Preparing to deworm the school children

rs. As we get our next medication delivery next week, doctor Wanjara and myself controlled our stock. As it is weekend and two nurses are absent, the doctor takes also care of the patients in between. Our male nurse John will only come late afternoon because he will be in charge for the weekend guarding shift in the night. Still in stock is a large amount of deworming syrup so Wanjara proposed that we go to the schools during the next two weeks to deworm the children. Better to do some prophylaxis than to wait and treat them afterwards. These medications are much more expensive.

Poor food habits lead to diabetes

rs. Our doctor Wanjara takes always care of his patients. This is a diabetes patient, that is glad to see the doctor. Her sugar level was stable for two days. Usuallly the sugar level goes up again, when they return home and do not follow a strict diet anymore. It is also sometimes a question of money to buy the correct food. In Kenya we have a lot of diabetes patients, many of theme being children. Often they don't know about their situation and when they realize it, it is too late to help substantially. During the day many people suffer of inactivity and in the evening they have a big meal with Ugali (white corn) which is not good for them, especially before going to bed. I already had many discussions with the patients concerning food and diet but it is hard to convince them that a variety of vegetables and salads are of paramount importance to have a balanced diet.

In the suburbs of Nakuru

rs. Today I spent the whole day in Nakuru. I was looking for some strips for the Diabetic Machine but couldn't find any, perhaps I have to call some drogstores in Nairobi. As the main street in Nakuru was blocked with traffic, I took the smaller "roads" and saw how people are living there: A lot of garbage everywhere and a lack of hygiene. No wonder that Cholera and other diseases are spreading in these circumstances. Normally no whites are pasing through these areas but thanks to many friends I meet on the way, the journey seems to be practicable. Often they say hello Mama Matata. It seems that I have more friends among the poor than among the rich!

Joy with football and volleyball playing

Today the boys from the camp enjoyed playing football and volleyball. Before they tried to glue a defect ball, which they made with primitive tools, but they managed to repair them somehow. They also use to come here to fill the balls with air.

Browsing through the city of Nakuru

rs. Today I was in Nakuru to ask for the printed matter we ordered but unfortunately they were not ready. Then I met Nikolas who is selling pineapples in the streets of the city. Although I am not very fond of this fruit, I bought two of them, to help him finance his supper. Nowadays there are very few tourists and business is bad. And the locals have no money for this. I also met Tomi, the shoemaker. They are doing everything by hand here, but at the end the shoes are better off than machine made. In the town I had to be very careful because there are so many thiefs around who are waiting for opportunities...

The mood is crippled

rs. If you watch our refugees in the camp, you currently see that they are not in the best mood. They hear all the news of brutalities in the villages as in Nyeri where again violence broke out yesterday. We also have people from this village in the Rhein-Valley Hospital camp. They repeatedly tell us that they are so happy to be here and to have some security and and shelter. If you look into the faces of these displaced people you recognize their sorrow. For example Bugwua (left in picture with white hat) said, that his farm doesn't exist anymore and he doesn't know how to feed his family. He had tears in his eyes and seems to be desperate. We try to help these people and pray for them. We can only hope for a better future for all Kenyans.

Muddy Sunday...

Today it was a quiet and muddy Sunday. I had to go to the office to get something and it was very difficult and dangerous on the dirt roads. Hope it will be better on Monday. On my way I met this cute donkey-cart with his little guide.