How can I describe this week? Observant. Eventful. Culturally enlightening. Swahili-filled… Flexibility is key as my plans seem to change from day to day or I get word from the principle of the nursing school (who is coordinating my experience and schedule here) that I am supposed to be at a certain place at a certain time to go along with these people. What exactly does that mean? I never know, but I do what I’m told and have ended up participating in a handful of very valuable experiences! Tuesday I was able to go out with one of the Community Health instructors and a driver where we picked up a car full of nursing students who are working and boarding in a town maybe 30 km up the road in Naivasha.
We then drove further northwest to a small down called Gilgil where the task of the day was to assess and do a “supervision visit” of a small dispensary. Mainly this means to determine if the clinic is functioning well and safely. It was good, for me, to see how this small dispensary works and what services they offer: immunizations, child welfare checks, antenatal clinic, family planning, HIV care, and basic outpatient consultations. It is largely funded by the government, hence the need for our visit. Bonus, on the way home, the instructor wanted to check out a facility to send nursing students to in the future: a mental health ward in a small hospital! I was shocked. Can you imagine, mental health care in this developing country?
Wednesday I was shocked again, as I did another ride-along with the “Palliative Care Team” from Kijabe Hospital. Yes, you heard me, there is also palliative care in this area of Kenya as well. This team is in the process of vamping up their program, so the first half of the day we went to different commercial businesses where the nurses gave them the opportunity to donate and support the community by investing in this palliative care program. The main goal of their care is to provide pain relief, symptom management, and increase the quality of life for those with terminal illnesses. About ninety percent of their patients are those with cancer, while the others have AIDS or various organ failures. In the afternoon, we ended up doing three home visits to check up on patients. All the conversation was conducted in Kikuyu, a local dialect, so I didn’t understand anything, but I’m realizing the opportunity to visit Kenyan homes was a privilege. Some had a one to two room house with dirt floors. One even welcomed us to sit in the living room while the chickens were moseying around there as well!!
Thursday and Friday was spent with the AIDS Relief team, which I will biasly say has been my favorite time spent here yet. The program is amazing. Well thought out and functional within their community. They not only have an outpatient clinic at Kijabe Hospital but are actively going into more rural areas to provide clinic services to the people there. They are strict, don’t get me wrong. Patients have to show adherence to the medicine regime to be entered in the program, which they have to keep up and are also required to disclose their positive status to at least one person in their family or community (which has proven to increase adherence). Despite the toughness, there seems to be much support – each person is required to attend a support group in their community. Here is where the clinic leaders disseminate health education and where the patients get support from others going through the same things as they are.
Friday: Happy New Constitution Day for Kenya. The day has turned into an unofficial national holiday. Lots of excited Kenyans here today!