This is rainy season in Kenya so while the weather is lovely most of the time, when it rains, it pours. We were woken up a few times during the night with incredible rain pounding the tin roof of our room as it sounded like torrents rushing off the top and onto the road outside.
As Dr. Stewart, Dr. Patey, Noel and I waited in the reception area for breakfast, conversation turned to plans at Bethany for the future. With 60 beds being the current capacity at the hospital, there is a growing need to expand the number of beds in Kijabe. However, the physical and financial barriers families face to even get to Kijabe is a reality. As the current physicians age, there is a need to support young doctors, local Kenyan and other African physicians to take over in the future. The educational component of Bethany which focuses on the training of doctors (a post-degree residency specializing in the type of care and surgeries performed at Bethany) is becoming a larger focus in order to move away from medical care coming only from North American doctors, but from African doctors trained to take over. For example, there is a current resident at Bethany who is willing to set up in Madagascar and that island is recognized as an area of need. The support, financial and otherwise was discussed as a way to spread out and reach as many children as possible through more doctors helping more children and taking on leadership with Bethany with an eye to the future. Through the education of more doctors willing to take on this work, more children can access the medical attention they need throughout Africa.
A Belgian gentleman named Pierre then joined us before breakfast. Pierre works very closely with an organization dedicated to medical assistance for children with Spina Bifida at various clinics throughout Africa in memory of his daughter who died of the disease 20 years ago at the age of 11. Pierre works with International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (http://www.ifglobal.org/) which works in Kenya, Uganda, and is moving into other areas in Africa in need. The basic mandate of IF is to promote the concept of inclusion (congruent with our School Board’s philosophy of education) so that families will accept and care for their children born with this disability with an eye toward societal acceptance. Acceptance leads to families seeking help (medical intervention) rather than abandoning their children at birth. He told a story being able to intervene with a young mother who was so distraught with finding out her son was born with spina bifida that she was about to leave him by the river. Instead, the child was cared for and received the surgeries required to help him survive and live a full life (the child is still doing well by all accounts). Children who are born with physical deformities are often abandoned because they are regarded as cursed. IF and Bethany are working toward dispelling that myth and advocating for medical intervention and education and support for families. Having only been here for a couple of days now, I am seeing how organizations are connected and working together.
Pierre is also connected with Bethany, is friends with Dr. Stewart and would be joining us on our journey to Kijabe. Over breakfast, we discussed his plans to be with us at Bethany until Monday, then on to Uganda to a clinic there. Noel and Pierre advocate for medical intervention for children with spina bifeda, Noel having a 13 year old daughter with the disease.
We packed up and headed into Nairobi and stopped at a local coffee shop. We began to share the morning’s discussion with Pierre and he shared with us that a Swedish NGO he partners with was looking at financially support the overhauling of an existing hospital in Mombasa (about nine hours south of here on the coast) to focus on care for children. As Bethany is currently looking for ways to reach more children and expand through the training of African doctors, the Mombasa situation presented an interesting option. Dr. Stewart asked how the group responsible for funding would take to the Christ-centric mandate of Bethany, and the conversation turned to “When can we visit the hospital?” Sometimes opportunities are presented without explanation that require further investigation. Despite the 9 hour drive, they are considering heading down there but sadly (for me) it will probably not be when I am here.
We hit the road and headed for Kijabe. Though the influence of being a former British colony means everyone drives on the left side of the road, traffic appears to be without rules of civility or safety. Ditches line either side of the road, there are no lines painted, and cars come and go from all angles. Thankfully our driver was a missionary ex-pat who was comfortable with the conditions. The markets along the side of the road were absolutely extraordinary. Shops are housed in small wooden shacks with precariously balanced tin roofs crammed beside one another, painted bright shades of blue, red, yellow, and green. There were donkeys carrying packs and women walking along the dirt path with loads on their backs and on their heads. Markets lined the road for mile after mile selling everything from meats and vegetables to clothing and tools.
My ears kept popping as we steadily climbed. Mexico City, the highest elevation to ever host the summer Olympics, is 5000 ft above sea level. By the time we neared Kijabe, we were at 8000 ft above sea level! Kijabe is located in the Rift Valley, so we came down from that height to closer to 73000 ft above sea level.
Since it was Saturday, we met Dr. Bransford, the Director of Bethany Kids, at the local mission school where his son was playing soccer. Imagine my fortune of turning up just in time for a soccer tournament! I had a chance to walk around the school – it is an international school for children of missionaries which offers an American or British diploma for students – and see what their elementary school looked like and secondary. I look forward to the opportunity to visit this school when students are in session at some point this week.
As Dr. Stewart, Dr. Patey, Noel and I waited in the reception area for breakfast, conversation turned to plans at Bethany for the future. With 60 beds being the current capacity at the hospital, there is a growing need to expand the number of beds in Kijabe. However, the physical and financial barriers families face to even get to Kijabe is a reality. As the current physicians age, there is a need to support young doctors, local Kenyan and other African physicians to take over in the future. The educational component of Bethany which focuses on the training of doctors (a post-degree residency specializing in the type of care and surgeries performed at Bethany) is becoming a larger focus in order to move away from medical care coming only from North American doctors, but from African doctors trained to take over. For example, there is a current resident at Bethany who is willing to set up in Madagascar and that island is recognized as an area of need. The support, financial and otherwise was discussed as a way to spread out and reach as many children as possible through more doctors helping more children and taking on leadership with Bethany with an eye to the future. Through the education of more doctors willing to take on this work, more children can access the medical attention they need throughout Africa.
A Belgian gentleman named Pierre then joined us before breakfast. Pierre works very closely with an organization dedicated to medical assistance for children with Spina Bifida at various clinics throughout Africa in memory of his daughter who died of the disease 20 years ago at the age of 11. Pierre works with International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (http://www.ifglobal.org/) which works in Kenya, Uganda, and is moving into other areas in Africa in need. The basic mandate of IF is to promote the concept of inclusion (congruent with our School Board’s philosophy of education) so that families will accept and care for their children born with this disability with an eye toward societal acceptance. Acceptance leads to families seeking help (medical intervention) rather than abandoning their children at birth. He told a story being able to intervene with a young mother who was so distraught with finding out her son was born with spina bifida that she was about to leave him by the river. Instead, the child was cared for and received the surgeries required to help him survive and live a full life (the child is still doing well by all accounts). Children who are born with physical deformities are often abandoned because they are regarded as cursed. IF and Bethany are working toward dispelling that myth and advocating for medical intervention and education and support for families. Having only been here for a couple of days now, I am seeing how organizations are connected and working together.
Pierre is also connected with Bethany, is friends with Dr. Stewart and would be joining us on our journey to Kijabe. Over breakfast, we discussed his plans to be with us at Bethany until Monday, then on to Uganda to a clinic there. Noel and Pierre advocate for medical intervention for children with spina bifeda, Noel having a 13 year old daughter with the disease.
We packed up and headed into Nairobi and stopped at a local coffee shop. We began to share the morning’s discussion with Pierre and he shared with us that a Swedish NGO he partners with was looking at financially support the overhauling of an existing hospital in Mombasa (about nine hours south of here on the coast) to focus on care for children. As Bethany is currently looking for ways to reach more children and expand through the training of African doctors, the Mombasa situation presented an interesting option. Dr. Stewart asked how the group responsible for funding would take to the Christ-centric mandate of Bethany, and the conversation turned to “When can we visit the hospital?” Sometimes opportunities are presented without explanation that require further investigation. Despite the 9 hour drive, they are considering heading down there but sadly (for me) it will probably not be when I am here.
We hit the road and headed for Kijabe. Though the influence of being a former British colony means everyone drives on the left side of the road, traffic appears to be without rules of civility or safety. Ditches line either side of the road, there are no lines painted, and cars come and go from all angles. Thankfully our driver was a missionary ex-pat who was comfortable with the conditions. The markets along the side of the road were absolutely extraordinary. Shops are housed in small wooden shacks with precariously balanced tin roofs crammed beside one another, painted bright shades of blue, red, yellow, and green. There were donkeys carrying packs and women walking along the dirt path with loads on their backs and on their heads. Markets lined the road for mile after mile selling everything from meats and vegetables to clothing and tools.
My ears kept popping as we steadily climbed. Mexico City, the highest elevation to ever host the summer Olympics, is 5000 ft above sea level. By the time we neared Kijabe, we were at 8000 ft above sea level! Kijabe is located in the Rift Valley, so we came down from that height to closer to 73000 ft above sea level.
Since it was Saturday, we met Dr. Bransford, the Director of Bethany Kids, at the local mission school where his son was playing soccer. Imagine my fortune of turning up just in time for a soccer tournament! I had a chance to walk around the school – it is an international school for children of missionaries which offers an American or British diploma for students – and see what their elementary school looked like and secondary. I look forward to the opportunity to visit this school when students are in session at some point this week.
The photos above are of local markets on the road between Nairobi and Kijabe.
I will be at Bethany hospital this week and plan on visiting a school for disabled children in Joytown which is, from all accounts, turned into a sad situation for the students, staff, and facility. I look forward to keeping everyone posted. Thank you for your on-going support!
I will be at Bethany hospital this week and plan on visiting a school for disabled children in Joytown which is, from all accounts, turned into a sad situation for the students, staff, and facility. I look forward to keeping everyone posted. Thank you for your on-going support!
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