| |
Nothing is more precious than the gift
of life. And, there is nothing more miraculous than
the birthing of a child bringing new life into being.
Prenatal care and safe birth deliveries are practices
often taken for granted in America. Yet, adequate prenatal
and maternity care is seldom experienced by women in
our ancestral homeland of Africa.
Realizing this critical health issue, in 1955, Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority began making plans and laying the
groundwork to establish a maternity hospital in the
east African country of Kenya. The plans for a facility
came to fruition in the early 1960s when Delta made
a major donation to help finance the construction of
the Thika Maternity Hospital in Thika, Kenya, which
is now named Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital.
The first hospital to open after Kenya gained its independence,
Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital continues to
be operated by the missionary sisters of the Holy Rosary.
In 1985 members of the Sorority visited the hospital
and saw first hand the increased population and infant
mortality rate in and around Thika. Delta responded
by donating over $20,000 in 1985 which was used to establish
two additional maternity wards and an administrative
office.
Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital has grown to
120 beds. It provides affordable prenatal and postnatal
care, nutritional education, child immunization, and
family planning. The hospital gives prenatal care, including
lab work, blood tests, and examinations to more than
200 women daily. The facility also has a special care
nursery for babies after delivery. The hospital also
serves as an educational institution for nurses and
midwives. Over 66 students are trained each year.
Delta urges all sorors and friends of Delta to embrace
our global community of Thika, Kenya with financial
contributions to:
P O Box 418194
Boston MA 02241-8194
|
