This past week I have settled into a more constant work of working directly in the AIDS Relief Program here at Kijabe, apart from Monday when I went along with JB, one of the community health nursing instructors, to Nairobi (we were dropping 22 nursing students to live and work at the biggest government run mental hospital). It’s been good to have some consistency where everyday I come across the same concepts which helps to solidify it all in my brain. So Tuesday I “put in my time at the office” as I worked in the Data department all day. This is where much of the patient information is put into a computer database and patient progress is tracked. Also, this is where they glean statistics about the program and how it is functioning. It sounds awesome, but I spent the day putting in what seemed like a million CD4 counts! However, the statistics are quite impressive. As of August, there were around 4800 patients enrolled in the program, which is spread out in between the hospital and four “satellite” clinics. Approximately 66 % female, 34 % male, 15 % not yet on anti-retrovirals, and 1-3 % mortality. That in itself is quite impressive.
Wednesday through Friday I worked in various clinics, traveling out to satellite clinics two of the days and stayed home at Kijabe clinic on Friday. My role has been helping with the triage, which is basically checking patients in, filling in paperwork, and taking vitals. I can’t do much else since I am still dealing with a language barrier. Most people speak a few words of English, but it’s not enough for me to think I could provide good healthcare. I wish I spoke Kikuyu or Swahili to help out a bit more and connect with the patients better, but it also puts me in a good place for observation. It’s been a good week to just solidify the process and flow of these clinics for me. The staff is all so gracious to let me join in.
One thing I noticed at the clinic in Githunguri is how many mothers with babies or young children there were at the clinic. The program has created a sub-program to address this: PMTCT (preventing mother to child transmission). Each pregnant woman who is HIV positive meets with a “mentor mother” to explain what she can do to decrease the chances that her baby will convert to positive as well. This involves a disciplined medication regime, keeping follow up and pharmacy appointments, placing the baby on anti-retrovirals, and most of the time in this area, exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age. They told me that if the mother follows this there is only a 10% chance the baby will be HIV positive.
Saturday was a bonus work day, yay… Ha! Just kidding. No, really, I had a great experience going to “kids club” at Thigio Clinic. This is the support group for HIV positive kids and their guardians which happens every month or two. The kids get together for the majority of the day to listen to or perform teachings, songs, poems, then go outside to play games and then share a meal together. There were about 20 five to twelve year olds and maybe a dozen teenagers. They were quite enjoying themselves and we joined in on the fun. This is what I call community based health care.
As for me I’m still enjoying lots of chai breaks and having my fair share of chapatis, which somehow grow on you to point that you crave them. It’s getting warmer here (apparently summer is coming) and it has not rained on my clean clothes on the line for a good week now. Last weekend I went on a real live safari and saw a lion consuming a zebra (that may be the highlight of my year, sorry to say). Also the other day I woke up to something on my face, slapped at it, and promptly fell back asleep. I woke up to find a very squashed spider on my pillow. Just a little reminder that yes, I’m still in Africa.