80 new members four our tent camp

rs. Today I had a long day. I only came home at 8:30 pm. We had 80 additional people joining our camp. As the Kenyans have no sense of time, some only came as late a 6 pm. It was good to see how the women helped preparing and cooking the evening meal while the men took responsibility for the fires. Young and old sat happily together around the fire places. In the evening it was quite chilly and the fires served a double purpose. Some children went their way because they usually have special private lessons in the house. Our new small patient who has amyotrophia first was quite lost. Then I found a walking aid in the hospital and a little later he get used to it and he is also accepted in the group despite his handicap. At the end of my stay at the camp I again explained the rules to the newcomers and they got their mattresses and 2 blankets. Everybody also got something to eat.

rs. Today I spoke with the women in the camp. They told me their experiences and they thanked me that finally somebody takes care of them. They were without hope because they saw no future. But now their children can go to school and have something to eat. This is a step forward. The men on their part complained that the women were to slow in cooking. Perhaps we have to organize it better. Our cook in the hospital also had a complain, this time concerning the patients who go up at night to make some tea in the kitchen but do not leave it in order. I advised her to tell them directly and if they don't listen, she should close the kitchen in the night...

In the afternoon I went to Nakuru to get some chemicals against insects. Because there is a lot of rain in this season, we have quite some problems with the midges and flies. On the way home I passed the Nakuru Camp where somebody stopped me to get rid of his sorrows. It seems that they have a disaster there: Since 3 days there have no more water and it is not easy to get wood. An employer of the municipality was there and told them that it is now time to go home. The people refused the proposal and on their part asked the Government to take action within 14 days. Some already went home and got some help with the transportation but there was no security at all and they even think of returning to the camp. Here there are certainly big problems that have to be faced by the Government in the very near future.

A daily scene from our own camp

Back home I got a call from our doctor who got the clinical results of the boy who had problems with walking. It seems he has Pseudohypetrophy and could not live more than 7 years. Now, how do we tell this to his mother? Perhaps I will find some medical advice in the internet what could be done. It is my philosophy never to give up.

New light and alarm installations

This is the boy that has muscle problems

rs. Finally our camp got some lights and everybody was delighted. Some thought we should celebrate it. For the moment the electrician has to do the final works which is planned for tomorrow. We also installed an alarm system in case of fire or something unexpected occurs. Today I controlled the tents together with our secretary Njaga. Most of them were ok. We explained how to regularly put the blankets to the fresh air. At 9.00 am we had a tea break. Small and big sat joyfully together. Today we also completed the list of the tents and did our preparations for 70 additional families with 5-6 member each, scheduled scheduled to arrive on Saturday. The situation in the camp becomes more and more relaxed. They know a little English and try to ask questions and discuss things whenever time permits and the children go to school in the village. We also discussed a possible return to their homes, but nobody seems to see realistic possibilities of getting work again. At home there is no money, no food. The Government promises to help with the transportation, but that's all.

The ground around the water station was filled with gravel to make it cleaner, especially when the earth is muddy.

Many duties before the rain started again

rs. Today I was in Nakuru the whole day. First we bought some chamber pots for the small children in the camp. Then we made some administrative work for registering the mattresses and blankets we gave out yesterday. Suddenly John, our doctor called and informed me about his visit to the general hospital. He brought a child there that had some unidentified problems as described by his mother. The boy was not going to school and could hardly walk. So I heard that there will be some examinations tomorrow and I had to fetch them in the hospital to bring them both back home for tonight. As we arrived in the hospital dark clouds announced the next rain...

More blankets and water tanks from UNICEF

rs. Today we had part 2 of the food distribution to the IDP's. I was helping at the food line and had to look that everything went smoothly. Often you have to tell them simple things like how to open their bags so that we can fill in the food. Suddenly I saw two children that didn't belong to our camp. They seem to have rubella. I quickly called our doctor to check them out because the outbreak of a new disease is the last thing we need now. Especially because we have so many children and pregnant mothers in the camp. Normally vaccinations are quite common in Kenya but if somebody grows up in the bushes, there is no control. Late afternoon we got a badly needed delivery of blankets from the UNICEF as well as bowls and small water-tanks with stands. It is nice to see that we - that means our hospital crew and the displaced people in the camp - grow together more and more like a big family. We are happy when they are happy and slowly they also start to show initiatives. One man for example asked us if he could have a tent to help children with school problems. As there are no tables and chairs in a tent we offered him the opportunity to use our waiting room in the evening. Let's see if they behave well.

Pentecost weekend in Kenya

Today we had the first part of our food distribution which from now will be parted on two days to make the handling easier. Over the weekend many things happened. We tried to inspire women and men to hang their clothes properly on the laundry line and to use clothes-pins. It's my opinion that you can teach everybody, regardless of age and gender. Fundi and the electrician had work to do and most of the displaced peoples were playing or resting in the garden. Some of them asked for a second blanket because it gets quite cold during the night. Unfortunately we don't have enough. If the Red Cross is inspired to send some more blankets, it would be great! In the meantime I will check in town if there are any sleeping bags at reasonable prices. The people in the camp slowly adapt to cooking in large pans collecvtively what they didn't used to do before. Over the weekend we also got the promised delivery of gravels generously sponsored by the Young company. Again we had power brakes over the last days which makes it difficult to make the needed office work. Mr. Maina Muhia (WFP) also payed a short visit to our hospital and said that our tent camp is the best organized of all he had seen in Kenya. So our hard work gets rewarded! - Mama Matata

Mama Matata (Ruth Schäfer) after a long and intense
work day in her storage container