“The laughter and cries of those little angels keep going through my mind. I will carry those memories with me wherever I go,” says Grace Kariuki-Mogaka, senior programs officer, referring to IntraHealth’s Kenya staff team’s visit to Kenyatta National Hospital to celebrate an early Christmas with children in the pediatric ward on November 20, 2009. The staff used the funds allocated to them for an end-of-year holiday event to buy the children gifts such as clothes, shoes, toys, and a Christmas cake. 

Staff played with the children, gave them presents, and set up Christmas decorations around the ward.

“Staff of IntraHealth decided to donate what they had been allocated to children in the pediatric ward and support Kenyatta National Hospital as it endeavors to provide quality health care to the children,” explains Country Director Kimani Mungai.

The hospital’s pediatric ward has 450 children, some of whom were abandoned at the hospital by parents who were unable to cope with their child’s condition.

“One child changed my perspective of life,” remarks Wanjiru Mathenge, logistics assistant for the Capacity Kenya project. Wanjiru met Davie, who is about three or four years old and suffers from cerebral palsy. Davie is also blind, deaf, and HIV-positive.

“He has been abandoned by his parents, and when I first saw him, I was overwhelmed,” explains Wanjiru. “I fed him and I started to speak with him. He responded with little sounds, which turned to bouts of laughter. He began moving around his crib with the most heavenly expression and when I picked him up and rubbed his back, he hung on to me with a deep expression of wanting to be loved. For me seeing Davie so happy and content despite his condition was most rewarding. I know this is not the last time that I am seeing him; we will definitely have future interactions.”

According to the hospital’s Deputy Chief Nurse, Mrs. Nancy Kariuki, many children are abandoned at the hospital every month. “Some are brought in by the police, sympathizers, or just left in the hospital by their parents,” she says. “We liaise with the Government of Kenya Children’s Department to find children’s homes which can take in the children.”

The Kenyatta National Hospital is the largest referral, teaching, and research medical facility in East and Central Africa, with nearly 5,000 staff and a bed capacity of 2,000. 

Grace says the team’s visit was humbling yet very fulfilling. “I hope this is just a beginning,” she adds, “of a great relationship between staff and Kenyatta National Hospital children’s ward.”