EWOI PROGRAMME
DIOCESE OF LODWAR
Annual
report 2008
Introduction
The
report highlights all the programme activities implemented, programme future
plans for
The
Ewoi programme assists the poor old people who have been abandoned by their
relatives. The programme is there to improve their livelihoods’ since they
cannot cater for themselves and have no access to medical facilities.
The
programme is part of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan of 2007 – 2012.
Clients.
The
programme has an intake of 146 clients within Lodwar town.
The
programme deals with self-help groups in Lokitaung, Kataboi, Kaikor,
Kangatotha, Kalokol, Nasiger, Katilu, Turkwel, Kakuma and Lokichoggio with
about 800 old ones getting direct or indirect assistance from the programme.
The intake of new clients in Lodwar is done by the social worker and the home
visitor whereas in parishes, it is the task of the volunteers and the Small
Christian Communities (SCC).
In
Lodwar 10 clients died, 13 removed from the list and we had an intake of 10 new
clients.
Staff
The
programme is staffed by:
1
co-ordinator
1
Assistant co-ordinator
1
Social worker
1
full-time home visitor/community worker
1
Part-time home visitor/office assistant
3
part-time home visitors
1
part-time cleaner
2
full-time watchmen
- 2
staff members are undertaking training in Management and one staff member a Community
health courses in
- 5
staff members attended a Home Based Care course organised by Meds in Eldoret.
- One
social worker finished her course and got a certificate.
- The
student who was sponsored by Ewoi Programme for nursing course is in her second
year
sponsored by Anna Poot Foundation from the
The Office
One
staff member does the office work, i.e. takes care of the store, records all the outgoing food. She also attends to visitors
and clients who usually visit the office.
During
this year:
- 407 came
to the office for general assistance and special reasons
- 108 came
for social problems.
- 2662
food assistance that was given out
-
Maize/beans 2662 packets (
- Posho
1772 packets (
- Biscuits 717 Pieces
-
Others (oil, soap, cloths, mats)
3349
The
road in front of the office was terrible. When it rains it is difficult for the
clients and the car to come in and it took long before it dries. We tried
several times to explain this problem to the municipal council but this time we
were lucky and the road was rectified. We are very grateful for that.
Home Visits
The
home visitation is very important component in the programme. The home visitors
represent the office and therefore know the needs of the old people. The home
visitors are trying to encourage the relatives and the community to assist and
take care of the old in one way or another.
When
an old person has a problem, the home visitor reports to the office after which
action is taken to help the old in need. The clients appreciate the home visits
very much since some of them get only the attention from the home visitor.
Total
Home visits: Social worker 790
Home
visitors 4361
Others 40
Medical Department
One
of the staff members usually accompanies the sick clients to the hospital or to
the nearby dispensary. The home visitors do the follow-up and reports back the
progress of the client. When there is a sick client who cannot go to the
hospital or the dispensary, a nurse is usually called to visit and treats the
sick granny at home.
Working
this way is okay and cheaper for the programme; however it sometimes becomes
difficult especially when the clinical officers from the hospital are not on
duty or are on leave.
Mobile
Clinic
The
Ewoi programme is still offering the mobile clinic services in Kalokol. The
sick clients come up in a good number. A part time home visitor does follow-ups
and encourages the relatives to take care of the old. Since June, we got
assistance from one of the sisters in Kalokol to clerk the patients instead of
hiring the nurses from the hospital. This is after talking with the medical
coordinator from the Diocese who made the arrangements a success.
We
have not yet started the mobile clinic services in some other villages as most
of the people are still not cooperative with the programme staff on the
implementation of the same.
Prevention
- The
home visitors are still teaching the old to keep good hygiene. When necessary
the home
visitors cut the
nails and the hair of the client and also assist in bathing. They also teach
and
encourage the relatives and the community to do the same.
- Home
visitors also ensures that the client is using the net given from the office,
and the result it
is evident that all
the clients are using their nets and this has reduced the cases of malaria
which
have drastically dropped down.
- Apart
from that, the clients are also taught how to use medicines, how to assist each
other and
how to operate income generating
activities.
Activities
of the medical department
- 274
clients got medical treatment from the office, hospital, dispensary or treated at
home by the
nurse.
- 51
visits to the hospital for special reasons.
- 455
clients attended the mobile clinic, 50 cost sharing treatment.
- 274
clients were admitted in the hospital.
Eye
Camp
An
eye camp was held in Lodwar District hospital.
A
total of 46 clients attended the eye camp and were screened with the results as
follows:
8
clients got an operation
10
clients got treatment
12
clients could not be treated.
4
clients had no problem with their eyes.
8
clients were booked for next year.
4
clients didn’t turn up for treatment and operation.
After
the operations the 8 clients got back their vision.
Handicapped
The
programme is still assisting handicapped cases. The social worker is
dealing with these cases. During home visits the home visitors come across
these cases or some parents seek for help from them since they don’t know where
to go. The programme tries to refer them to John Paul II home in Lokichar. For
some cases not fitting in Lokichar, most of them mental and physical handicapped,
the programme try to assist. The orthopaedic technician from Kitale comes every
time we need him. The programme is giving attention to 10 handicapped cases
most of which are children. Funds from Liliane Fonds are assisting in
sponsoring them.
The
programme organised a parents meeting and a day for the hamndicapped.
Food
It
is a problem for the poor old clients to get food. The only source is food from
relief and from the office.
Until
August the programme provided food every week to about eighty old people. This included
The
programme also offers extra food to clients with special needs like; those who
are taking strong drugs e.g. TB drugs and ARV’s and to clients who have to take
care of grandchildren (Aids orphans).
The
programme stopped the food distribution from July since the relief food
distribution was going on in the villages and most of our clients are getting
food. To be registered for relief food and later getting the food is thanks to the
home visitors who follow the procedure of the distribution.
Transport
The
programme is still using the Hilux pick-up. For
duties outside Lodwar the programme hires a driver of the diocese.
The
staffs are using the bicycles. The technician does the service for the bicycles
three times in a year. When there is any problem, the technician is called to
repair the bicycles in the office.
One
of the staff member is using the motorbike for
community work.
Workshops
Since
the beginning of the year the programme has intensified the workshops because
they were very successful. The reaction of the Small
Christian Community were positive and they asked to continue.
For
the cost of the work shops there was written a proposal which was send to an
organisation in the
They
granted the cost for 2 years.
11
workshops were given throughout the diocese
4
Staff members are specialised in this activity
Income generating project
One
staff member is involved in income generating activities. She helps the clients
to do some activities by getting a loan and guides them on how to do the business.
The old ones can use the profit for their daily lives.
The
staff members stimulate the clients to make mats, brooms, sticks, collecting
firewood etc. But this is never enough to cater for the old ones needs.
According
to an investigation by the staff, 59 of the clients are doing an activity for
sustaining their lives and 5 are in the income generating project. The rest of
the clients are not able to do something, because of health.
The
IGP activities consumes a lot of time, needs patience and a committed attitude.
Building houses
After
stopping building of houses, the relatives and community took over and built
houses for their old ones. In some cases the programme decided to provide some
food for those building a house for an old one. Only when there is a special
case we do something about it.
Finance
The
sustenance of the programme is still depends on well-wishers, small
organisations and friends of the coordinator. Missie Bureau Roermond from the
The
programme is still looking for a long term sponsors.
Activities
-
The board of management
held one meeting.
-
The programme organised an
International day for the old on 17October.
-
Weekly food distribution
to about 80 clients.
-
One old man was found in
the street homeless. The staff traced his relatives and took him after bathing,
cutting nails/hair and putting on clean clothes.
-
During the monthly mobile
clinic in Kalokol the clients got food and a piece of soap bedding, clothes and
utensils, when there was a need.
-
The Orthopaedic technician
comes when there is need and the clients got equipments like callipers,
artificial legs, polio boots etc.
-
A total of 10 workshops
were organised as follows; Kaikor, Lokitaung, Kataboi, Nasiger, Kangatosa,
Katilu, Kanamkemer, Kakuma, Lokichoggio and Turkwel. All were to teach the SCC
and the relatives how to care for the old.
-
A parents day and a day for the
handicapped children.
-
The programme still
continues to teach the 3 handicapped young clients.
-
The student sponsored by
the programme for nursing is joining her second year.
-
Five staff members
attended a workshop on Home based care in Eldoret organised by MEDS.
-
The programme organised
one workshop for the staff.
-
Regularly the programme
kept in contact with; The Chancellor of the Diocese, Forest office, Chiefs,
Social service, Hospital, Liliane Fonds, Help Age, Dispensaries, WFP, Police,
Justice and Peace, Children’s officer and other public organisations.
Finally
the Board of the Ewoi programme and the management are very grateful to all the
well-wishers who made it possible to sustain the programme. Without them it was
not possible to assist the poor needy old people in Lodwar and surroundings.
Also
we thank the staff for their commitment. They were hardworking
and they showed a responsible attitude to the poor. They are a good example for
the whole community.