Friends Of Nyumbani

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Dear Friends,

Several weeks ago you responded to my request to donate audiological equipment, supplies and services to help establish a new audiology clinic in Kenya to serve HIV+ children, primarily orphans. I want to share with you some of what was accomplished through your generosity.

I returned from Kenya this last weekend after spending two weeks in the Nairobi and Kitui Districts of Kenya launching Heart of the Village, Inc.'s program, Heart for Nyumbani. I was accompanied by Dr. Yell Inverso and a team of 4 excellent Doctor of Audiology students from Salus University.

We officially launched phase one of our program to provide audiology services to 3,500 HIV+ children in the internationally acclaimed Nyumbani community in the Nairobi and Kitui districts of Kenya. It is mind boggling to realize that our patient load is about the same as the total number of HIV+ children in the entire United States. The Au.D. students who participated describe their 2 weeks as an educational experience of a lifetime.

As you know, several weeks ago, I put out a request for donations of audiometers, tympanometers, supplies, equipment, professional services, etc. Because of your generosity, we established a sustainable, ongoing program to provide ear and hearing care to this very needy population. We will be sending teams of volunteer audiologists and Au.D. students to our Kenyan clinics three times a year as part of the process of establishing a permanent facility. I have applied to the Ministry of Health for my Kenyan audiology license and hope to receive it shortly.

As of this past year, all the children in the Nyumbani programs who need medication are receiving life saving anti-retroviral drugs and have the potential to live long healthy lives. In the past, ear and hearing care had not been a top priority as the battles against more life threatening conditions raged. Now times have changed and we can help Nyumbani take the next steps in introducing ear and hearing care.

The results collected over the last two weeks clearly support the need for continued audiological services. Of the 319 patients seen, we identified dozens of cases of ear pathology that left untreated, could lead to serious illness. We identified 28 perforations, 50+ cases of otitis media, obstructed ear canals -- with wax, bugs and beads. We found children who have been deafened from meningitis and 45 children with significant hearing loss, some who may benefit from amplification and special educational programs. And we identified much more. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Our next steps include returning in June where we will be sponsoring a 2- day seminar on otoscopy to primary care providers serving the Nyumbani clinics and giving them new, high quality otoscopes. We will also be providing follow up services on the cases we have opened and continuing the process of evaluating each child who needs audiological care.

Again, thank you so much for your contribution to our efforts and please know that each and every one of you did make a difference.

If you are interested in working with the project in the future either directly or indirectly please let me know.

Best of Blessings!
Tomi
Tomi T. Browne, Au.D
Founder
Heart of the Village, Inc .



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