Jael Atieno Ochieng, a Program Associate, and her husband Joash Solo Ochieng, Pharmacy Assistant, are two of Lwala’s longest-standing staff members. Jael has devoted the last 15 years to serving the organization in a variety of roles, and Joash was the first pharmacist at Lwala Community Hospital 18 years ago–back when there were only two full-time staff. Together, they’ve seen Lwala–the community, the organization, and the hospital–transform, and they have transformed with it.
Jael Atieno grew up in nearby Homa Bay County. After attending high school, she came to Lwala in 2000 to live with her aunt. “My aunt lived near Joash, a local young man, and he was always seeing me in church,” Jael says. “After I met her, it took 6 months to marry her,” Joash adds. A year after getting married, Jael and Joash had a baby boy, their first child. When their boy was two years old, he died from anemia. “Lwala Community Hospital didn’t exist yet,” Jael shares. “If the hospital had been there, my baby would have lived. He would have been able to get a blood transfusion.” The couple went on to have three more children, a boy in 2002 who is now pursuing a degree in education at University of Nairobi, and two girls in middle and high school.
Joash helped build the foundation of the hospital, and then joined Lwala when its doors first opened in 2007. He has worked in Lwala Community Hospital’s pharmacy his entire career. Jael joined Lwala in 2009. Having received her diploma at Food and Beverage College in Nairobi, Jael secured the position of Guest Housekeeper at Lwala Community Hospital, and was in charge of preparing meals and doing housekeeping and laundry for the 9-room guest house. She enjoyed interacting with Lwala’s many supporters, including partners, students, and visiting physicians. “I learned from all of them, especially about cooking other cuisines from other parts of the continent. Now, I am an excellent cook!”
After eight years in that position, Jael was promoted to Program Assistant with the water, sanitation, and hygiene program. Now in her 15th year at Lwala, Jael works as a Program Associate. “The primary goal of our community-led work is ensuring pregnant mothers deliver their babies safely, and children get immunized, preventing maternal and child mortality.” Most of Jael’s work is out in the community. With her team, Jael creates and hosts outreach stations once per month, where families who live in hard-to-reach areas can bring their children for immunizations. As a result, community members are mobilized to keep up to date with their shots, preventing common childhood illnesses.
“Working together at Lwala,” Jael says, “We feel honored and grateful that we both have these jobs. Our roles at Lwala have enabled us to send our children to school. We want our children to shine more than us–to keep pursuing their education to the extent that they want.”
“Jael and I have been married 25 years,” Joash shares. “We have grown because of Lwala! I’ve got lots of experience in the pharmacy, and Jael is very good at her job. We are growing professionally, we are making salaries so we can educate our children, and we are serving our community together.”
Jael and Joash will celebrate two milestones this year–they will celebrate 25 years of marriage, and they are due to have another child this spring. “We are grateful to have the hospital now,” Jael says. “My pregnancy is closely monitored. Giving birth at Lwala Community Hospital is my first choice, but I trust that the health care providers–who are our colleagues and friends–will take the best care of me when it’s time to deliver. Joash and I are in good hands.” Joash adds, “We are so excited!”
