Since ICROSS began over 35 years ago, it remained committed to preserving local culture tradition and heritage. One important part of this was to provide effective community development, that would be sustainable and owned by local communities. ICROSS did not focus on building a large NGO but concentrated on supporting local existing social systems. All of our work since 1983 but on the cultural values and belief systems of the local people. During the 1983-84 drought, many of our team became concerned that tribal communities were selling their precious tribal artifacts simply to survive.

ICROSS has been  working on innovative ways to treat  Trachoma since  1986 with Professor David Morley of the Institute of Child Health, a pioneer of Tropical Health.

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. It is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.

The international team of ICROSS and new world international have launched in collaboration with the government of  Kenya a malaria prevention programme to try and reduce the cases and deaths caused by malaria among nomads.

Together with our international partners including Kenya ministry of health and the International Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering.  NWI UK has seen a reduction of 22,000 cases of Malaria in Kenya.

There has been a spectacular improvement in the way which malaria is treated, with you help we can do a great deal more.

NWI has spent the last 18 months creating long term prevention programmes thanks to the many volunteers and partners including John Woodbridge, Jennah- louise salkeld and a group of close friends.

Jennah-Louise Salked has been campaigning for women's rights in Kenya for the last four years. She has been dynamic as an ambassador for remote rural women's groups and mother and child health, this year Jennah has set up a series of projects working with ICROSS in Kenya and its partner charity in the United Kingdom, New World International UK. To learn more about the work of both charities, you can check out our YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/ICROSSwork and our websites http://icrossinternational.org and http://nwiuk.org . If you would like to support any of Jennah's projects, you can donate through the British charity commission regulated charity http://www.nwiuk.org/ or directly https://www.charitycheckout.co.uk/1126542/Donate .

Celebration, the latest collection of images from the work of ICROSS international has been created and has been put together to share the  achievements of ICROSS over the last 37 years. This work is part of the series of initiatives to create an understanding regarding poverty and social injustice around the world.

I ​Am delighted as the CEO and Director of ICROSS ​I​ nternational and ICROSS Kenya to present the first in a series of photographic book​s​ that we are launching ​. This is the latest ICROSS initiative to create a more profound understanding of poverty and social justice as well as highlighting the ways that we can change the world together.

The ICROSS team of 2016 is delighted to announce the release of its Annual Report for 2015. 

Speaking at the release of our latest programme, the International Director Dr. Michael Elmore-Meegan released the annual Report on behalf of the project teams and the Board of ICROSS international on 13th April 2016. Dr. Meegan paid tribute to the many donors and volunteers who work together every day to make ICROSS such a wonderful success.

There is of Couse no such thing as world water day, it’s like all those other special days dreamt up by the United Nations marked only by a few. A little bit like World AIDS day these observances have become often mealy lip service decided by only the powerful in 5stars hotel, equally in paid conferences.

9 hours spent driving out to a clinic today on what I would refer to as far too kind if I called it a road, in remote Kenya, in ridiculous heat. I am exhausted. I have done a few 8 hour days in the car in the past couple of weeks, but this one took it out of me! I couldn't have asked for a better good evening than this gift from this beautiful world x ‪#‎icross‬

The ICROSS Country Director, Danny Ngwiri, and Program Director, Johnson Ole Maseker, welcomed back to ICROSS Programs Jennah-Louise Salkeld for the latest event in Jennah's Support Programs from our partners and friends in Australia. In this latest dynamic Support Program, Jennah is working with local communities in Singiraine and Lorgorsua.

We have lots of youtubes with more on the way this month. They began with an award winning one hour film made by Irish Television over a decade ago " When you say 4,000 goodbyes" https://youtu.be/oFWy25wncUs and more recently a series of youtubes including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltxvGwmF1BI Keeping up with the latest platforms to share our work we are creating a series of multi media updates to coincide with our 37th Anniversary this month. We will keep you updated on the forthcoming books and short films

We are excited to announce this year volunteer intake application for 2016. The volunteer section on this website outlines the categories for volunteering in the international community for relief of starvation and suffering.

In 2016/18, I​CROSS​ is launching its latest major project​ that is within the Strategic Plan 2015-2020 ​. Over the last 37 years, we have built and dedicated many clinics to those who have provided service​ and support​ to Africa. These include ​T​he Sharon Wilkinson ​C​linic, ​The ​ Father Paul Cunningham ​C​linic, and the Professor Ronan Conroy ​C​linic.

The board of directors of ICROSS international and ICROSS Kenya wish all of our friends around the world a wonderful and fantastic holiday. Our special supporters have made 2015 one of our most successful years and continue to help us reach some of the poorest people on earth. To all of those who have often anonymously contributed to our many projects, our deepest gratitude and thanks.

One of the most immediate challenges facing Africa is water since 1983 ICROSS completed over 380 water projects reaching almost a million people. More people die of water borne disease in Africa than from all war and violence in the world each year.

One of the tragedies in Africa is that women have very few rights.” first then the other one that am going to send in a few days’ time

A woman dies of complications in childbirth every minute most of these women are in Africa. A woman in the sub-Saharan has a 1/16 dyeing during childbirth. A woman in the UK has 1 in 4000 death during childbirth. For over 30 years ICROSS has...

ICROSS has been involved in children’s health for over 30 Years. Together with research partners around the world we have developed comprehensive mother and child care programmes since 1983. ICROSS has trained over 800 health care workers for the last 6 years, in partnership with local government we have developed fully equipped maternity units in all our clinics. Our maternal perinatal are integrated into our pregnancy child birth interventions. ICROSS continues to fund maternal and new born health care.

The International community for relief of starvation and suffering has spent over three decades developing long term public health research monitoring and evaluation.

A large part of our international programme is lecturing globally on best practices in both the design and the implementation of comprehensive holistic health programming. One element of that strategy has been to encourage and welcome students from around the world to experience the daily life of rural health programmes in Africa.

This is a programme information update for all those applying for ICROSS internship programmes up to and including December 2015. Due to the excessive demand we wish to announce that there are no further vacancy opportunities in any ICROSS field programmes until February 2016.

We will be posting details of revised application opportunities in July 2015. No further applications can be considered during the present calendar year for 2015.

The chairman of the board of Directors of ICROSS, Dr Evan Sequeira is seen here with the International Director Dr Michael Meegan. Dr Sequeira who is also the Medical Director of ICROSS has been discussing the long-term sustainability of ICROSS field programmes and future community capacity building of ICROSS health services.

​Makesirr OleKanai Celebrates 25 years of serving Maasai  Rural Communities this week. He  is one of the many unsung heroes that  are creating change and bringing passion into their communities across Africa.  ICROSS has always believed that the future lies in building long  term local resources and skills at village level.

ICROSS has been creating awareness in Europe with a series of presentations and lectures on the Rise of Poverty and the new challenges of women's rights in Health care. The presentations focused mostly on Sub Saharan Africa and the wide range of projects and campaigns implemented by ICROSS and  our Partners.  Together with our friends and supporters we continue to  fight for the rights of women and children building a healthier future.

ICROSS has been at the forefront of improving water for rural communities since 1983. Our Research Unit has been Publishing innovations in preventing water borne disease for over 20 years and we have created hundreds of safe water sources over the last decade. But there is no room for complacency. Over a Billion people in poor areas have no clean water.

1. Volunteer / Intern Orientation Workshop ICROSS Training Unit Ngong, Saturday 30thMay - Sunday 31st May,15 Midwives Planning Meeting

2.ICROSS Clinic, Nyoonyorrie, Kajiado Wednesday 10th June, 15 Community Health Worker update Seminar 3. ICROSS training Unit, Ngong, Friday 12th June - Monday 15th June, 15

Further details wil be available next week on the ICROSS blog and on twitter

For over 30 years ICROSS has been building Mother and child health initiatives in East Africa. This requires continuity and long term committment working with local communities.  ICROSS is building locally owned , community driven programmes that create  ongoing improvements in the daily lives of the communities we work with.

( From Dr Michael  Meegan and D Ngwiri Ndwaru )

We are preparing a submission to the High Commision for Human Rights together with our stakeholders and partners in 5 countries. Many of our  collaborators receive  our weekly updates from this site so we would like to invite your   comments, inputs and suggestions. In May (5-8th), we shall conduct a stakeholders seminar to  prepare a draft together with a portfolio with  stories, narratives and
visual resources for the UN high Commission for  Human Rights.  You as our partners and friends are all invited to  participate.

For over 3 decades ICROSS has been actively involved in campaigning internationally for excellence in public health research aimed at fighting poverty.

From its early beginnings working with dialogue on diarrhea to its latest international campaigns on infectious disease, ICROSS continues work at the forefront of international health strategies and research.

On behalf of all of us at the International Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering, we wold like to wish all of you a Wonderful Easter and a safe and Blessed Holiday. We are truly a Global family with supporters and friends in 19 countries around the World.

ICROSS is delighted to announce the release of its Annual Report for 2014. Speaking at the St Patrick’s Day celebrations the International Director Dr. Mike Meegan released the annual review on behalf of the project teams and the Board of ICROSS international. Dr. Meegan paid tribute to the many donors and volunteers who work together every day to make ICROSS such a wonderful success.

You can help us with our new campaign this Easter. By donating online 4 Pound sign) we can give a malnourished child an egg laying hen that will provide daily protein. If you can, donate 4 pounds this Easter we are hoping to reach a target of 1,000 laying hens this is only possible with your help. This new idea was given to us by Kai the ICROSS official mascot when we were thinking of a campaign for Easter, Kai came into the planning office carrying an egg in his mouth. This is what gave us the idea to try and provide as many homes as possible with laying hens so high five for Kai.

The ICROSS community representatives and field managers together with women’s group representatives have all been deciding the ICROSS award for volunteer of the year 2014. Throughout the year there were many international volunteers. Many of these are in Kenya to fulfill requirements of their university studies. All have learned a great deal about serving communities and every one of them has made some contribution to rural health development.

ICROSS Kenya is marking International Women's day in a series of
events starting on 4th March and  continuing until the 8th March 2015.
  All ICROSS programmes will be marking this important  annual
celebration in a series of activities.  The Country Director D  Ngwiri
will join other organisations from across Kenya on the 8th March.

To mark the hundredth birthday of Dr. Joe Barnes we are extending the Dr. Joe Barnes project this year in 2015. This is a very special occasion that pays tribute to one of the first physicians from Ireland to make a major contribution to tropical medicine.

ICROSS has always viewed these journalistic slogans with skepticism. On the 31st of January 2015 the lancet (the world’s most important medical journal) published “countdown to 2015 and beyond: fulfilling the health agenda for women and children” Lancet 2015; 385-466-76

As part of our 36 years working in Africa we thought it would be a good idea to give a snapshot of the work that we have done over the last three and a half decades.
This feature will also be an element of the 2014 annual report more importantly these achievements http://icrossinternational.org/achievments/index.asp tell you everything that we stand for as we prepared this presentation our team was challenged in selecting examples of our work from the many activities that we have implemented over the last 36 years.
 

20 years today one of our key team members died tragically at the height of the AIDS epidemic when there was so much fear and panic around dying patients many were abandoned and rejected, left to die alone. There are many parrarels between leprosy, Ebola and how people saw those suffering from AIDS 20 years ago.

The ICROSS board of directors had its first meeting of 2015 and was planning the work of the work of ICROSS for 2015.
The chairman of the board noted that the cofounder of ICROSS Dr. Joseph Barnes MD was now over 100 years old. Dr. Evan Sequeira MD chairman of the board of ICROSS dedicated the continuing fight against poverty to Dr. Barnes and said that all mother and child health programmes in 2015 will be the doctor Joe Barnes project for the year. Dr. Sequeira addressing the board of directors announced that the ICROSS annual report will be officially released later this month.

The whole ICROSS family internationally; wishes to thank all of ICROSS friends and supporters for a most challenging year yet.

ICROSS is in the process of finalizing this year’s community planning at village level. Over 100 community members came together today to share ideas and confer. Women’s groups, ministry of health and local administration joined ICROSS management and directors in celebrating the success of 2014.

All ICROSS health facilities will remain open throughout the holidays. The only exception is Christmas day 25th of December and new years’ day 1st of January when the medical staff will only be on duty between 12:00 and 4:00 PM. Emergency services in all clinics remain unaffected

Over 160 ICROSS staff, team members and their families joined with partners and government colleagues in the first of a series of celebrations, giving thanks for the many programs that ICROSS implements. Representatives of Women’s Groups, Local Communities and other NGOs came together to celebrate ICROSS programs.

Since 1983 ICROSS has been actively involved in fighting Malaria, a significant part of our annual budget has gone into malaria prevention. Over 4,000 NGOs and over 100 governments have been active across the World in spreading low cost interventions to prevent Malaria. That has dramatically reduced Malaria worldwide.

New World International volunteers Ottawa Wycliffe and Gabriella Mytton-Mills went to visit the Dr Joe Barnes clinic opened over seven years ago by Dr Ronan Conroy.

One of the most important Maasai leaders and active supporter of ICROSS programs for 30 years is Peter Ole Saitaga.  Mr. Ole Saitaga is involved in the capacity building of Maasai communities throughout Kenya.

Since we first started working in the early 1980 fighting AIDS a lot has changed in the last 30 years. ICROSS worked a time when there was a lot of denial and fear hatred and ignorance. We have moved beyond the lack of knowledge and great changes have been made in changing the stigma and fear. For organisations like ICROSS every day is AIDS day just as every day is malaria day or tuberculosis day. The people we serve are not a disease or a patient, a child orphaned because of AIDS is still a member of a community.

A decade after ICROSS began implementing children health programmes in East Africa, the United Nations detailed the convention on the rights of the child in 1989.

Almost a quarter of a century later we have dramatically failed children in meeting the aspirations and goals of the convention on the rights of the child.

As part of the international and national planning programme for the next five years ICROSS has released its latest Theory of Change Model after wide consultation with stake holders.

ICROSS Strategic plan 2015-2020

The ICROSS planning team released it’s latest Five Year Plan today at ICROSS International Headquarters.

The Country Director, Danny Ngwiri noted at the launch

“Every organisation around the world needs to plan its future using a dynamic process understanding the rapid changes occurring around the world.

Unless international organisations have a comprehensive professional system to plan the future they will be vulnerable to failure.”

The Finnish team supporting ICROSS projects have put up the latest field project youtube on line today. JoniLuomanen ,Julius Konttinen and Mikael Ashorn will be putting more clips of our projects on line over the coming weeks.