Health
Tabaka Mission Hospital takes its name from the village where it was built. It is located on hill, 5 km far from the asphalted road which links Kisii City with Tanzania.
It is a non-profit health organisation with 250 beds and many outpatient services. Every year, there are on average 9.000 inpatients, 1.300 of which in the pediatric ward. The hospital works in a rural area where the majority of people live below the national poverty line. People who cannot afford medical costs. The prices of the offered services are always reasonable to allow poor people to access them. For sick people who are not able to pay, the hospital set up the “Good Samaritan Fund” that covers the payments for hospitalization, surgical operations and treatments.
The socio-economic situation is even more difficult because of the spreading of malaria, TBC and HIV-AIDS. Malaria is still the first cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa. The water supply of the region is not developed but water can be easily taken from rivers, wells and springs because of heavy rain. Although the infant mortality rate is decreasing thanks to the campaigns promoted by Kenya Expanded Program on Immunization (KEPI), many children are still suffering from anemia, pneumonia, brain fever, measles and gastroenteritis which can lead to death if not properly treated.
In order to grant free healthcare to the children from 0 to 5 years old, the hospital started a project which provides paediatric health insurance: a solution which combats infant mortality.
More than 20 years ago, within the hospital, it was activated the St. Camillus Training School for Kenya Registered Community Health Nurses. A three-years-and-a-half diploma course in Nursing Sciences, with boarding. Every year an average of 15 girls are enrolled. The course consists of theory and practical lessons which take place in the hospital. The high-level of preparation of the students gave prestige to the school and many young women from different areas of the region, want to register. To make the course accessible for girls who come from poor families, the costs of the course are deliberately low. Five students are offered five scholarships every year.
