POOR PATIENTS FUND

Although the hospital's aim is to achieve sustainability on its operational budget, inevitably, we have to subsidize the medical care for those unable to meet the hospital expenses particulalry those involved in road traffic accidents which happen to be very common in Kenya. Our hospital is strategically placed since it is on the highway from from Mombasa(the Kenya Port) through Nairobi, the capital city and on the Great Rift Valley. Other patients with chronic diseases such us diabetes cannot meet the cost of their treatment let alone the cost of the drugs to control their disease.

The result of providing free treatment is a threat to sustainability of the annual operational budget.It is important to note that about 90- plus of our patients meet the cost of their medical bills, but the poor being poor cannot do that and the church has the obligation to help this disadvantaged members of the society. Diabetes has a high prevalence in the Kikuyu area and Kikuyu Hospital boasts as one of the best attended and run Diabetes program that comprises; traetment, training, and health education.

To provide funding for those in need but without financial resources seek medical treatment for conditions such as trauma and diabetes

1. Poor patients fund for diabetes complicated cases and road traffic accidents
2. Insulin for poor patients
3. Tratament of eye diseases secondary to diabetes (Retina treatment requires Laser treatment, cataract,etc.)
4. Purchase of glucometers and strips for poor patients For home glicemia control

Computerisation has helped to create a more efficient and accountable hospital operation, produces on time information and leads to a more factual decision making process.

In Kikuyu we started with the computarisation in 1998, we are one of the pioneers for local software programs for hospital management.Our Information Technology(IT) Department has acquired two servers and the System has been expanded to a networkof 20 Plus stations. The results of these Investement have been good, to mention a few: cash collection increased without increasing patients fees, purchasing of goods and services decreased by 150%. The finances are fully computarised and all transactions are handled on real time and online leading to a better accountability of financial and material resources. Computerisation has helped the hospital to achieve not only efficiency but also sustainability. Currently our operation budget requires less than 10% of donor funding.

1. Procurement of new servers
2. Purchase of computers with monitor and UPS
3. Purchase of high volume laser printer for accounts department

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control

The HIV seroprevalence in Kenya is reported to be 18% among the general population. Effort to create awareness have taken place over the last ten years. The cost of prividing antiretroviral drugs to HIV patients have been prohibitively expensive for most members of the public. As a result 800 people are dying daily from the menace. Effort to promote awareness must continue and should be extendend. TOT's(Trainers of Trainers)training will remain at current levels and access to voluntary counseling and testing must be in place in an effort to fight more effectivly this pandemic.

There is inevitable need to create a revolving fund that can sustain the treatment on demand and with little subsidy to those in need of access to antiretroviral drug therapy. Now that the drug campanies have lowered the price of ARD(Anti-Retroviral Drugs)making them more accessible to segments of society given the fact that the Mission for Essential Drugs (MEDS) have started training of doctors to minister ARD to those suffuring with the HIV/AIDS it is urgent that this drugs be made available to those in need. Am pleased to report that two of our docors have attended this training. This cost and use of ARD drugs will be closely monitored by MEDS in order to ensure that the drugs are properly handled in Christian institutions.

In order to reach out to those demanding ARD a revolving fund is being considered in order to control and sustain the provision of ARD in KIKUYU. The revolving fund for ARD drugs will ensure sustainability and will have little impact on the institution cash flow A small drug mark up will be added to the basic cost of the phamaceuticals in order to increase the drugs accessibility and sustainability of this needed health intervention. We are currently provinding Limited access to MTC interventions. Donations can be made to assist the following

1. Home based care for HIV/AIDS patients
2. Seminars for TOT's[community leaders]
3. HIV/AIDS teaching materials for seminars
4. Prevention of mother to child transmission [drugs and testing]
5. Creation of antiretroviral therapy drug revolving fund
6. Teaching aids[overhead projector and screen