Asante sana!! We distribute newborn layette kits!

Ray of Hope team including Teresa Gipson, MD, ROH founder

Today was our LAST volunteer day, so this morning we traveled back to Bware one final time.  We participated in a long, community meeting with representatives of BBEKAS, a consortium of six area schools, and members of BUCHWA, the community health workers with whom Kate & I worked closely.  Our team presented results of the school health screenings  conducted over the past 6 weeks (screening results are provided in my "Odds & Ends" blog).  We gave each school a written referral for each child we believe needs follow-up care...50% of the nearly 2,000 children screened need follow-up!

Tristan, Shelby, & Darla listen to health screening results 

Disability Survey:
Kate presented results of the disability survey she & I conducted over the past 4 weeks:   48 total home visits, including 24 visits to elderly, 13 visits to children, and 11 visits to middle-age persons.  Primary causes of disability in each group included loss of mobility due to arthritis and stroke (elderly), and lack of early identification & referral of problems (children).  Many disabilities seen in middle-age persons were untreated conditions in childhood (for instance a child with club feet which were never treated).   BUCHWA members then commented on survey results and generated a list of suggestions for consideration by future Ray of Hope health teams.

Linet, BUCHWA member, translates into Kiswahili as Kate presents disability survey results

Distribution of Supplies:
The meeting concluded with distribution of school supplies to the 6 schools.  The supplies included:  pencils, pens, notebooks, colored pencils, scissors, toothbrushes, toothpaste & dental floss, laminated posters for learning English-since English is one of the national languages, blank "Certificate of Accomplishment" forms, etc.

We distributed newborn layette kits to the Bware Dispensary clinic.  These kits included a blanket, 2 one-sies outfits, a newborn cap, & a bulb syringe.  Women who deliver at the clinic must pay 350 Kenya shillings (about $4.00 US) & provide a blanket.  This is a barrier for many women, so providing a newborn layette kit to women who need them, is an inducement to get them to deliver at the clinic instead of at home.  We want to say a BIG Thank You to all our friends, relatives, & co-workers who donated clothes, caps, blankets, & bulb syringes for us to bring to Kenya.  YOU made it possible to provide these special kits to the Bware Dispensary.  Your help was acknowledged today by all persons present with a round of applause & a chorus of "Asante sana" (or "Thank You" in Kiswahili)!

Free condom distribution

Kate checks condom supply

Ray of Hope team with BUCHWA & BBEKAS supporters