The Good
The CHAT FP CORPS we have funded continue to expand teaching about the advantages of spacing between children. They are on budget for the last grant request and CHAPS is beginning to raise funds to provide support for the next year. In the Bush Journal you will find a story from the Suguta Valley (the hottest driest place in Kenya and perhaps Africa). It is written in the Kenyan story telling style but a synopsis is that the report confirms:
- that the men are realizing how important spacing between children is to the health and security of the family.
- having community FP Corps in regular contact with the community is important to prevent or counteract misinformation.
The Sad
The SMMMS program in the highlands of Ethiopia is fully shut down due to the conflict and the blocking of full communications by the Ethiopian government. There have been some personal contacts that indicate the nurses who CHAPS funded training and the equipment purchased are still working in the communities. All we can do is wish them the best and be proud of what they are doing.
The UGLY
CHAT normally sources medicines via a US non-profit that works with drug manufacturers and hospitals to obtain medicines in danger of expiring before they can be used and facilitates rapid delivery to end users such at CHAT and faith-based clinics. Unfortunately, the funding to do this work is partially tied up in the USAID blockage. CHATS only other option is to purchase Chinese drugs and even the Chinese know those are fake or poor quality.
('Ineffective' generic drugs fuel rare public anger in China, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceve1xpdjxro).
The result is likely to be wasted products and drug shortages in the field. Who knows how long this situation will remain in effect.
UPDATE. CHAPS is fundraising to support the mobile clinic in buying needed drugs on the open market. Unfortunately, on the open market the drugs are very expensive - for example the ARV drugs for treating HIV and Aids are $135/month. This is in comparison to the $60/ month that the people earn. With these drugs the people can continue to work and support their families.
Guidestar Silver Ranking
Chaps is now designated Silver Rating by Guidestar. We are looking at moving up to a Gold rating but at present it would require us to spend significant funds on an accounting audit. Should we find a volunteer who can audit our very simple books we will revisit the question. In the mean time those funds will be spent in support of family planning.
What we do
CHAPS provides direct funding to remote clinics that have proven to be effective in their environment. These clinics receive only small amounts of funding from large programs and we endeavor to fill in the gaps. You may direct your donations to one of the following categories of funding: Family Planning, general healthcare, clinic operations, unrestricted funds.
Family Planning
Family planning is one of the most critical needs for remote communities to survive and thrive. By choosing to space their children 3-5 years apart it is possible for the whole family to survive the devastating droughts that regularly sweep the north of Kenya. Read More
Semien Mountains Mobile Medical Service (SMMMS)
SMMMS is a clinic that has begun operation in remote Northern Ethiopia. They have 7 clinics scattered through the remote region and also send out backpack nurses. CHAPS funded the training of their15 midwives to be certified to provide reversible Family Planning. This is a classic example of how a small amount of funds; properly placed, can make a huge difference. For $6000 all 15 midwives have been certified for Family Planning including the travel and living costs while taking the course at Gondor University. This new skill will be in operation for the next 20 years.
SMMMS backpack nurse with new backpack
What's Next
The next goal is Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) certification for all of the midwives and the equipment needed to provide the emergency care. Total cost would be about $25,000 to cover 8 clinics.