rs. Today we had a visit from Switzerland. Stephan, the driver of the Swiss Embassy called me in the morning to get the directions to the hospital. As our direction signs had been stolen, it is not easy to find the way to the entrance. Eliane Candido (see picture left) from the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi came together with Monika Gwerder (right), inspector of the EDA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) in Bern. Both wanted to visit our hospital and the affiliated tent camp. Our doctor John showed them the hospital and I informed them about the tents. As we walked through the camp, Monika Gwerder asked why we invest so much energy into the camp while the Government closes camps. I explained that many people had fear to go home and needed a place to stay, at least until end of the year. In our camp we put a lot of emphasis on security. We do not want rapes to happen as it is the case in other camps in Eldoret and Nakuru. The Swiss guests were impressed by our work and wanted to tell others about it. Early afternoon they went back to Nairobi. I wanted to continue with some works but the daily rain forced me to go home.
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.
sh. Mr. Maina Muhia from the UN WFP called this morning to ask us to come again to his office to clarify the details of the mattresses that are waiting in Nairobi. They should be transported to the hospital next Tuesday. Still no positive news from our container also staying in Nairobi. We hope to get another call later today. Arriving in the hospital we discussed the things to be arranged for the operation on the tumor of a 3-year old boy. And Mama Matata gave the last instructions for the toilets that should be finished in the camp area of our ground by Saturday.
rs. Today we drove to the hospital ground to make the last arrangements for the installations of the toilets. Today I also realized a live video reportage on Mama Matata that we will also publish on this blog as soon as it is cut and finished. I filmed her explaining the hospital's activities. We started at the main entrance, then went to the ambulatory, laboratory, operation theater, storage room of the medications, book-keeping department and the sanitary rooms. We could also film the birth of a child. We just arrived some seconds before it happened! I never watched a birth in my life. The mother is fine and 3 minutes later Mama Matata made a little interview wit her. Then we watched the situation of other patients, among them two women with Malaria. We also called Nairobi to get the
latest news about the container, waiting for the last papers to be released. Then about 2o IDP's came for their food rations; they couldn't make it yesterday. At 4 pm we rushed home but couldn't escape another heavy down pour.
sh. After enjoying our Sunday morning in the Nakuru park we could meet Mr. Meina Muhia (UN World Food Program) and his family in Nakuru town. We had lunch together and also could talk about the current situation in Kenya and tomorrow's food distribution to the IDP's - as we call them. Interdependent displaced people are in fact are not refugees. They will get again the portions for a full week. And Mr. Muhia promised that the sanitary installations also
should arrive at the hospital by tomorrow. Although Monday will be a long working day I plan to go to Nairobi again to check the situation with the Container from kidstokids Switzerland who is blocked there since months. Perhaps we also get the licence plate for Mama Matata's car. We asked for it more than two years ago... Strong nerves are a big advantage in Kenya.
Kenya, also a paradise for zebras
While Mama Matata is on her misson in Nairobi, I was with the delegation of the UN World Food Program. Together we prepared for the 30 toilets and showers to be installed on Friday. We also built the central fire places (see picture) for the refugee camp here on the Rhein-Valley Hospital ground. A good organisation within these camps is of paramount importance as the number of refugees increases even more after the explosive political situation here in Kenya. Unfortunately there are still no signs of settlements within the Government and peace for the people in sight. The population asks for an immediate decision and a new election. As we heard all humanitarian organizations are at their limits and we do not know how all will continue. - Stephan Holderegger
Today's picture shows a young women of our neighborhood 
Yesterday a boy with some heavy burn visited again our hospital for checking his condition. Last week we could successfully reduce the infections he had and a new skin is regrowing. We are now waiting for a new plaster that we should soon get from a company in Kerzers, Switzerland. With this plaster we can treat all such burns in the future.
Today we gave out more baby food, corn and cabbage, which had first to be cleaned before we could use it. The temperature again was high with 30° C (see also our regularly updated weather chart in the right column) and there is a strong wind blowing in our region. Asthmatics are suffering from the occuring dust. Tonight my partner Stephan Holderegger again is coming to visit me and the hospital. I will pick him up at the Nairobi Airport and then we have another 3-4 hours until we reach Nakuru.
rs. Stephan and Hennie left Kenya and went back to their countries. So here I am back alone with all the burdens at the Rhein-Valley Hospital. Fortunately the air cargo delivery with baby food arrived today and we were busy unloading the truck. We had to wait 4 weeks to get it through customs in Nairobi! Next week we will transport the food boxes to the hospital and distribute them to the mothers.
sh. The Red Cross in Nairobi promised to visit the Rhein-Valley Hospital this morning at 10 am, to discuss the arising problems with the increasing number of refugees in our region. Many of the refugees came to our facilities in order to manifest their cause. We waited until 2 pm but nobody from the Red Cross arrived. We will try to intervene in Switzerland and Holland after we return home tonight. We have enough video and photo material to convince the organization on the urgency of the situation. Thousands of people are on the move and fear to go back to their homes. We promised them that we will do our best to improve the sad situation. Ruth Schäfer, the director of the Rhein-Valley Hospital will stay here and still hopes for more cooperation and support for the coming days and weeks. The picture below was also taken today and shows patients waiting to get their vaccinations; in the middle Ruth Schäfer.
rs. Today the telephone rang and the authority in Nairobi were on the other end. They still didn't want to accept the food offerings that were at the customs: Two palettes with baby food that we got by Air waited for approval and they wanted 47,000 Kenia Shilings for it. We could reduce it to 7000. After a moment of relief a second call: the Ministry of Health asked for 3000 KSh to test the baby food in the laboratory in case the food was poisoned! I was very angry and asked the lady if she also had children at home, who were starving. Hope we have more luck tomorrow.
