Community Health
Until 2018 there were no medical facilities or even access to basic medical supplies in the village. Thanks to a major fundraising initiative as a memorial to the son of two of the trustees, we have been able to significantly improve access to health provision.
Daniel’s Clinic
In 2018 we funded the building and equipping of a small first aid clinic, Daniel’s Clinic, where basic health care is offered to the whole community free of charge. Prior to this, villagers had to travel significant distances to government clinics for any kind of treatment. The cost of this travel is beyond the means of most people. Furthermore, having the clinic nearby allows villagers more time on their farms and caring for family.
In 2023, we funded the building and equipping of a larger clinic which caters for the ever increasing demands and offers a wider range of services including screening for HIV and malaria.
Community Nursing
The new clinic is flourishing under the strong leadership of Nurse Brenda, with vital support from her team. Brenda herself was born, brought up and still lives in the village, so she is extremely familiar with the villagers, their problems and personalities.
However, Brenda duties go far beyond the clinic. She is also the school nurse, conducting regular sessions on nutrition, hygiene and personal healthcare for both the school children and wider community, particularly the children in the hostel.
On occasions, her training in maternity has been called upon in emergency situations. She has delivered two babies under very trying conditions and even saved the life of a young mother who developed complications after a difficult birth.
Family Planning
The problems associated with large families, unwanted pregnancies and child and young mother mortality in developing countries are well documented. Rwanyana village is no exception.
Nurse Brenda has always given advice and guidance on matters of family planning whenever the opportunity arose. We now have funding for a more formal and ongoing programme offering advice and a range of contraceptives for both men and women of a kind that is deemed acceptable and suitable for the community. The trust sees this as a vital initiative which will prove to produce long term benefits for the community by ensuring sustainable family units in the future.
Social Care for the Elderly (Kilinju group)
Rwanyana village is spread over a number of remote hillsides. This means that the elderly can be lonely and isolated without the opportunity of meeting their counterparts.
To combat this, Brenda, the Community Nurse, has organised a monthly elderly persons group where they can meet and be provided with a simple meal and items such as soap, skin jelly and salt. She also carries out health checks and gives advice on nutrition and wellbeing.
120 elderly people attended the first meeting. Clearly they enjoyed their day and a great need is being met.