2009 Clinic Recaps
Because of our great partnership with Chalice, our child sponsorship organization, we have expanded the area in which we do clinics in Kenya to include Chalice sites. Actually, only half of our clinics this time were held in Mikinduri, the balance were in places like GilGil, Tumiani and Meru. We are still gathering data from the various sites, but a rough estimate of the numbers served in total at all Kenya sites are:
VISION
We tooks with us 14,000 pairs of glasses, half of which come from the Lions club of Canada at no cost to us. The other half we purchased at very low prices. While there, we assessed and fitted approx 3000 people, young and old with glasses. The balance of the glasses we left with the teams leaders to be used for clinics which they will conduct in the future.
MEDICAL
This is a more difficult area to get a solid number for because of the varying degrees of treatment that people required. However, I don’t believe I would be exaggerating to estimate that a minimum of 1000 people were treated for everything from scalp conditions to very malnourished children, some of whom we had to rush to hospital to be put on intervenes.
One aspect of our clinics which is expanding each time we go, is the number of Kenya health professionals who partner with us. This is not only very encouraging, more importantly it enables our teams to serve many more patients.The Kenya Dept of Health send HIV teams to each of our clinics to give people a chance to be tested confidentially.
Our operating philosophy is to try to partner with other organizations, which share our views and principals. We are very encouraged at the level of interest from Dalhousie Med School in partnering with us and a Egerton University from Nakuru, Kenya, which has a large med school. In fact Dr Joseph, who is also a prof of medicine at Egerton expressed great enthusiasm, at building a working relationship.
Dr Joseph, along with eight of his second year med students, worked at our clinics in Gil Gil. Nothing is finalized, but serious and hopeful discussions are ongoing. Dr Ed Harrison and myself will be meeting with Dal Med school officials, to explore a range of issues in late May. This is an exciting advancement. As well, med students at Dal are conducting an awareness campaign and fundraiser in support of our work in mid April.
DENTAL