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Sisters Gaudencia Wanyonyi, Christine Kivungi, and Mien Leistra, who are pioneering our new mission in Ang'iya Parish in the Homa Bay Diocese, were delighted to receive licensing from the Medical and Dental Board of the government of Kenya in late October. They are operating a dispensary, focusing on primary health care and community based health care. This month, they are beginning mother and child health clinics. They also are developing a Volunteer Counseling and Testing Center where people can be tested for HIV/AIDS, and educational programs to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS can be coordinated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Center for Human Integration in Philadelphia, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary year, is having a free Open House on Monday, January 8, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Demonstrations and a raffle are part of this event. For more information, please call 215-742-3505. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In our new mission in San Fernando, Bukidnon, the Philippines, three of our Sisters are active in a Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) composed of many farmers. Despite abundant harvests, the farmers struggled with poverty due to the high cost of chemicals for the soil. Our Sisters joined the poor farmers in making fertilizer out of organic materials, which produced good results at a lower cost. Members of the BEC also attended our health skills training, where they shared their experiences of using herbal plants and learned about acupressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Philomena Faria, who works at the Health Desk of Caritas in Faisalabad, Pakistan, is involved with updating the skills of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), who are primary caregivers at the grassroots level. "Pakistan still has a high maternal and infant mortality rate," she explains. The 4-day program reviews the components of safe motherhood, including pregnancy, childbirth, post birth, responsible parenthood, immunizations, and other related topics. Over 100 TBAs have completed the program, and received a delivery kit and certificate. Follow-ups are conducted two months after the course is completed. "Although most of the TBAs do not have formal education, we have experienced their eagerness to learn and be respected in their communities," says Sister Philo. "In the follow-up days, they were anxious to come and report their progress."
January 1,
2007
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