Celebrating President-Elect Obama!

rs. Today it was a great day for Kenyans. Already yesterday the Luo assembled in Kisumu and awaited the result of the American election. Some people placed some boxes with the names of the canditates and did some kind of fun voting. Feast tents were established and as the result was announced the Kenyans celebrated Obama as if he was their president. All over the country everybody was delighted and even President Kibaki announced that Thursday will be a nationaal holiday to celebrate President-elect Obama. Some Kenyans even said that slavery is now past and they started to feel as normal people. Also in and around our hospital there was a little celebration.

Again more cholera cases

rs. The day started with bad news. Our doctor Wanjara informed me that over night 4 new Cholera patients came to our hospital. They were immediately isolated and became infusions. Our nurse John took all preventive measures because there still is a big risk of infection. In Nakuru town 3 people died of Cholera and also in Kisumu there were again more Cholera cases. All the time I am thinking why this disease is still so active here and the only reasons I can find are a lack of information and many patients don' take it seriously enough. Often patients are not cautious in the public and in public transports, so the risk for the others around them are big. I decided today to order vaccinations for all members of our crew. The medications should arrive on Monday.

Family planning and garden project

rs. On Saturday we had a family planning meeting with the IDP's. Our nurses and doctor John explained to the mothers nutrition and hygiene and together with Fundi we did our plans for the coming week. We intend to establish a garden so we can grow our own vegetables. At the same time some of the displaced people would get a littlem bit of work. We also spoke to the men that they could only stay here temporarily, they should find new jobs. There is not much progress in he economical situation of the country. The Government thinks that the poeple would feel more safe, but it is not true. Many who wanted to return home, were brutally attacked and injured. Houses are burnt and poeople in Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisumu or Nakuru are not satisfied. The wet season makes the ground unpleasant. In the night it also gets cold and can get down to 12° C. And people have no heating and no warm clothes.