First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has helped to raise over Sh12 million to enable children with congenital heart problems undergo corrective surgery in Israel.
The money was raised during a fundraising dinner co-organized by the Save A Child’s Heart Kenya (SACH- KENYA) and the Kenyatta Trust on Wednesday evening . The First Lady was the Guest of Honor during the function at a Nairobi Hotel.
SACH is an Israel-based, non-governmental, international humanitarian project and world leader in providing life saving cardiac surgery for children from developing countries. The First Lady is the Patron of the Kenyan chapter of SACH.
The Kenyatta Trust is a charity organization committed to transforming lives, especially, through sponsorships of students from high school into university.
The fund-raiser brought together philanthropists, members of the corporate world, lovers of Artworks and well-wishers out to give children with heart problems a second chance in life.
There are 100 children awaiting life-saving heart surgery and treatment in Kenya.
All Surgeries under SACH are performed at no cost, by volunteer paediatric surgeons, at the Wolfson Medical Centre in Israel. The hospital also facilitates the training of doctors especially in the area of Paediatric surgery.
The money raised during the function last evening will cater for travel and accommodation expenses for the beneficiaries of the heart surgery and other contingencies during the recuperation period.
In the last few years, 28 Kenyan children have successfully undergone the much needed life-saving cardiac surgery and care in Israel while another 100 children are on the waiting list. Globally, SACH has facilitated heart-related medical interventions and surgeries on 4000 children.
Some of these children, including the youngest who underwent corrective cardiac surgery at only three months, were presented at the function as a statement of the success stories by SACH that all children with heart problems can be given a second chance of survival.
Speaking during the function, the first Lady said there was no bigger joy both the mother, the house-hold and the community than to preserve the life of each child.
She said there were credible reasons to appreciate and support the mission of SACH because the organization, besides performing surgeries, has invested in the training of medical professionals across the world and equipping local doctors with skills to perform the same medical procedures locally.
“I know they are ready and willing to partner with the Ministry of Health to train doctors from Kenya too! “, said the First Lady with optimism.
The First Lady said she was particularly encouraged that SACH-Kenya has a huge vision for their work in Kenya, including plans to save 100 children over the next few years.
Later this year, said the First Lady, the very first medical team from the Wolfson Hospital in Israel will travel to Kenya to perform a two–day examination clinic for the 100 children who are awaiting surgery.
‘This is why we must support them in this effort”, said the First Lady .
She asked Kenyans including the philanthropists and corporate leaders at the function to support her and stand with the families of the 100 children awaiting the life-transforming surgery to enable them fight for their lives.
“If we move in compassion and love, if we can see the fight of these children as our own fight, we can send all 100 children to Israel for the surgeries”, said the First Lady.
The money was raised through the sale of raffles and unique works of art, some of which fetched more than Sh 500,000 each.
Others who talked at the function included Israel Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Yahel Vilan, Principal Secretary for a Health Dr. Nicholas Muraguri, the Managing Director for SACH Mrs Rina Attias and the Director of the Kenyatta Trust Ms Nyokabi Muthama.