In 2020, the North Platte Noon Rotary Club, along with several other District 5630 partnering Rotary Clubs and individual donors raised funds to provide the professional services and materials for a medical clinic in the remote village of Shikunga, in western Kenya. This is the poorest area of that country and NP Rotarian Dr. Kim Baxter, who is an optometrist, has traveled to this village for three eye care missions (once with DG Bob Mayber) and another time in conjunction with a $136,000 District 5630 Global Grant to provide updated equipment and medical training for the neonatal/maternity wing of the nearby Kakamega County Hospital. North Platte Rotary President Louise Hoffmann and President-Elect David Greiner participated in the January 2022 Eye Care and Medical Camp Mission. Additional District 5630 Rotarians will be joining the January 2023 mission trip.
The original budget for the clinic materials was approximately $24,000 plus additional dollars for equipment. However, after the plans were reviewed by an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals, it was determined that the clinic needed to be larger in order to accommodate laboratory, radiology and procedures. The new materials budget for the clinic was $60,000, which required $22,600 in addition to the $37,400 reflected in the 2020-2021 grant, P-3511. The clinic will provide a wide variety of medical services to the impoverished people of that area, including eye care, dental and other medical care of various specialties. There are currently no such medical facilities or services available within a large area around Shikunga, so we know that many of the surrounding villages in this very poor, rural area of Kakamega County will be served by this new medical clinic.
As planned, delivery of materials to the clinic site began in June 2021. The budget prepared by the Kenyan architect anticipated the bricks would be fabricated on-site, but were instead purchased to ensure higher quality and durability. The expanded footprint of the clinic necessitated the destruction of an existing outdoor toilet. The Ministry of Health required a replacement facility which was larger than the original toilet structure. As has been experienced worldwide as a result of the pandemic, the cost of materials and transportation were significantly greater than anticipated.
Kenyan National Elections will be held during August 2022. We have been advised that civil unrest typically follows the elections. For this reason, it is not recommended to travel to Kenya until after year-end. The political unrest will also impact material costs and transportation. Coupled with the cost/price instability resulting from COVID 19 supply chain issues, it has been decided to delay further material purchase until 2023. Hopefully this will provide time for prices/costs to stabilize.
A new budget has been prepared to reflect the material costs by area to provide for better project management. The budgeted amount to complete the project is $107,112 plus a 20% contingency, for a total of $128,500. All District Designated Funds will be used to purchase materials. The District Designated Funds will be the first funds applied to the materials purchases. After all District Designated Funds have been expended, external donations will be used for all additional costs. Any unused non-District Designated Funds will be transferred to a global grant for purchase of equipment.
Our concerns regarding civil unrest with the Kenyan election turned out to be a non-event. There was a very peaceful acceptance of the election results. Fortunately, we have been able to restart the project.
Dr. Dixon Mchana, the Administrator of Kakamega Co. General Hospital was able to direct us to the County Architect, who assisted us in creating a bid process for the next phases of the clinic construction. This process resulted in a significant savings. In addition, Architect Eric Nyabuto oversees the project to ensure all specifications are followed. He directs payments to be made after he has inspected the completed project. Under his guidance, floor and wall tiling as well as interior and exterior plastering is close to completion. The next two phases of construction will be plumbing and electrical. This will complete the proposed work under the revised budget.
Submitted
This project is "Submitted". This means that it needs to be signed by the club leadership. Notifications emails have been sent to these parties with instructions on how to digitally sign this project. Once all the signatures are collected, the status of the project will be automatically changed to "Signed".
Project listed for the 2022-23 Rotary Year.
Proposed Financing
Existing Contributions Towards This Project
Date
Cash
DDF
Total
North Platte (5630)
31-May-22
$641
$2,561
$3,202
North Platte (5630)
31-May-22
$20
$0
$20
North Platte (5630)
31-May-22
$200
$0
$200
North Platte (5630)
31-May-22
$100
$0
$100
Chappell (5630)
30-Jun-22
$74
$76
$150
Lexington (5630)
18-Jul-22
$183
$730
$913
Grant (5630)
19-Jul-22
$76
$304
$380
Grand Island (5630)
9-Mar-23
$639
$2,557
$3,196
Holdrege (5630)
9-Mar-23
$135
$542
$677
Imperial (5630)
9-Mar-23
$44
$175
$219
Minden (5630)
9-Mar-23
$195
$780
$975
O'Neill (5630)
9-Mar-23
$122
$490
$612
North Platte (5630)
9-Mar-23
$3,840
$0
$3,840
North Platte (5630)
9-Mar-23
$1,000
$0
$1,000
North Platte (5630)
9-Mar-23
$500
$0
$500
North Platte (5630)
9-Mar-23
$500
$0
$500
McCook (5630)
9-Mar-23
$500
$0
$500
Total
$8,769
$8,215
$16,984
DDF contributions in grey are pending approval of the corresponding district committee.
