Kenya: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project

Bebi Lokong

On Thursday, January 25, 2016 at 1:36 PM, when staff members were just ready for their lunch break, a 39-year-old mother named Nakaalei Selina, from Narewa Village (the village surrounding our clinic) arrived with tears rolling down her cheeks. She was holding her 3-year-old girl, Bebi Lokong, firmly against her chest.

The mother was distraught and could not speak. According to the grandmother who accompanied her, Bebi went into a coma in the house approximately 6 hours before, when the mother had left the house in search of food. The mother, however, had no doubt that her child was dead and would not let the grandmother give the whole story.

Quickly, the nurse in charge and his team did a brief medical examination and observation of Bebi. The child’s temperature was extremely high (39.9 degrees Celsius). Then the nurse administered intravenous treatment, infusions, and tepid sponging. After approximately one hour, Bebi opened her eyes and took the paracetamol (Tylenol) syrup given by the nurse in charge. The mother was so grateful to donors and such dedicated staff within her reach.

Bebi was on IV infusions and observed for 2 hours in the clinic, after which she was taken home, to return the next 4 days to continue with intravenous injections. Now Bebi is reported to be recovered and doing well. This is an example of the great benefits the health project provides to our target population of Turkana, which currently stands at 250,000 and keeps rising.

5 Days

In February 2016, a pupil in seventh grade who had not gone to school for 2 terms was brought to our clinic for surgical toilet. His wound had gone untreated for 6 months and was profusely oozing pus and producing a bad odor. The young man said he could not go to a health facility because of lack of funds, so he was treated at home with herbs for 6 months.

The wound was worsening to an extent that he could not walk, but had to crawl. This young man’s healing was also hindered by his community’s belief that because his uncle’s wives were pregnant, the young man could not heal until they give birth. After he was brought to the clinic by a friend who had been treated there, this young man was able to return to class after 5 days – completely healed.

Public Health Education

Toward the end of December 2015 and the beginning of January 2016, Lodwar Clinic experienced a big change: the nurse manager went back to school and 2 staff members left the project on January 12, 2016.

Early this quarter, in January and February, the program faced a critical medication shortage. The government medications we ordered never arrived. The dilemma that followed was how to provide mobile outreach clinics without funds and staff.

Throughout this period, vocal community members in our target villages were requesting mobile outreach clinics. Thankfully, in the second week of March, 3 volunteers trained in community health service expressed interest in working for the project as volunteers, and they submitted applications to the new project coordinator.

With new RMF funding we immediately purchased some medicines. The arrival of the first shipment brought great joy, and we planned and started mobile clinics in March, that same month.