Annual Report

For the year 2018

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INTRODUCTION

2018 was a year that focused on finalizing some key components of Project Isiolo as well as planning for the 2019 Rome Conference. Included are the following;

  1. Project Isiolo: Year in Review
  2. Events, Project Evaluations and Meetings
  3. Social Media Events and Review
  4. 2019 Rome Conference

1. PROJECT ISIOLO: A YEAR IN REVIEW

This year, the St. John Paul II MaterCare Maternity Hospital saw an increase in patient intake, deliveries and Cesarean Sections. The hospital was originally designed to handle 1,500 deliveries per year. Expansion of the facility is required to provide more wards (beds).

MaterCare International raised funds for the construction of an outpatient department that will also house the pharmacy, laboratory, examining rooms, ultrasound rooms,  and medical records. This much needed department will free up space inside the hospital in order to successfully expand number of wards. The hospital was designed specifically for this purpose, so that if expansion was required, no major construction inside the hospital would affect or disrupt services.  

  • The design plans for the abovementioned outpatient department are completed and waiting on structural engineers for approval.
  • Completion of the basement of the newly constructed laundry and kitchen should be completed by the end of 2019.  This will provide for office space and stores, as well as provide area for a conference/training hall.
  • Project Isiolo will also expand services at the village level.  Plans and budgets for rural maternity clinics in Oldinyero and Kinna are currently being worked on and should be completed in 2019.  
  • A new website for the hospital was successfully launched in 2018 and is currently live at: http://www.stjohnpauliimatercare.org/

2. EVENTS, PROJECT EVALUATIONS AND MEETINGS

  • MCI Board Meetings took place on: March 20, 2018 and July 11, 2018
  • Dr. Walley was invited and traveled to Poland to assist in planning their upcoming June 2019 conference.
  • Dr. Walley was invited to and presented during the Vatican Council on HealthCare in 2018.
  • Project Manager, Simon Walley, traveled to Kenya to oversee Project Isiolo from February 9-17th, 2018 as well as October 4-22nd, 2018.
  • The 2019 Rome Conference is scheduled for September 18-22nd, 2019.

3. Social Media Review

The goal of MCI’s 2018 social media campaigns was to maintain our support base and fundraise. Please also find the attached 2018 review highlighting official statements, events and Project Isiolo news from the year. (also linked at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A3h-QbjPfzK8KJZPLGwonHdO7JB6LpiTHdNAHTk5oLQ/edit?usp=sharing)

eNewsletter: Mothers Matter

Site Updates:

MaterCare.org:

  • In 2018 this website was successfully migrated to a new host and tech team with J. Osmund Designs.

MaterCareMedia.org:

  • The original blog was retired in favor of a more comprehensive media site in 2016. This site has been active since August of 2016 and migrated important content from the old site. It has continued to be a useful resource for hosting MaterCare stories and publications, as well as giving the opportunity to better feature the Rome Conference.

Campaigns:

In 2018, MaterCare used a video service to create video content for our campaigns and events. Our fundraising campaigns for 2018 included GivingTuesday (a national day of giving in Canada), our Mother’s Day appeal, and our Christmas appeal.

All video content is available on MaterCare’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EkoZIzZk-NtAkXeENFZyA

Summary:

While the media site has been successful in reorganizing materials, it would benefit from more content such as video and personal stories out of Isiolo. Reviving the webinar series would also be a big boost to our social media content and campaigns, as well as a petition to increase newsletter subscriptions.

4. 2019 ROME CONFERENCE

The 2019 Rome Conference is scheduled for September of 2019 at the Istituto Maria SS Bambina, Rome. Work continues on the program for this conference, and the poster has recently been designed and published online.

The poster and additional conference materials can be found at:

2019 CONFERENCE, “WITHER/WHITHER CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE?”

DATE:     SEPTEMBER 18 – SEPTEMBER 22ND 2019

(http://www.matercaremedia.org/rome-conferences)

Submitted on February 22, 2019