I will be closing this task today as it seems that the establishment of a sacco is the best means for the hospital to sustain the training program long-term. Right now they do not have the money available to do this, so it appears necessary to keep the program size at a manageable level rather than try to grow it right now.

Thank you to all who contributed to the discussion.

Jennifer

A new law has been recently drafted in Kenya in relation to Saccos. Here is a copy of an article that I found online about it:

http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144005406&cid=14&j=&m=&d=

Here is a link to the Ministry of Cooperative Development and Marketing that it refers to in the article:

http://www.cooperative.go.ke/

They have a link to information on the actual bill which discusses the changes further:

http://www.cooperative.go.ke/downloads/the%20sacco%20bill%202005.pdf

Bramuel and I spoke on 2/15/09 about the options for the Medical Training Program and he provided more details about the establishment of a Sacco. Bramuel explained that a Sacco is a hospital financing organization. Every hospital is allowed to have one and they can then take loans from the Sacco once it has the money to be established. A Sacco functions basically as a financial partner to the hospital. The Sacco officers must be within the hospital and staff that run it must be from the hospital, but the Sacco can elect it's own individual board.

Bramuel-

I am not familiar with the term "Sacco" can you explain what that is? From your description, it sounds comparable to a hospital foundation here in the United States. Are you basically saying that you and the board have discussed taking a microloan as "seed" funding to get the Sacco started? How would it then be maintained long-term? Through donations of the board members or fundraising efforts?

Jennifer