News Release

Kenya’s Largest Hospital Receives a Helping Hand

Over 200 members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived on foot around 10:15 a.m., Saturday, August 18, 2018, to serve as Jesus Christ would. A preparatory meeting gathered volunteers at Upper Hill Chapel from both East and West Stakes. President George Munene conducted the opening with song and prayer. He instructed those attending to be patient and pleasant as this large group would take some sorting of the work.
 

Public Affairs Helping Hands director, Philip Makau orchestrated the day and arranged with the hospital administers to donate blood for the blood bank, clean and paint the kitchen and visit the Children cancer ward. Some members donated toys, books, yogurts and fresh fruit besides their time and helping hands on this service day. Some families with small children, picked up trash and cleaned up the grounds.

Kenyatta National Hospital, named after first president Jomo Kenyatta, is the largest referral and teaching hospital in the country. The hospital is open 24 hours and employs over 6,000 staff and has a bed capacity of 1,800. However, at times the patient numbers can rise as high as 3,000. The facility was first built in 1952 and some of the wards in the 10 stories have been remodeled and updated.

 

It was a pleasure for the Helping Hands volunteers to clean and freshen the kitchen with paint and many young single adults grouped together to give their blood, knowing that donating would save lives. They collectively gave approximately 60 pints of blood. Those who visited the children in the cancer ward played and talked and hugged those little sick children and cheered up the mums.
 

 

Many who volunteer and serve express joy and satisfaction that comes from this type of effort. As the late president of the Church said, “To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves.” – President Thomas S. Monson. The New Testament teaches that it is impossible to take a right attitude toward Christ without taking an unselfish attitude toward men.

“Karibuni”— the kitchen staff manager acknowledged that she was amazed that a church would donate service without asking for compensation. Kenyatta Hospital—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s Helping Hands will be back to serve you further!

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