Saturday, 23rd March, 2019 marked a birthday celebration for those who were born at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Nairobi since it opened in 1962.  All roads led to the hospital for Mater Babies’ Fun Day.  The estimated number of people present was 2,000.

The day started with a health check and screening for all the children and their parents, ensuring all were physically fit and healthy.  Health talks were also given to those gathered by a Gynaecologist, Paediatrician and a Midwife.

In one instance three generations were represented, the grandmothers, mothers and their children who were all born at the hospital.

The oldest person born at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital was Mr Patrick Onyango who was born in 1934 and the youngest were a set of triplets who were born on the actual Babies Day.

The event started at 8.00am with the arrival and registration of the guests and finished at 1pm with the serving of lunch.  The Chief Guest was Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, a member of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital Governing Council who was also born at the hospital in 1972.  Present at the event were Professor Dominic Mwenja, the Chief Executive Officer and Sr. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, the Pontifical Commissary.  Thereafter a Mass of Thanksgiving followed with a blessing for all.

To make this event more successful, a decision was made to commemorate the Mater Baby Celebrations as an annual event that would take place in April when children are on their school holidays, rather than in March when many are in boarding school.

Various entertainments were available and the children were the centre of it.  They were treated to many fun games, face painting, a bouncing castle, a trampoline and the slides of the hospital playground were a great attraction.  The last attraction was the cutting and sharing of the birthday cake with all who were present.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Sr. Brigid Marnane and a closing prayer by Sr. Rose Macharia.

We appreciate the Arts in Medicine Group, Catherine McAuley Nursing School and MCs drawn from Royal Media Services for the remarkable entertainment. We also appreciate all those who came out in their large numbers to make this event a great success.

We give thanks and honour to God who made this event a great success and more so for the miracle of creation.

 

Brigid Marnane rsm
Kenyan Province