Yellowmen spread hope

The "Yellowmen of Kadongdong" visit Tikeet twice a year as part of their project to improve living standards in Pokot, a remote and barren area of northern Kenya.

Earlier this year a team of six returned for ten days to continue work on the John Cocker Clinic, a healthcare unit which will provide the only medical attention within a 35 kilometre radius.

The bulk of the building, including lighting, refrigeration, solar panels, external walls and roofing, has all been completed.

A brick storeroom for medicine is also ready to be used.

Rotarians John Relfe and Martin Mears and worked with local women, using chainsaws to clear land for a clinic farm which will provide food for local children who are part of the health project.

Lemon trees were planted at the entrance to the site.

Whilst in Kenya, the group worked with local medical staff to hold eye and medical screening clinics.

Over 300 children between the ages of three and ten were examined in three different locations. Every child had their eyes checked and had a full medical as well.

Two general clinics dealt with another 150 patients, including 70 mothers and babies, displaying signs of worm infestations, urinary infections and chest problem.

Funding for the clinics, including staff and drugs, is provided by the Yellowmen.

Ready reader sunglasses were arranged by optometrist and yellowman Peter Stiles, from Barraclough Stiles and Partners opticians of Western Road.

In October last year, Peter trained a local Daktari, providing him with his own ophthalmoscope and other equipment.

He then submitted a report on his findings to the local MP in Kenya, which highlighted the dreadful eye conditions which are going untreated through lack of medication.

The information gathered on this most recent trip will form the basis of a full report to the Kenyan Minister for Health.

The team have also laid plans for the end of their involvement, when the clinic will be handed over to the Kenyan Health Ministry.

Before that happens they will require more funds to finish the David Roden wards, which adjoin the clinic.

They also need to decorate and furnish the clinic, install toilet facilities and complete a well for clean, fresh water.

The Yellowmen project began as a millenium field trip for the geography department of Claverham Community College, where retired headmaster and founder member Eddie McCall used to teach.

The project began to grow after the Rotary Club offered to supply a year's worth of drugs for the area.

Eddie said: "We go over twice a year and do a mixture of everything. Until this year it's been mostly physical work, things like teaching locals to build, and make bricks.

"It was brilliant to stand at the entrance to the compound, now grown to about 10 acres, and look at the rapidly emerging clinic.

"This year or in 18 months we should see the whole project up and running. It's been amazing.

"The October team is being put together and hopefully the final steps towards the completion of the project will be taken.

Meanwhile further fund-raising is needed. A fellow Rotarian from another club once asked who can go to Tikeet and of course the answer is anyone. If after reading this you want to get involved, contact the Yellowmen at Senlac Rotary Club."

Anyone interested in supporting the Yellowmen is asked to contact [email protected]