Our luck almost ran out today. We've enjoyed perfect weather the entire time we've been here. This morning, however, was especially cool. Fat dark clouds covered the sky and the air felt heavy with moisture. A light drizzle dampened the windshield a we drove to the campsite. Slipping scrub jackets on over our t-shirts to ward off the morning chill, we wondered if this would be the day the rains came.
Luckily, by mid-morning, the clouds began to move out and the sun popped through to chase them away. The jackets came off, sun hats went on, and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was going to be another beautiful day.
Today the crowd on moms and children was a bit smaller. We are no longer the curiosity we were when we first arrived. The community leaders have apparently pronounced us fit for duty.
With every passing day, more and more volunters show up to help us and we are very grateful for their presence. Local third- and fourth-year medical and dental students have been on hand to work alongside us as translators and valued assistants. Local non-medical volunteers have helped with registration, crowd control, patient flow, and a wide variety of other tasks. In addition, Rotaractors and members of the Rotary Clubs of Nairobi North (our host club), Nairobi, Karen, Utumishi and Muthaiga, as well as Rotary Commu
nity Corps members have been on hand to assist us. Our pharmacist, Dr. Brenda, and her cadre of pharmacy students have provided their efficient services and local health educators have conducted wellness and nutrition information sessions to many hundreds of parents while they waited for their children to be seen by the medical staff. In short, we've had an army of local volunteers.
Prior to the mission, our non-medical volunteers on the international team wondered what on earth they could possibly contribute. I believe they all know the answer by now. All of them have been stars in their own special ways. One to whom both Connie and I owe very special and personal thanks is John Kirkwood (R.C. Jinja). John drove his big, burly 4x4 from his home in Uganda for 10 hours to get here. He had signed up for the mission less than one week before we departed and I have no idea what we would have done without him. John ferried Connie and me back and forth every day from hotel to campsite and back again, so that we could run the inevitable daily errands to the Nakumatt (Kenya's version of Walmart), the bank, or wherever else we needed to go. During the day, he made himself available to work anywhere he was needed and also did ambulance duty when we had a critically ill child who need more advanced emergency care than we could provide. More than one life was saved this week thanks to John.
NOTE: to any Rotarians reading this message ... John's club could use our assistance to purchase a van for transporting sick kids in his hometown of Jinja. I'm going to need some $$ help putting this project together, so please let me know if your club is looking for a good project.
Meanwhile, back at the camp ... a slower day today means we probably will not end up treating 12,000 children. Our final number is likely to be closer to 10,000. A bigger number would have been nice; however, we didn't come here to set records; we came to provide the best care we knew how and I truly believe we're doing that.
Luckily, by mid-morning, the clouds began to move out and the sun popped through to chase them away. The jackets came off, sun hats went on, and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was going to be another beautiful day.
Today the crowd on moms and children was a bit smaller. We are no longer the curiosity we were when we first arrived. The community leaders have apparently pronounced us fit for duty.
With every passing day, more and more volunters show up to help us and we are very grateful for their presence. Local third- and fourth-year medical and dental students have been on hand to work alongside us as translators and valued assistants. Local non-medical volunteers have helped with registration, crowd control, patient flow, and a wide variety of other tasks. In addition, Rotaractors and members of the Rotary Clubs of Nairobi North (our host club), Nairobi, Karen, Utumishi and Muthaiga, as well as Rotary Commu
nity Corps members have been on hand to assist us. Our pharmacist, Dr. Brenda, and her cadre of pharmacy students have provided their efficient services and local health educators have conducted wellness and nutrition information sessions to many hundreds of parents while they waited for their children to be seen by the medical staff. In short, we've had an army of local volunteers.Prior to the mission, our non-medical volunteers on the international team wondered what on earth they could possibly contribute. I believe they all know the answer by now. All of them have been stars in their own special ways. One to whom both Connie and I owe very special and personal thanks is John Kirkwood (R.C. Jinja). John drove his big, burly 4x4 from his home in Uganda for 10 hours to get here. He had signed up for the mission less than one week before we departed and I have no idea what we would have done without him. John ferried Connie and me back and forth every day from hotel to campsite and back again, so that we could run the inevitable daily errands to the Nakumatt (Kenya's version of Walmart), the bank, or wherever else we needed to go. During the day, he made himself available to work anywhere he was needed and also did ambulance duty when we had a critically ill child who need more advanced emergency care than we could provide. More than one life was saved this week thanks to John.
NOTE: to any Rotarians reading this message ... John's club could use our assistance to purchase a van for transporting sick kids in his hometown of Jinja. I'm going to need some $$ help putting this project together, so please let me know if your club is looking for a good project.
Meanwhile, back at the camp ... a slower day today means we probably will not end up treating 12,000 children. Our final number is likely to be closer to 10,000. A bigger number would have been nice; however, we didn't come here to set records; we came to provide the best care we knew how and I truly believe we're doing that.
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