Throughout 2012 The Mater Hospital Nairobi celebrated in style its coming of age at 50!
Click to view a slideshow of images from the Jubilee Year
The Jubilee Heart Run was launched on March 27th at a function on the hospital lawn when some of our major sponsors and the media were present. Children who were beneficiaries of the program in the past gave their stories and inspired us all once again to join hands in the fundraising drive.
The Heart Run itself happened on May 26th. Months of preparation go into this event every year, but this year it was bigger and better than ever. Over 40,000 persons of all ages took part, to ‘touch a child’s heart’ and raise money for the treatment of congenital and rheumatic heart disease in children. The run starts in Nyayo National Stadium, is about 10 Km through the centre of Nairobi city and ends back in the stadium to a day of entertainment and music. It is always a great family occasion but this year capped all, with 274 schools taking part. We even had two parallel runs; one in western Kenya in a town called Mumias, and the other in the port city of Mombasa. The three events together raised 42 Million shillings (about 400,000 euro) for heart surgeries.
Concomitant with preparing for the Heart Run the hospital management worked to produce a memorial booklet. This features inputs from Sr. Liz Fletcher, Provincial of the Sisters of Mercy in Kenya, from the Chair of the Board, Ms. Rina Hanrahan as well as from the Hospital CEO, Dr. John Muriithi. Other areas of interest covered are, the development of Nursing and Medical services as well as the hospital’s two charity programs viz. the children’s cardiac program and the HIV/AIDS program. This booklet is available on the Mater website.
Quick on the heels of the Heart Run, Sr. Mary Pat Garvin, a Sister of Mercy from the US, gave three days of input on the Ethos and Values of the Sisters of Mercy with particular reference to a hospital setting. This proved insightful and very popular with the staff, 95 percent of whom were able to attend. This theme followed on, later in the year, with a two week visit by Sr. Adele Howard, formerly of Fraynework, Australia. Adele concentrated on gathering data and images from the hospital down the years so that its history and development can be aptly depicted in public areas within the hospital. She also gave input on how the Christian values and Mercy ethos can be displayed throughout the hospital. While in the country she worked with the provincial leadership and the hospital management in the design of a permanent ‘monument’ commemorating the year of Jubilee. This is to be unveiled on Foundation Day, December 12th, which also happens to be Jamhuri (Independence) Day in Kenya.
On July 31st we were honored to host Dr. Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade (Ireland), representatives from the Irish Embassy in Dar es Salaam, the Irish Consul in Kenya, and many other Irish visitors and missionaries at the Mater. Mr. Gilmore acknowledged with gratitude the vision of the Sisters of Mercy in setting up the hospital fifty years ago and marked the occasion by donating 50,000 euro, half to go the heart surgeries on children and half to the HIV /AIDS program. A very moving testimony by a HIV boy of 12 years touched the hearts of all present.
The next big jubilee event was a Family Day for staff on August 25th. This was held at SPLASH, which is a water centre about 5 Km to the west of the city. 1200 participants, staff and their children, enjoyed the games, rides, competitions, fashion show, swimming and a host of other activities. It was a full day with activities geared to the various age groups. Lots of prizes, food and drinks were on offer. The atmosphere was one of sharing and enjoyment throughout with all work barriers thrown to the wind. It was very effectively led by two well known local TV presenters who kept us all busy, engaged and happy.
Our next big event was rather special. It took place on September 22nd on the hospital lawn, and comprised of a colourful Liturgy followed by various speeches and acknowledgement of past achievements and persons. The chief celebrant was the Bishop of Lodwar, and the chief guest was the former Vice President, Honorable Moody Awori. We had many other VIP visitors including three Sisters from Dublin who had a big role in former days in the development of the hospital. They were Sr. Magdalen Raftery, Sr. Cora Ferriter and Sr. Andrea de Souza.
After the liturgy we proceeded to bless and open a new 31 bed ward on the top floor of the hospital. It was appropriately named McAuley Ward. It will take a little time for people in this part of the world to get their tongues properly around that name; I did not realize it could be pronounced in so many ways! To end the afternoon we had a lovely lunch and were gifted with little mementos of the occasion.
Within two weeks, the Hospital hosted its first ever International Conference with the theme “Nurturing Cardiovascular Services in Africa”. This happened on 4th and 5th October at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Upper Hill Nairobi. The day prior to the conference we had a very instructive workshop in the hospital on Echocardiography and Cardiac Catheterisation. The conference itself had 120 attendees over the two days. Many topics of cardiology interest were addressed, including cardiac imaging, anesthesia, intensive care, surgery, nursing care and rehabilitation. Participants from Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, as well as Ireland, UK, US, Czech & Slovak Republics, and of course many Kenyans came. All were very stimulated and elated by the level of academia and participation.
Throughout the year a group of about 50 staff have devoted four to five hours each week to choir practice. The same jubilee choir entertained us and our visitors at the Heart Run, the Family Day, when we hosted our VIP Irish friends and on the occasion of the main event in September. They are now practicing for the Nurses Graduation on November 29th, and to entertain the patients over Christmas with carol singing. This choir has given us great pride and has bonded us as little else has.
The jubilee year will end in style with the unveiling of the Jubilee Monument in December. At this point we can only express gratitude to all who have made the year special and trust that the celebrations have brought us all closer and will stimulate us to move toward the next fifty with confidence and hope in the God Who cares for and loves us so much.
Hurrah for Jubilees!
Dr. Marian Dolan rsm
Kenyan Province
