…Turns Kenya Green with Hope

The Mater Heart Run (MHR) was started in 2002 as the main fundraising avenue for the Mater Misericordiae Hospital Cardiac Program.  Initially held only in Nairobi, the Heart Run has grown over the years and is now held in TEN different towns/counties namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Nakuru, Bomet and Kericho.  This year’s run was held on Saturday 25th May, 2024.  Kenyans from all walks of life showed up in large numbers to support this worthy cause.

Since the inception of the Cardiac Program two decades ago, 5448 children from poor backgrounds have benefited from specialized cardiac interventions that they would otherwise have missed, condemning them to a poor quality of life or early death.  Many beneficiaries of the Program have actualized their dreams and are now able to lead normal and productive lives.

From the funds collected during last year’s Mater Heart Run, 380 children benefited through both open and closed heart surgeries giving a new lease of life to these young citizens from economically challenged backgrounds.  Through the Rheumatic Disease Camps, 147,090 children have been screened across different counties.

During these Camps, there are awareness campaigns to educate communities on early signs of Rheumatic and Congenital Heart Diseases, for early diagnosis and intervention in any cases that arise.  Early intervention has been shown to have better clinical outcomes.

Through the Cardiac Program, the hospital hosts external missions such as the Slovak & Czech republic Camps, Dr. SivaKumar from India and Dr. Ahmed Afifi from the Aswan Heart Centre in Egypt.  These external super specialists work closely with our local teams to perform life changing complex heart surgeries and interventions as well as undertake knowledge transfer through observerships and proctorships.

Mater Misericordiae Hospital is currently fundraising through strategic partnerships to establish a Cardiac Diseases Centre of Excellence that will serve not only Kenya, but the East and Central African regions.  Over the years we have built extraordinary partnerships between our corporate sponsors, schools, children, Kenyans and well-wishers to keep the Mater Heart Run going.  We have grown to be one family, united by a shared vision of compassion and service.  Together, we have forged a bond that extends beyond mere partnership, evolving into a deep shared vision and mission.

Mater Misericordiae Hospital is currently fundraising through strategic partnerships to establish a Cardiac Diseases Centre of Excellence that will serve not only Kenya, but the East and Central African region.

 

Dr. Mary Ngui rsm
Kenyan Province