Wiping away tears, bringing joy to mothers

By Jeckonia Otieno

Trusila Ngolo, her baby cuddled in her arms, radiated a warm smile – a smile that had eluded her for quite some time.
Her joy came from the knowledge that she was finally going home, and not just with her baby, but with generous gifts that included a basin, baby clothes, pampers, porridge flour, soaps for baby and mother, sanitary pads, lesos and magazines.

For her, the celebration of the International Mother’s Day could not have come at a better time.

Having been worried for a while as to how she would get discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), as she was unable to raise the hospital bill, the visit by The Standard Group’s magazine team, led by My Health (which is published every Tuesday by The Standard), and its partners who included Safaricom Foundation, Deacons Kenya, Proctor & Gamble, Resolution Health and Evans Kidero Centre, Trusila and 49 other new mothers in similar circumstances would finally go home.

Magnanimous
In a magnanimous gesture, Safaricom Foundation presented a cheque of Sh1.5 million to KNH’s chief executive officer, Richard Lesiyampe, that would cater for their hospital bill and allow the new mothers to go home.

As he presented the cheque, Safaricom’s Joseph Ogutu, noted that many mothers in Kenya face numerous challenges in bringing up their children, starting with lack of money to pay maternity bills.

The Standard Group magazines team presents its donation. [Photo: Maxwell Agwanda/Standard]

“It is for this reason that we decided to put a smile on the faces of these mothers by paying their hospital bills today,” said Ogutu.

About 300 expectant and new mothers at the hospital’s Maternity Wing were showered with gifts provided by the partners, who joined The Standard Group magazines team to gladden their hearts as part of the International Mother’s Day festivities, whose climax will be marked on Sunday.

“I can hardly believe it,” said Ngolo, who gave birth last week. “My dream has come true and I ask God to shower all of you with blessings and expand your frontiers. Because of you, I can now go home.”

Deacons Kenya’s Jedida Thotho noted that mothers are important and should never be neglected. She donated baby clothes worth Sh1.1 million to the new mothers, who would each go home with at least three outfits for their bundles of joy.

“If you look at the world’s greatest men, you will see that they had caring mothers during their formative years,” said Thotho.
Resolution Health’s Eunie Khimulu presented baby soaps and antiseptic solution, while Salome Mwaura of Proctor and Gamble presented diapers, sanitary towels and soaps to the mothers.

Brought joy
“We are happy that we have brought joy to the hearts of these mothers,” they said.

Representing Evans Kidero Foundation, Ibrahim ‘Johnny’ Ahmed said today’s children will lead the country in the near future and they, therefore, deserved to be well taken care of. He donated basins, clothes and sanitary towels among other gifts.

On its part, The Standard Group provided lesos, porridge flour, baby and women magazines and newspapers for the mother. Radio Maisha, through the Staarabika Show with Mwende Macharia, covered the event live from the hospital, allowing the new mothers and the hospital administration staff to air their views on this popular station.
The total value of all the donations was more than Sh5 million.

Speaking at the function, Lesiyampe appreciated the generous gesture from the corporate organisations, as he invited more companies to support patients at the hospital, which is East Africa’s largest referral and teaching institution.
Sherine Atieno, 22, a new mother, could hardly hide her joy. She got pregnant last year in Ugenya, Siaya County, while still a student at Segere Secondary School. When the father of the child abandoned her, she did not know what to do.

“I moved in with my aunt and she took care of me,” she narrated.

With time, however, her pregnancy experienced complications, which forced her to visit a local hospital. Tests confirmed that the baby was breech.

Since she had no money, Atieno contacted her sister in Nairobi who invited her so that she could receive further medical care.
Her sister, who lives at Pipeline Estate, took her to a private hospital where she was informed that the abnormality could only be corrected at KNH

It is here that she gave birth to her son, whom she has named Shelton.
Nevertheless, she had no means of paying her hospital bill… until it was paid for on Tuesday.