Holdsworth House Medical Practice Clinical Research Director, Dr Mark Bloch discovered at a fundraiser that like many African nations, Kenya's healthcare is in crisis with 300,000 Kenyans dying of AIDS and that currently there are over 2 million Kenyans living with AIDS.
Bloch said that Australians were fortunate to be able to receive the level of primary services running and there was need to assist those less fortunate that were not able to even obtain basic health care in their community
Dr Bloch was encouraged when he heard that the founders of Kenya Aid shared the same vision as HHMP not just a focus on health care provision but also an emphasis on education for preventative health strategies. Dr Bloch said, “that in Western Kenya, this has to be taken one step further with simple measures such as improving hygiene, sanitation and nutrition”
Kenya Aid is currently involved in the funding of and running of a primary health-care facility in Shikunga Village, in the Western Province of Kenya, a community of 30,000 where resources are minimal”, said Dr Bloch. “They have much HIV and other illnesses and no medical services”
He said, “the Shikunga Village need much more than just financial support, they need expertise in primary care and treatment of HIV
Dr Bloch said, “As a community medical practice with expertise in sexual health and HIV, HHMP is well positioned to assist in the development of health prevention strategies
Kenya Aid has a new and larger clinic under construction and soon hopes to build an AIDS hospice, with our support and guidance to provide dignity and support to those terminally ill with HIV
HHMP’s objective is to also assist in setting up model health care services for this community, and then as support grows expanding to other areas of need in Western Kenya, assisting in creating a network of accessible and professional health-care services”
HHMP will pledge financial support, medical expertise and assistance”. “Already, Dr Bloch said, some clinical staff members had approached him to volunteer their services.
For more information
Contact: Peter Marks, CEO, Holdsworth House Health
02 9380 7011
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