EPILEPSY INFORMATION CARAVAN

The Kenya Association for the Welfare of People with Epilepsy (KAWE) raised awareness regarding
epilepsy via a road show that reached 17600 people. Spanning 14 counties including Nairobi, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Laikipia, Bomet, Kisumu, Makueni, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia.

KAWE liaised with health facilities in these counties to provide epilepsy management services. Aside from the obvious health challenges they face, epileptics suffer from social stigma because of traditional superstitions and a general misunderstanding of their condition. Not all Kenyans realize that epilepsy is simply a medical condition that can be successfully treated affording patients a life free of seizures.

The Epilepsy Caravan passed through the major towns in the counties with scheduled stops made during market days to maximize the number of people reached. The team on the caravan included clinicians, community health workers, and volunteers who suffer from epilepsy. The Foundation gave a grant of Ksh 3,100,000.

According to recent government estimates,approximately 2.7m people in Kenya are currently in need of food aid – with 23 of the 47 counties significantly affected. The recent droughts that commenced in December 2016 made a devastating impact on the country’s overall water table, with people, livestock, wild animals, and vegetation all affected.

In partnership with Ahadi Kenya and Mediamax Kenya, Lotto Foundation brought humanitarian relief to countless people in arid and semi-arid regions that were affected by the drought — in keeping with our mandate for the promotion of Kenyan health and fostering community ties.

The key partners are working closely with county governments to ensure that the initiative targets the worst affected areas and prioritises the households that are most in need. Mr. Brian Waluchio, chairman of Lotto Foundation said, “As Kenyans, we need to rise up and be our brother’s keeper, we need to do all that we can to help those who are facing starvation, not just by giving them food aid but also by creating resilience. Drought hinders economic performance, and deprives communities of their assets, livelihoods, and labour force – all too often locking the populations affected into endemic poverty cycles.”

There is thus a clear need to empower our people with adaptable farming skills and advise them to plant more drought resistant crops to ensure that we raise the level of food security across the country. Dr. Stanley Kamau of Ahadi Kenya confirmed the food donated would ensure that the less privileged and most vulnerable people get relief from the ravaging drought.

The initiative has so far covered 20 counties, namely: Nyeri, Makueni, Nairobi, Wajir, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita
Taveta, Tharaka-Nithi, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Laikipia, Migori, West-Pokot, Marsabit, Turkana and Samburu,
Garrisa, Mandera, Narok, and Tana-River Counties. The Foundation gave a grant of Ksh 40,000,000.

Kwale County

Kwale County

Kwale County

Lotto Foundation partnered with CURE International Hospital to purchase a HDU (High
Dependency Unit) patient monitor and a ward monitor. The CURE International Hospital is an orthopedic hospital that serves the entire country and neighboring East African countries.

The centre specializes in orthopedic and ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery for children and has conducted over 30,000 operations on disabled children in the 18 years since its inception. The key beneficiaries of this project are Kenyan children with disabilities who without treatment would likely suffer a lifelong debilitating condition, social stigma attached to their disability, and economic deprivation due to reduced productivity.

Needless to say, the initiative also greatly benefits their families. Her Excellency Margret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, who commissioned the machines, thanked Lotto Foundation for its dedication and commitment to improving healthcare nationwide. To date, the Foundation has granted Ksh 823,660 to the hospital, which will go towards the purchase of both ward and HDU monitors.

KIKUYU HOSPITAL ULTRASOUND MACHINE

With a legacy of over a century in operation, Kikuyu Hospital is one of the oldest public hospitals in Kenya – founded in 1908. It was originally established as an eye hospital but has now grown to provide comprehensive care to patientsfrom across East and Central Africa, catering to over 400 hundred outpatients per day, and up to 150,000 annually.

The Hospital also offers community outreach programmes to people with no access to treatment, such as those from marginalized communities, children homes, and homes for the aged. With approximately 8,000 admissions and 10,000 surgeries conducted annually, together with a full time workforce of 430 people, the positive impact of the hospital within the region is undisputed.

When Lotto Foundation was informed that their only ultrasound machine was quite dated and not producing clear scans, often leading to incorrect diagnosis, a grant of Ksh 4,000,000 was provided to replace the old equipment with a brand new machine.

Located on Namanga Road along the Athi just 2km outside Kajiado town, the AIC Kajiado Child Care Centre was established by missionaries in 1979 for the purpose of feeding malnourished children. Influenced by an increasing number of children with disabilities that have no place in the society, the Centre has gradually transitioned into a rehabilitation clinic for children with disabilities and has offered rehabilitation services to 63,024 people within Kajiado County.

A variety of crucial services are available, including physiotherapy, vaccinations, HIV/Aids testing, and home care for immobilized patients. Devices such as artificial and prosthetic limbs, arm and leg braces, crutches, walking frames, and wheelchairs are all manufactured and maintained in an affiliated workshop.

Kajiado ranks among the lowest in education levels and the highest in illiteracy levels amongst women of all the Kenyan counties, primarily owing to the large Maasai community and their attitude towards the role of women in society. Most people in the region do not seek medical attention when they fall ill, as they do not know how and where to access it, or simply do not appreciate how important it is.

Educating this community on healthy living empowers them to manage existing illnesses, reduce the number of new and preventable illnesses, and reduce overall mortality rates. Generally, the project aims to increase overall health by fostering positive attitudes towards healthcare and increasing the education levels and scope of healthcare services available.

More specifically, the project aims to:
○ Assess approximately 1600 children  Determine their health status and their level of
social inclusion
○ Provide approximately 250 malnourished
children with nutrition supplements under a
monitored program
○ Teach 120 primary school pupils about good
hygiene
○ Train teachers to be facilitators in the implementation
of health education
○ Establish health clubs within three of the local
primary schools
○ Train 600 members of the community on basic
health care, hygienic practices, and how to
get balanced diet from locally available foods
○ Train mothers on reproductive health, both
antenatal and post-natal, with a view to
reducing avoidable congenital disabilities

The Foundation donated Ksh 2,854,000 towards imparting practical knowledge on health literacy through demonstrations, one-on-one and focus group discussions, oral questionnaires, and workshops.