Tenwek Hospital

February 14, 2025

Friends,

The consultants at Tenwek recently funded a renovation to improve the care for delivering mothers and babies. What we are looking at now is how to equip the new operating rooms to help the community. 

Laparoscopic surgery for gynecology is within reach here and we proved it by doing the first total laparoscopic hysterectomy here at Tenwek. Due to equipment issues and experience of staff, what usually takes me 1.5 hours took almost 4.5 hours! The patient was a missionary and incredibly thankful she was able to have her surgery at home in Kenya. Part of the reason she was our first patient was because she bought the reusable pieces of equipment for her surgery. We went on to do a couple other laparoscopic surgeries, however, one part of the equipment we were using was rented and had to go back to the equipment rep. Currently the cases are so spread out, that it is not worth the fee of renting the equipment. Also, if another hospital asks for it, then we lose it. We would very much like to get our own laparoscopic equipment and could really use some help to buy some that would last a long time for the residents here. We want to teach them laparoscopy, which gives them a skill to help patients recover quicker and save costs on long hospital stays. It is very much a marketable skill that could open doors for these Christian OB/GYN Physicians.

The cost of the equipment is approximately $5,500 which will enable us to get our OB/GYN laparoscopic program started! For less than the cost of one hysterectomy in the US, you can help us provide this training for our residency program and service for our patients at Tenwek. Having laparoscopic skills will make our Christian residents more accepted in places where they can be a light and hope. Our program aims to equip them both technically and spiritually so that, as physicians, they can serve patients and share the gospel through excellent medical care. 

Tenwek Hospital has an opportunity to partner with Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation to raise these needed funds. Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation is graciously offering a Matching Gift campaign of up to $2,000 for the maternity equipment.

Thank you so much for your consideration of this project near and dear to the OB department at Tenwek. Donations can be made the following ways:

Click here to donate via Stripe.

Check by mail:

Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation
1234 Napier Box #81
St. Joseph, MI 49085

(Please note on donation: Tenwek Hospital Maternity Equipment)

Sincerely,