The NGO founders finally made it out to the orphanage. They were scheduled to leave the Saturday before last, but the plane (yes, THE plane) that flies there had mechanical problems and was delayed until Tuesday. Then, when they finally left, there was a bad storm over the airport where they were supposed to land, so they were diverted and landed on a small dirt runway quite far from where they were supposed to. They traveled by land for 12+ hours to finally make it back to the orphanage.
All of the children are alive and healthy (praise God!) and there are 4 newer children putting the number of kids at the orphanage at 22. The founders took a number of supplies with them and a series of items are being flown from Kinshasa to them over the next 3 weeks.
We have hit...actually exceeded...our fundraising goal!!! Thank you sooooo much to everyone who has contributed and helped identify solutions to the water and health challenges!
Here is what is going on with the relief efforts:
Water:
Immediate Solution - This week
- Chlorine treat the water
- Provide new buckets
***Bleach (available in Kinshasa) was flown to the orphanage and buckets were to be purchased locally late this week.
Short-Term Solution - Next week
- In-line 0.1um high flow filters
- 13 gallon storage buckets
- Simple rain water collect reservoir to collect off of the
roof
***In-line 0.1um and 0.02um filters have been purchased and are being flown to Kinshasa this weekend where they will be flown from there to the orphanage. Buckets will be purchased locally and the founders are looking locally for materials to construct the rain water collection reservoir.
Long-Term Solution Options - not final yet - Next month
- Pay to have a "city water" line ran very near to
the orphanage
- Put in a well
- Large holding tank with bio-sand filtration
***The founders have requested a quote from the local water company to have a "city water" line ran near to the orphanage. Based on the funds raised, they should be able to install a water line and locally construct a large cistern with bio-sand filtration capable of holding enough water to last them through the dry season.
Additionally, funds were sent for the founders to purchase the following items:
Parasite
treatments (for all children and staff)
Clothes and
shoes
Children’s
vitamins
Medical
treatments (malaria, typhoid, dysentery, or others as needed)
Cleaning
supplies
Soap
(Increase hand washing for all children and staff to prevent the spread of
disease)
Mosquito nets
for all beds
Food – high
protein, high nutrient food
This weekend the filters, formula, and oral rehydration salts are being flown from the U.S. to Kinshasa by Lucy and will then be sent on a plane to the orphanage.
There is much more that needs to be done at Elikia, but the staff can only do so much at any given time. We are prioritizing the relief needs based on their feedback and hope to finish implementing all but the long-term water solution within 3 weeks. Pictures from the orphanage are being flown to Kinshasa to be emailed to us within about a week.
There is also a mother that brought her three children to the orphanage a couple of weeks ago because she was not able to care for them and was afraid they would die with her. Her husband died about 2 years ago and she cannot provide for the children, but really wants to care for them. We are providing her urgent short-term support so she can keep her children with her and out of the orphanage and the NGO founders will be meeting with her to help determine the best way for her to earn money for her family long-term. We will look to help train her or otherwise help prepare her for a job so she can raise her children herself.
We also found out that one of the women who works for the orphanage had a tragic loss herself. During the dysentery outbreak, her biological daughter at home came down with a fever one morning. She went to work that day and while she was at the hospital with some of the very sick children from the orphanage, her daughter passed away from dysentery at home without her mother who was helping care for so many other children who do not have mothers. Please pray for this family and all of the staff.
Lastly - and not related to the orphanage in Kasai - a beautiful young orphaned boy in Kinshasa (not with ABI) has a condition called hydrocephalus. This is where the body produces too much cerebral spinal fluid and creates too much pressure in the brain. This condition can cause severe brain damage or death if not treated. Common treatment is the placement of a shunt into the middle of the brain that drains the excess fluid off the brain. This is a very complicated procedure with very high infection rates. It is not something that is recommended to be done in DRC. There is a U.S. family that wants this boy to be their son; however his condition has significantly deteriorated in the last 8 weeks. This little boy is the kid who greets everyone he meets with a sweet handshake and a smile from ear to ear. He is always so happy and playful, even when he is in pain. In the last week he deteriorated to the point where he can no longer walk, control his bowel movements, or eat. He went in for emergency surgery in DRC today to try and save his life. Please pray for his survival and recovery.
Again, thank you for your support. Thank you for sharing the story of these children who on so many fronts are forgotten and have faced so many challenges in their little lives - just like all kids, they deserve love, food, education, medical care, safety, and happiness and thank you for your prayers and efforts to help give them that.
