Public Health Nursing Adventure: Odds & Ends

One of the many signs on Bware bldgs ("End malaria now")

Wilma, the youngest child in our host family, with her teddy bear doll

Poster on wall, Migori District Hospital, announcing first-ever nationwide de-worming day for all Kenyan schools, 23 October

Our bedroom at the Oker home with mosquito netting

Oker home dining room with Wilma & Philus

Volunteer Program Coming to End:
Tonight we're both back in Migori. We said goodbye to our host family in Bware last night. Kate & I both traveled back here by piki-piki (motorcycle) but at different times. I returned early this morning to meet a child & parent we'd referred to Migori District Hospital. We wanted the child to see the physiotherapist because of club feet. The PT examined the boy & concluded he may benefit from surgery because his ankles are not frozen but still have movement. So he referred the child to another hospital for additional evaluation next month. If surgery is indicated, the cost may be covered by a special program created by the European Union that helps Kenyans with physical disabilities. Kate stayed in Bware longer in order to have one more day of home visiting with the BUCHWA community health workers. However, she arrived here before dinner. She's gone to bed because she has a cold which is going around the team. I hope I can avoid it.

Kate provides antiworm medicine to nursery school kids

One of Kate's little patients

James got in on the act too

Bware Primary students help children wash hands before meds

School Health Screening Results:
On Friday our entire team returns to Bware one last time to present results of our six school screenings: total # screened-1,968; 50% of children screened will be referred for follow-up for one or more of the following problems: 21% dental issues, 12% signs of anemia, 12% ear health issues including wax build-up, 4% visual acuity of less than 20/20. In addition, Ray of Hope may be able to use these statistics to leverage additional assistance from the Kenya Ministry of Public Health & Sanitation.

Wrap-up meetings:
In addition to the Friday meeting with the BBEKAS, the Bware-area school consortium, & BUCHWA members, we have an early morning meeting scheduled tomorrow with Dr. Daniel Agullo, St. Joseph Umbo Mission Hospital's Medical Director. We'll discuss the results of the students' clinical experiences over the past 4 weeks. Then, later tomorrow, Dr. Teresa Gipson, RN, MD, MPH, the American founder of Ray of Hope, will be here to meet the team & learn about our experience. Although Kate & I know Teresa & have worked with her over the past couple of years, this will be the first time most of the PA students will meet her.

Rolling chapati dough

Frying up chapati

Lake Nakuru & Maasi Mara National Parks:
Our official volunteer commitment ends Friday afternoon, so Kate, Terence (one of the PA students), & I will take a weekend trip to Lake Nakuru National Park (~ 300 km away). We've hired a cab & driver to take us there & back and we'll stay overnight at the Carnation Hotel in Nakuru (listed in Lonely Planet's Kenya guidebook). Our hope is to be at the park shortly after sunrise Sunday. The park is known for its flamingos, rhinoceroses (black & white), & elusive leopards. We're excited! We'll return here late Sunday, rest & do laundry Monday, then Tuesday morning, the whole team leaves for a multi-day tour of Maasi Mara National Park. We'll stay in lodging inside the park & take multiple trips in AM & PM to different spots for animal watching. You can be sure we'll have our cameras at the ready! We depart Maasi Mara Nov 2, return to Nairobi for an overnight, then visit a new friend & explore the city before we depart for home Saturday night.