Crying for the fate of Bishop Eddy Long Bondeni Maternity

Story & Pictures By Eric Sindabi

Back in 2003, what started as a simple game drive by some visiting American philanthropists accompanied by the then mayor Cyrus Ngoru and a nominated councilor Sabina Owiti would later turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Recent medical survey in the country indeed shows that a high number of women and infants die during child-birth. It was to this fact that a local maternity facility got an opportunity to get a face-lift enabled by African Resource Group (ARG) that is managed by the one Bishop Eddy Long the senior pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church based in Dekalb county, Georgia,in the USA.

ARG is an international charity organization that supports the needy and sponsors religious training all over the world especially in Africa.

The former Bondeni Maternity and children’s health center was renovated and equipped with safer birth equipment ranging from; beds, gloves, thermometers,baby bags, incubators among others. The hospital also got a face-lift in sanitation facilities. When Bishop Eddy Long visited Nakuru in August 2003 the hospital was renamed to Bishop Eddy Long Bondeni Maternity.

Nevertheless according to M/s Owiti who together with the then Nakuru Mayor Cyrus Ngoru brokered the deal when they were invited in the US, the initial plan was to build a multimillion health facility to cater for women and children. In a recent exclusive interview with NCN Owiti who by then was in-charge of the Environment Department at NMC, the hospital was to serve the South of Sahara and a referral facility as a project of the ARGb in Africa.”We discussed about many issues but the one that attracted Bishop Long was the issue of the maternity and children health. “She said.

The former nominated councilor said that the ARG had pledged to pump in US dollars 100million to implement the project after giving out an initial amount of sh.3.5 million to cater for architetural and structural planning. She says that according to the agreement between the Nakuru Municipal Council and ARG the council was to dish in sh.15million before the sponsors release the rest of the funds for the project.

Owiti said that the former local government Mr.Musikari Kombo had appointed a Board to oversee the project while the then Director of Medical Services Dr.Nyakal had pledged to post more doctors and nurses at the hospital. The Board was refereed to as Bondeni Eddy Long.(BEL) and was gazetted and its activities financed by the government in 2004 “She stressed adding that the Board comprised of high-ranking doctors, ministry of health, and ministry of local government and NMC officials and was to serve for three years.

Owiti said that the Board was however un-ceremoniously disbanded before realizing its mandate as local and national politics glared its ugly face into the activities of the Board some time before the 2007 general elections. She clarified that minutes of the Board’s meetings and those of the full council were documented at the Town Clerk's office including the decision by the council to release sh.15million from LATIF to go towards the implementation of the project.

Located in the low class area of Bondeni, the health facility is among the many health facilities that are run by the NMC. It offers labor, anti-natal, post natal and children health services. The facility serves mostly slum dwellers and even people from rural areas outside Nakuru Municipality.

A spot check by NCN showed that the hospital has a large number of patient turn out but still lacks adequate facilities to offer efficient services. This includes a theater, washing machine, incubator and a mortuary. Also lacking are enough specialized doctors and nurses.

Born in 1953 at Huntersville North Carollina Baishop Eddy Long has received various awards in leadership and charity works, though implicated in various monetary and sex scandals. He has authored books like; I don’t want Delilah,I need you, Power of a Woman, Talking over, It’s your Time, Gladiator; The Strength of A Woman, Deliver me from Adam and Blessing in Giving.