AOAÌåÓýƽ̨

Media Contacts:

Carrie Burkett
603-356-5461 ext. 2264
Carrie.Burkett@AOAÌåÓýƽ̨.org

Tim Kershner
603-356-5461 ext. 2198
Timothy.Kershner@AOAÌåÓýƽ̨.org

NORTH CONWAY, NH â€� Dr. Lauren Frye is leading a 25-person medical team to a clinic in Kenya next month to provide women’s health care among other services.

For Frye, a member of the Women’s Health team at Memorial Hospital in North Conway, this will be her fourth trip, but the first in which she is the lead. “My first was as a third-year resident as an international elective. This current team, primarily focused on women’s health and pediatrics, includes 13 Memorial providers and staff. They will spend 10 days at the clinic in Migori, Kenya providing a variety of care from physical examinations and surgeries, along with follow-up visits for care begun by previous medical teams.

The Migori clinic is sponsored by the group KenyaRelief.org. “We look for needs and for what we can do to help,� she says, adding that the mortality and morbidity rates in third world countries is “unbelievably high.�

Established 20 years ago, the Kenya Relief organization has built several facilities to provide health care and other services in rural Kenya, including the Migori Clinic where Dr. Frye’s group will be working from December 7 through December 18. “The medical clinics are open year round,� she adds, with international groups arriving regularly to offer medical care and other human services. Kenya Relief also assists the community in water projects and other improvements that can impact health.

Dr. Frye says that there has been “incredible community support� for her team since her trip became official early summer, including fundraising support for travel expenses. The team is still looking for other items to take with them, including socks and earrings. “Socks are such an underappreciated item but valuable in maintaining healthy feet.� And the earrings? “Most kids have their heads shaved for sanitary reasons and young girls love having earrings so they can be distinguished from the boys.�

For more information on how to support the team, contact Dr. Lauren Frye at 603-356-9355 or visit .

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About Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in North Conway, NH, and is a member of the AOAÌåÓýƽ̨ family. Its hospital services include a 24-hour emergency department, surgery center, clinical laboratory, heart health & wellness programs, imaging services, cardiopulmonary care, family birthing center, oncology, chemotherapy and infusion services. Practices include primary care and family medicine, diabetes care, behavioral health, women's health, podiatry, orthopedics and physical therapy. Memorial Hospital is also home to The Merriman House nursing home, which provides senior care services in a comfortable, home-like setting. For more information, visit www.memorialhospitalnh.org  or call 603-356-5461.