The Ochieng brothers’ clinic in Lwala, Kenya, allows them to serve their inspiration — the people of their village — while still at Vanderbilt.
They made their dream — to help those who inspired him to go into medicine — a reality.
And on Thursday, students at Vanderbilt have a chance to hear and see what Frederick Ochieng and his brother Milton are doing halfway around the world in Lwala, Kenya.
School of Medicine students Frederick and Milton Ochieng opened the Lwala Community Clinic in Lwala, a small rural village in Kenya, almost one year ago. In that period, the clinic's quality, affordable care has brought in over 12,000 patients, many of whom had to walk hours or even days to the isolated clinic, which is located five and a half miles from the nearest paved road.
The Kenyan natives look back on the clinic's beginnings with great awe. Frederick Ochieng said they started plans for the clinic, the first one in Lwala, over 10 years ago when "after having seen so many people in my village die due to various diseases, I knew I wanted to go into medicine."
In 2000, the Ochiengs were accepted to Dartmouth College, and with fundraising from the villagers of Lwala, relocated from Lwala to New Hampshire.
At the clinic, patients have been tested and/or treated for malaria, intestinal disorders, tuberculosis, pregnancy complications, HIV and AIDS. In addition to providing health care, Ochieng established the Lwala Community Alliance, which provides not only medical services but also educational programs. A project whose purpose is providing clean drinking water for the villagers of Lwala is in the works.
In 2006, 529 villagers were tested for HIV/AIDS, and 32 percent of those were found infected. Along with efforts to prevent the spreading of HIV/AIDS, the Lwala Community Clinic has taken steps to provide care specific to women and children, including vaccinations, family planning, bed net distribution for malaria prevention and prenatal care, and the clinic is planning a maternity ward and health care education for the Lwala villagers.
Frederick Ochieng, however, does not take full credit for his work.
"The effort and sacrifices made by students here (at Vanderbilt) are making a great difference in the lives of many people back at home," Frederick Ochieng said, referring to the Vanderbilt Students for Kenya alliance, a group that has spent the past two years attempting to raise money for the Lwala Community Clinic. The clinic requires $50,000 per year to sustain necessary staff, services and supplies.
Last March, right before the clinic opened on April 2, SFK held the Lwala Gala as an effort to raise money for the clinic's first year, and with over 500 attendees, succeeded in raising $25,000. This year, SFK president Lee Karlsson hopes to top that sum.
"We are having the event off-campus (this year) and hope that students will come out with record attendance," Karlsson said.
The second annual Lwala Gala will be held tomorrow, March 20 at Lot 7, a new, swanky 12th Avenue club. The event will have live music by the band Moon Taxi, a speech from Lwala Community Clinic co-founder Milton Ochieng, drink specials for attendees, free appetizers and desserts, a silent auction, and a Vanderbilt student athlete date auction. A clip from "Sons of Lwala," a documentary premiering March 27, will also be shown. Free transportation will be provided by Friends Against Drunk Driving trolleys, which will run in shifts from Branscomb Quad from 7:45 to 9 p.m.
Karlsson encourages everyone to attend.
"It's a great way to celebrate on a Thursday night, and at the same time (it) benefits Lwala villagers in need of health care," Karlsson said.
Greek organizations receive Derby Days points for Gala attendance, she added as further incentive.
Tickets to the event are $17 in advance on the Card or $20 cash at the door.
Frederick Ochieng said he hopes students will continue to support the clinic in its efforts to expand.
"We have seen the power of students in making a difference in the development of the clinic," Ochieng said.
