We are now supporting four groups of Family Medicine scholars - the fourth begins in September 2018 while the first Kabarak group enter their fourth and final year. We are delighted that so many women are coming forward to train.
We are proud to be supporting these scholars. All of them have ambitions to improve the healthcare of their fellow human beings where, as one of the scholars so aptly put it, 'the need is thundering'. We wish them all the very best for their challenging training.
Litein Hospital news: see previous posting and further details below. Litein will now benefit from the skills of 2 Family Drs in training. I am delighted that this wish has been fulfilled for them.
I am so very grateful to our donors who make this sponsorship possible via annual payments or one-off fundraising activities. See photo below.
My sympathies go to the family of Elizabeth Mitchell who died this year. Elizabeth was a woman of great vitality, a keen organiser and a loyal supporter of the Mark Towriss Bursary Fund.
Introducing our September 2017 Bursary Scholars
They are now starting their second year -
Dr. Amy Iyah Akim
Clinical placement at AIC Kijabe Hospital
My father is from Southern Sudan, his tribe is Kakua, while my mother is Suba, a tribe closely related to the
Luos. I completed my undergraduate studies in 2013 and have been working in the eastern province of
Kenya since then. I decided to do Family Medicine because of the all rounded nature of the specialty involving
physicianship after Jesus the Great physician, training in teaching and becoming a self-directed learner, research
skills and the physician’s active involvement in the community. I specifically chose Kabarak University
because of its Christian approach. Once I am done with my residency, I hope to live, with the family God
will give me, in a marginalized and less privileged community, where the health facility is at the level of a
health centre or less to uplift the health status of the community, addressing their social, economic,
psychological and cultural issues while preaching Christ to them.
Luos. I completed my undergraduate studies in 2013 and have been working in the eastern province of
Kenya since then. I decided to do Family Medicine because of the all rounded nature of the specialty involving
physicianship after Jesus the Great physician, training in teaching and becoming a self-directed learner, research
skills and the physician’s active involvement in the community. I specifically chose Kabarak University
because of its Christian approach. Once I am done with my residency, I hope to live, with the family God
will give me, in a marginalized and less privileged community, where the health facility is at the level of a
health centre or less to uplift the health status of the community, addressing their social, economic,
psychological and cultural issues while preaching Christ to them.
Dr. Belyse Arakaza
Clinical placement at AIC Kijabe Hospital
I am ARAKAZA Belyse, a Christian medical doctor from Burundi, I am doing Family Medicine at Kabarak
University, Kenya. Married to Gilbert, and mother of a marvellous son, Rosh, 7 months old. Burundi is a
beautiful country, with wonderful people but also suffering from insufficient and unequally distributed
doctors. My passion for Family Medicine came from divinely pointed role models that I met in a rural
hospital in Burundi. I did my internship at Kibuye Hope Hospital, in the central part of Burundi, where a
team six specialists from US were doing their long term mission. The way the family physician of that
team could manage various conditions and provide holistic and compassionate care impressed me. I also
belong to a growing local organisation, Jars of Love Community (JLC) whose vision is to transform
communities through medical outreach and empowerment. My prayer is to go back to Burundi,
after this program, and serve in rural places, where the need is thundering.
University, Kenya. Married to Gilbert, and mother of a marvellous son, Rosh, 7 months old. Burundi is a
beautiful country, with wonderful people but also suffering from insufficient and unequally distributed
doctors. My passion for Family Medicine came from divinely pointed role models that I met in a rural
hospital in Burundi. I did my internship at Kibuye Hope Hospital, in the central part of Burundi, where a
team six specialists from US were doing their long term mission. The way the family physician of that
team could manage various conditions and provide holistic and compassionate care impressed me. I also
belong to a growing local organisation, Jars of Love Community (JLC) whose vision is to transform
communities through medical outreach and empowerment. My prayer is to go back to Burundi,
after this program, and serve in rural places, where the need is thundering.
Dr. Stella Muthoni Mweu
Clinical Placement at AIC Kijabe Hospital
Hello, My name is Stella Muthoni Mweu. I am a Christian medical officer from Kenya. Having worked in a
small rural town in Machakos County after my internship, I saw first-hand the importance of primary
healthcare in the community, as well as the positive effects of empowering the people I served with
knowledge regarding health seeking behavior and preventative medicine. Thus, I am privileged to be
among this year’s Family Medicine Residents at Kabarak University. I believe the team at the University
and beyond will empower me, by the grace of God, to be able to cultivate the human side of medicine
with compassionate care that exemplifies the healing power of Christ. I am deeply humbled and grateful
for all your support.
small rural town in Machakos County after my internship, I saw first-hand the importance of primary
healthcare in the community, as well as the positive effects of empowering the people I served with
knowledge regarding health seeking behavior and preventative medicine. Thus, I am privileged to be
among this year’s Family Medicine Residents at Kabarak University. I believe the team at the University
and beyond will empower me, by the grace of God, to be able to cultivate the human side of medicine
with compassionate care that exemplifies the healing power of Christ. I am deeply humbled and grateful
for all your support.
Dr Alida Iradukunda
Clinical Placement PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital
I am Alida Iradukunda. I am from a small and beautiful country in East of Africa called Burundi. During
my internship I had a great conviction to get involved in compassionate clinical care, research, health
advocacy and in education of medical professionals within a medical school in Burundi. I really thank God
because I know family medicine program will lead me there. I also look forward to be part of a team of
physicians working to serve the poor and the needy in rural areas of my country or elsewhere God sends
me. I strongly hope to follow Jesus Christ as an example of the best doctor, by providing comprehensive
and holistic health care to people, families and communities.
my internship I had a great conviction to get involved in compassionate clinical care, research, health
advocacy and in education of medical professionals within a medical school in Burundi. I really thank God
because I know family medicine program will lead me there. I also look forward to be part of a team of
physicians working to serve the poor and the needy in rural areas of my country or elsewhere God sends
me. I strongly hope to follow Jesus Christ as an example of the best doctor, by providing comprehensive
and holistic health care to people, families and communities.
Dr Sifora Chaleabo Fanta
Clinical Placement Tenwek Hospital
My name is Sifora Fanta Chaleabo from Ethiopia. I am honored to be part of the Master of Medicine in
Family Medicine program at Kabarak University. My educational journey started with Nursing as my
pre-medicine course at Silang, Philippines. Then I proceeded with my Medicine degree (MBChB) at
Pangasinan Philippines. After internship at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I worked at
Soddo Christian hospital for 2 years. Soddo is the place where I got my inspiration to be a Family Physician.
I have seen family physicians change people’s lives in the community as well as the hospital. To be a
Christian family physician one not only treats the physical, but also the spiritual, mental and psychological
needs of the patient and community. When I finish this program I look forward to going back to Ethiopia,
work at the rural area where the need is greatest. With God’s grace.
under very challenging circumstances. The generosity of this hospital community towards the
many patients who came though their doors astounded us when we visited in February 2017 during
the doctors strike. I am truly delighted to know that they now have two trained Family Doctors there
which enables them to register as a training hospital for our bursary scholars. They will now take
on two Family Medicine scholars which will give the hospital much needed extra medical support.
Litein High St
Family Medicine program at Kabarak University. My educational journey started with Nursing as my
pre-medicine course at Silang, Philippines. Then I proceeded with my Medicine degree (MBChB) at
Pangasinan Philippines. After internship at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I worked at
Soddo Christian hospital for 2 years. Soddo is the place where I got my inspiration to be a Family Physician.
I have seen family physicians change people’s lives in the community as well as the hospital. To be a
Christian family physician one not only treats the physical, but also the spiritual, mental and psychological
needs of the patient and community. When I finish this program I look forward to going back to Ethiopia,
work at the rural area where the need is greatest. With God’s grace.
LITEIN HOSPITAL - south Rift Valley
 |
| Dr Munala |
Two vital components of this small rural hospital are their dedicated Family Doctor Victor Munala
and the hospital administrator Joshua Tonui. They have kept the hospital afloat over many yearsunder very challenging circumstances. The generosity of this hospital community towards the
many patients who came though their doors astounded us when we visited in February 2017 during
the doctors strike. I am truly delighted to know that they now have two trained Family Doctors there
which enables them to register as a training hospital for our bursary scholars. They will now take
on two Family Medicine scholars which will give the hospital much needed extra medical support.
£1,232.82 Raised on sponsored Paris Marathon March 2018
Thank you, David - and sponsors !
