We had hoped to see and treat 3,000 children while we were here, but we blew past that number today. Over 1,000 in the medical clinic at Mukuru alone today. Add in the 500 (approx.) in our dental and optical clinics at Mukuru plus the dental clinics at Mathare and Korogocho and you can get an idea of how many people are bringing their children to be seen by our teams.
Today was my turn for a meltdown. I've tried to remain stong and unemotional, but sooner or later the enormity of the situation is overwhelming and today it really hit me. Thankfully, Harry Mugo (R.C. of Nairobi North) appeared in time to whisk me away to his club's noon meeting. Much as I hated to leave the camp while everyone else was working so hard, the Mission Director was in need of an attitude adjustment and what better setting to do that than in the company of my friends in our host club. Besides, I think the team were secretly happy to have me out from un
der foot for a while.
By way of stark contrast to the slums, downtown Nairobi is spotlessly clean and bustling with the energy of many another large international city. The route into the city is lined with jacaranda trees, decked out for spring in their brilliant lavender blooms. Nairobi North meets at the Intercontinental Hotel, which truly lives up to its first-class reputation. So you can only imagine the very strange looks of its prosperous guests as I made my way through the lobby, still in my soiled scrube, rumpled t-shirt and grubby work shoes, with a fanny pack slung around my mid-section with a stethoscope dangling from it. Not exactly what they're accustomed to seeing in that place. Luckly, Harry whisked me through to the meeting room. Otherwise, someone might have stuck a mop and broom in my hands. It's nice to have friends in Rotary.
We returned to the camp after the meeting, winding our way through the crowd waiting outside the camp gate. We reached the gate only to find it closed for the day to any further patients. Once inside, we found the campground a sea of people. My heart sank as I realized that treating them all would be impossible, no matter how long we worked, so some tough decisions had to be made. So with great reluctance, we turned away those who were not urgently in need of care. Tomorrow would be another day and we could only hope they would find their way back to us.
Today was my turn for a meltdown. I've tried to remain stong and unemotional, but sooner or later the enormity of the situation is overwhelming and today it really hit me. Thankfully, Harry Mugo (R.C. of Nairobi North) appeared in time to whisk me away to his club's noon meeting. Much as I hated to leave the camp while everyone else was working so hard, the Mission Director was in need of an attitude adjustment and what better setting to do that than in the company of my friends in our host club. Besides, I think the team were secretly happy to have me out from un
der foot for a while.By way of stark contrast to the slums, downtown Nairobi is spotlessly clean and bustling with the energy of many another large international city. The route into the city is lined with jacaranda trees, decked out for spring in their brilliant lavender blooms. Nairobi North meets at the Intercontinental Hotel, which truly lives up to its first-class reputation. So you can only imagine the very strange looks of its prosperous guests as I made my way through the lobby, still in my soiled scrube, rumpled t-shirt and grubby work shoes, with a fanny pack slung around my mid-section with a stethoscope dangling from it. Not exactly what they're accustomed to seeing in that place. Luckly, Harry whisked me through to the meeting room. Otherwise, someone might have stuck a mop and broom in my hands. It's nice to have friends in Rotary.
We returned to the camp after the meeting, winding our way through the crowd waiting outside the camp gate. We reached the gate only to find it closed for the day to any further patients. Once inside, we found the campground a sea of people. My heart sank as I realized that treating them all would be impossible, no matter how long we worked, so some tough decisions had to be made. So with great reluctance, we turned away those who were not urgently in need of care. Tomorrow would be another day and we could only hope they would find their way back to us.
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