It all started when 3 of us went to the school to teach more because we felt like that was the place where we could make the biggest impact. It was our plan to spend at least 2-3 days there this week. We showed up so excited, only to find out that they have testing ALL week, so there are no real classes going on. We asked if there was anything we could help out with, whether it be proctor exams, grade things, organize books, etc. They told us there was really nothing, but that we should come back Monday...I'll already be gone by then :(
Point Kenya.
So we went back to the hospital. Turns out St. Joseph's hospital in particular is slow on all days besides Monday and Friday because those back up to "market days" and so people generally only travel to the town on the days that they can multitask - going to the market and the hospital/clinic in one trip. Makes so much sense.
Also, this hospital does not have volunteers all the time, so they have to be able to function on their own. Aka, there is just not a lot for us to do sometimes.
Got in contact with a volunteer from Germany who is working at another orphanage. We met with her, hoping to find work for the week. Aaaaand of course, she was leaving for Nairobi the next day until July 1st...only has to go there twice in the entire year she is here...so of course it is this week!
More points Kenya.
So, yesterday, we wandered from ward to ward asking where we could lend a hand, but kept getting politely turned away (multiple points Kenya).... until we got the call about the lady in labor! We had all gone back to the house threw on our scrubs, ran over there and then sat with the mom for 2+ hours before she finally had a beautiful baby boy :) Aaaaand, the best part....she named it Tyler, after a med student in our group!!! He was the only guy in the room with us during labor, so she asked his name and we literally thought it was a joke (mainly because locals have such a tough time pronouncing his name), but she really did it...and said it perfectly! So, I think this is officially the first time there have ever been 2 Tylers in Kenya. Luckily, this moment made up for the rest of the day, because we started keeping points (US vs Kenya) and Kenya was waaaaay ahead until then. US for the win!
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| Peds Ward @ St. Joseph's |
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| Pharmacy @ St. Joseph's |
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| Crafting some foam donuts for our Bed Sore Initiative |
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| Audrey & Baby Tyler |
Started off today with some sunrise yoga!!! I channeled my inner Cyndawg and taught a class in our yard....had to use beach towels, but it did the trick. The mornings here are so refreshing! Feels good to get moving early. And almost everyone in the house joined so we had a blast :) Plus, we all need some good stretches and twists because - well, let's just say - the beds and pillows here are not quite Tempurpedics. This back is going to need some serious adjusting when I get home.
After breakfast, a few girls and I went over to the Oruba Hospital because we heard they need more help. It was about 10 minutes down the backroads, so it was nice to see more of the city and how people live day-to-day. The staff at this hospital were so excited to have us and actually spent time on orientation, introductions and assignments. We did rounds on all the patients and the doctor tied nutrition into almost every case there. It was such a nice change to be able to be productive! We discussed malaria, anemia, meningitis and TB cases mostly.
The meningitis case was the hardest because the woman had a 1 month old laying in the bed next to her and had not been able to breastfeed for weeks. Because of this, the baby has only been getting water and maybe a little sugar for that entire time. She was just so tiny. Formula here is 1500 shillings, which is suuuper expensive for them. So, those of us who were there pooled money and were able to get a tin of formula to sustain her until the mother can feed again. It is just so hard to look at these beautiful little babies and wonder what their lives are going to be like.
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| Sunrise Yoga |
After breakfast, a few girls and I went over to the Oruba Hospital because we heard they need more help. It was about 10 minutes down the backroads, so it was nice to see more of the city and how people live day-to-day. The staff at this hospital were so excited to have us and actually spent time on orientation, introductions and assignments. We did rounds on all the patients and the doctor tied nutrition into almost every case there. It was such a nice change to be able to be productive! We discussed malaria, anemia, meningitis and TB cases mostly.
The meningitis case was the hardest because the woman had a 1 month old laying in the bed next to her and had not been able to breastfeed for weeks. Because of this, the baby has only been getting water and maybe a little sugar for that entire time. She was just so tiny. Formula here is 1500 shillings, which is suuuper expensive for them. So, those of us who were there pooled money and were able to get a tin of formula to sustain her until the mother can feed again. It is just so hard to look at these beautiful little babies and wonder what their lives are going to be like.
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| Oruba Hospital |
After rounds, we met with the TB specialist and got an intensive rundown of the entire disease process...and nutrition, again! Most hospitals here get meds via US AID, and malnutrition is such an issue here that food is truly a medicine. This location in particular provides/prescribes porridge to anyone with a BMI under 18.5 until they are a healthy weight.
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| Bags of porridge provided to malnourished patients |
After grabbing a quick lunch at the house and studying for a bit, Jaclyn, Aly and I headed over to District Hospital, another location we had not yet been to. We had not been offered the chance to work here up to this point, but the med students went yesterday and told us that there are actually Social Work (Jaclyn) and Nutrition programs in place there. Sooooo, essentially, we should have been working here the WHOLE time, but we were never told that the programs were available...even though we had asked over and over. Could not be more frustrated.
But anyways, we took matters into our own hands, went to District and approached the Head Nurse to introduce ourselves and ask about opportunities there would be for us. She was more than excited and willing to guide us where we needed to be.
We met with the nutritionist, Christine, and she was so great! She had a small office full of educational posters and prescription foods (Chubby Nut & porridges made specifically for adults, pregnant/lactating, and children) and sat with us for almost 2 hours, explaining the products, process, her mission, issues regarding nutrition in Kenya, etc. She started this program in 2007, but before that, prescription foods were only provided to HIV+ patients. She couldn't stand withholding nutritional assistance to other malnourished people, so she was able to begin providing it. Now, the foods are even produced here in Kenya, which is a great step for them.
But anyways, we took matters into our own hands, went to District and approached the Head Nurse to introduce ourselves and ask about opportunities there would be for us. She was more than excited and willing to guide us where we needed to be.
We met with the nutritionist, Christine, and she was so great! She had a small office full of educational posters and prescription foods (Chubby Nut & porridges made specifically for adults, pregnant/lactating, and children) and sat with us for almost 2 hours, explaining the products, process, her mission, issues regarding nutrition in Kenya, etc. She started this program in 2007, but before that, prescription foods were only provided to HIV+ patients. She couldn't stand withholding nutritional assistance to other malnourished people, so she was able to begin providing it. Now, the foods are even produced here in Kenya, which is a great step for them.
She and her team do outpatient counseling, diabetes counseling, inpatient/ward support and home visits. It was so bittersweet to talk to her because it is literally EXACTLY what I came here to do, but of course, tomorrow is my last day in the hospitals. GUHHH. My biggest frustration is that I asked about specific nutrition programs so many times while planning this trip and was never told about this. But anyways, I am just going to take a deep breath, make the most of it tomorrow and hope that maybe Christine turns into a great contact for the future :)
Our med students had extremely challenging days at District this week as well. They have saved lives, witnessed deaths, rigged make-shift catheters, crafted oxygen masks, researched wound dressings, the list goes on and on. The conditions here, especially at District Hospital (government run), are so so so extreme. There are literally 3 and 4 kids to a bed in the peds ward...I felt like I was in a movie when I looked in for the first time. The ratio of doctors to patients is so low and the resources are so few that it is just really challenging for all of us to see some of these cases. In the US, we are so lucky to have the efficiency, technology, convenience, education, medications and adequate staff needed to save lives.
We lost power for a couple of hours tonight, so that made our nightly games a bit interesting.
We all need a good night's rest so that we are ready for a good, productive day tomorrow!
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The District Hospital
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Our med students had extremely challenging days at District this week as well. They have saved lives, witnessed deaths, rigged make-shift catheters, crafted oxygen masks, researched wound dressings, the list goes on and on. The conditions here, especially at District Hospital (government run), are so so so extreme. There are literally 3 and 4 kids to a bed in the peds ward...I felt like I was in a movie when I looked in for the first time. The ratio of doctors to patients is so low and the resources are so few that it is just really challenging for all of us to see some of these cases. In the US, we are so lucky to have the efficiency, technology, convenience, education, medications and adequate staff needed to save lives.
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We lost power for a couple of hours tonight, so that made our nightly games a bit interesting.
We all need a good night's rest so that we are ready for a good, productive day tomorrow!
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