News

Immunization Program

November 22, 2010

Since December 2008 when the AMS Community Health Center officially opened its doors full-time, the clinic has been working in conjunction with the government to facilitate a five-and-under immunization clinic once a month. The government provides the immunizations at a cost of 20 KSH (25 cents) per child.

On the fourth Thursday of every month, mothers bring their babies to the clinic to receive immunizations. The government comes with the needed immunizations, records and medical personnel. One by one the babies are weighed, and their weights recorded on a growth chart. Then they head over to get their needed shots. Anywhere from 75 to 150 babies receive their immunizations each month. Though it has taken many years of community awareness, this program is now embraced by the community and is essential to the health of the children.

Recently the AMS clinic was informed that the government is planning to stop their immunization program to the Engos community in December of this year due to lack of finances and personnel. The government has stated, however, that they would provide the immunizations free of cost to the clinic if AMS were willing to take up the project. The AMS clinic is more than willing to provide the immunizations to the community. However, in order to be able to take up this project, a refrigerator is needed in which to store the immunizations. Recently the clinic got its first solar panel thanks to the donations of many people. We hope that we can get more solar power soon in order to be able to power a small fridge.

The immunization project is especially important in rural African communities. According to  Kenya's minister of public health and sanitation, Dr Rose Mugo, Kenya's expanded immunization program has reduced deaths among children from 115 per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 75 per 1,000 live births today - a 35 percent reduction. Vaccines have proved to be "one of the most cost-effective health interventions" available.

The AMS clinic is dedicated to serving the Maasai people of Engos and surrounding villages. With the knowledge of how cost-effective and life-saving immunizations can be, we hope to be able to run the immunization clinic at our facility once the government stops. In order for this to be possible, more solar power and a solar-powered fridge is needed. The cost of a solar-powered fridge runs at $1,000 USD. Please consider donating to this cause. Thank you for making this and so many other projects a reality!