cancer ailments.
Two of the Lady Hope survivors entertained the visitors with a poem pleading with the government of Kenya to provide free cancer treatment as it was an expensive affair.
Another cancer survivor presented a moving shairi on her brevity that despite cancer having robbed her ear, eye and part of the brain she remained hopeful that full recovery was underway.