Rainy Weekend in Nakuru

ak. We've been, as some would say, blessed by heavy rains the past three days. As a result, there have been multiple power outages, some of which have lasted the better part of the day. Between rainfalls, we were able to make it to the hospital this afternoon to distribute some food to the IDPs. Maintaining medical and nutrition needs for the remaining 60 members of the hospital's IDP camp is yet another task Ruth Schaefer deals with on a daily basis. The tentative plan is that the remaining IDPs will continue to live on the hospital grounds until late November or early December, but since there remain ethnic strains throughout the country, it's still not easy for the IDPs to relocate to their original homes. In the meantime, many who live at the hospital have become temporary workers and are, subsequently, able to earn a small salary that will help them get back on their feet.

Patient Transferred from Nairobi

ak. Today we received a special patient transferred from Nairobi. Since the patient had been in hospital for over a week and could no longer afford the expenses, the RVH received a request yesterday whether the patient could be transferred. She arrived this morning with what was believed to be meningitis. However, within five minutes of initial consultation, Dr. Wanjara had concluded that the patient was not suffering from meningitis by conducting a simple physical test. He instead suspected the patient had developed a serious case of typhoid fever, which can sometimes cause similar symptoms to meningitis. The doctors in Nairobi had not administered the proper tests and, as a result, the patient had been treated for over a week with the wrong medication. Dr. Wanjara double-checked his clinical diagnosis with a blood test and admitted the patient when the test returned positive for typhoid fever. With medication and proper nutrition, the patient should be in good enough shape to go home in two days.

More presents for the IDP's

Today the last scenes were filmed for the feature planned by the Swiss TV team who is now in Nakuru. There were again heavy rainfalls and the conditions for the video crew were difficult. And the crew gave more T-Shirts and shoes to the IDP's.

Maina Muhia thanks Mama Matata

sh. Today Maina Muhia from the UN World Food Program visited again our hospital and thanked Mama Matata for her continuous work. We also had more activities and interviews of the TV team that covers the life in and around the hospital. Then we had Lunch together with the IDP's and all the children were happy. At 4:30 pm we were urged to go home because another of these sudden and strong rainfalls started to make everything wet and nearly insurmountable.

We just got a statement that Maina Muhia made:

Ruth Schäfer, popularly known Mama Matata in Kenya has been in Kenya for sometime, however I came to know her in January 2008 when the country was on fire due to desputed elections. As a UN WFP monitor, I was in charge of the plight of the displaced persons especially on food security. During this time, hungry mothers and their children were moving all over in search of save ground and reports indicated that a Hospital by the name Rhein Valley was a destination of many needy cases of IDP's. I decided to look for this hospital, to my surprise, I found 7500 IDP's, the second concern and encouragement was this white lady who was working with a lot of zeal and energy. I found communication between her and the old women difficult and mostly was by hands or by movement, but things were working. Her consoling heart was overwhelming particularly to the traumatized widows and widowers, children who had lost either parent or both. And despite all this wonderful job and commitment, food was the biggest challenge since the numbers of arrivals kept increasing by the day. I hurriedly took the issue to the government officials, UN and NGOs for necessary action since the burden was increasingly demanding for Ruth and the few staff in the hospital.

One fact is that the Rhein-Valley Institution was not designed to cater for tribal clashes, but the fact today it is a hospital and IDP camp all with diffrent demands and challenges. A few very encouraging facts about Mama Matata and the hospital are

-exellent hygine, no fear of outbreaks,
-high moral standard in all age groups
- high value of education
- high sense of responsibility and self control.
-Transparency and accountability.

Its quite difficult to have the actual words to describe Mama Matata but simply she has done what many have not to the desparate and at the right time. My thanks goes to Rhein-Valley management, the Donors and well wishers. I join you in prayer that we keep assisting the less disadvantaged in all societies.

Maina Muhia
Food Security consultant
UN World Food Programm
Nakuru / Kenya

Clothes bring happiness

sh. Today a busy day with a lot of work. The Swiss TV team currently filming in and around the hospital was again active and interviewed Mama Matata, Director of the hospital. Stephan Holderegger gave clothes to the children and they as well as their mothers thanked with gratitude and happiness.

The many faces of children in Nakuru

PHOTOS BY STEPHAN HOLDEREGGER