:: AMREF turns 50
7 March 2007

It wasn't just Ghana celebrating 50 years. The African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF) was doing the same in Nairobi. They were hosting a photo exhibition at the Charter hall in Nairobi's central business district a few hours ago. I was still slightly sore and hangover from my exertions from last night at Kwani open mic but I had to come. Janice who works for AMREF had hooked me up with an invite and so I had to make the effort.

The photographs that showed AMREF in action around the continent in the various countries were exquisite. It was a veritable feast for the visual senses. They showed people being treated all over the continent. And people cleaning up. And being generally good wit the aid of AMREF. My favourite was one where a lady in Tanzania was having her blood being drawn. Hwe expression of pain, nay agony was palpable as we see a needle being stuck in her arm. Now that’s what we call a classic photo. Some of the photographers that were being showcased included Jeroen Van Loon, Colin O'Connor, Stevie Mann, Sven Torfinn, Georgina Cranston, Morris Kenzoyo and my man Tom Otieno. The whole exhibition had been curated and organised on behalf of AMREF by Africshot21. This is an organisation that aims at cataloguing the African experience. I ran into Tom Otieno who is a director with Afrishot21 and who I met a lifetime ago. That exhibition was really great and if you want to know more about Afrishot21 email Tom at afrishot21@yahoo.com

Away from the photos, there were was the official opening ceremony for the exhibition. The programme stated that it would be presided over by none other than his Excellency the Vice president Moody Awori. Unfortunately, it seemed that Uncle Moody had been called to represent Kenya at Ghana's fiftieth anniversary ceremony. I am really proud of Ghana by the way. They opened the way for the rest of Africa to be free and those countrymen make me so proudly African. And their Great Idikoko really makes me laugh... I don't know where that one came from. Let’s get back to our AMREF review then. Anyway the master of ceremonies one Dr. Peter Ngatia who welcomed us and the chief guest who was Uncle Moody's stand in. It was none other than Professor George Saitoti, honourable minister for Health sorry Education. He then asked us to watch this documentary showing what AMREF does in the community. Wow. They train health workers in Kenya’s Maasai populated areas of Kajiado. They help South African Sangomas to treat patients. They help Ethiopians with health issues and as well as business advice and more. Holy mother of God! Is there something AMREF does not do in Africa? I waited with baited breathe to hear how they had helped Togo launch a satellite into space. No such luck. Wow. If Pinky and the Brain really want to take over the world perhaps they should study the AMREF model.

There were quite a few speakers on the evening. There was the current Director General Dr. Smaller. The place was chockfull of doctors what with AMREF being a health based organisation. And there was also Yunus Said who represented some of the health workers who AMREF considered heroes in their communities. (Again with the heroes. Kwani March was heroes’ month and no one told me?). There was also Catherine Ndereba who is a goodwill ambassador for AMREF, superstar marathoner and an all around nice lady. The Current Chair of AMREF Professor Miriam Were did a nice introduction for all the people who had come from all over world and worked for AMREF. Pals came from as far as Canada and Austria and other far of countries. She also introduced one of the founders and the family of another. It was a nice one. The last speaker for the evening was one Professor Saitoti. He praised AMREF for the good work they were doing. The man was laying it on thick but you could see that it was well deserved. He went as far as calling AMREF the best NGO ever. He might be onto something there. How many civil society organisations get by the tenth year let alone get to 50 year of existence?

Away from the speeches, the crowd was quite mixed too. After all these were supporters of AMREF. There was Oscar who works with Peri Peri. And Lucy who works with Magnate Ventures. There was also full compliment of media. NTV had sent in Tim Njiru who was choking pungent fume free. And KTN had sent in Misiko Andere who looked resplendent. Wait there has to be a better word... Thesaurus gives me a dazzling, glorious, glittering... I'll go with stunning. Misiko Andere looking stunning in black. Citizen TV had Chrispine who I believe produces Upambe but I could be wrong. As I said, a full media compliment. There were other cameras but these I didn't recognise. Maybe KBC had sent those Code254 guys but I couldn't see any of them.

The performance for the evening was by Eric Wainaina. I had to flee when he started performing though. My headache wouldn't allow for loud band music. As I left, I was given a tote bag with some nice AMREF paraphernalia. AMREF really does a lot of good work. And this evening convinced me that I needed to do everything within my powers to chip in for this worthy organisation. AMREF was started 50 years ago by three doctors as a kind of flying doctors service and had evolved into one of the most respected organisations in African related to health. Visit them online at Amref.org for the full story. Please.

Related Links
:: Amref.org
:: Heroes and football: Kwani Open mic
:: KTN
:: NTV

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