A new family joins our tent camp

rs. When I arrived at the hospital this morning I first had to deal with Simon. He returned drunk at the camp site yesterday night and didn't behave well. As we do not accept alcohol on in tent camp he has to leave. This is hard but we have to implement certain rules, otherwise life becomes unbearable, especially for the women. Today we also had some newcomers: a mother and

her four children joined the camp (see picture). I started to speak with them and learned that she lost her husband (a Luo) during the crash when she ran out of her burning home. She doesn't know if he is still alive. All what remained were her four children and one blanket. Inquiring how they could sleep she explained that the children parted the blanket and she managed to find some pieces of card board. Njaga took her particulars and they got a place in the camp together with mattresses and blankets.

Editorial note: The next report will be published on Monday

Swiss officials came to visit our hospital

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.

A central laundry place should come soon

rs. Early in the morning I met this woman washing her clothes in front of her tent. It came to my mind that it is high time to organize a central laundry place. I am happy that the people in the tents become orderly more and more. The toilets are clean and also the general ground. Now we will put some big flood light to bring more security for everybody. Cooking also gets organized. The IDP's slowly start to use big pans to cook collectively which makes more sense anyway. Some ideas take a long time to be accepted but finally they see themselves what is good for them. In one point Mr. Maina Muhia is right: the women are easier to handle in the tent camp than men. But I don't fear them and also try bring them to some kind of discipline and order. Tomorrow we will have 10 more women and their children joining our camp. We already made the plan to organize it properly. Some camps are getting closed by the Government so there is a concentration to those still in function.

Yesterday I saw in a TV report how deplorable the situation still is in various parts of the country. There was a story of a young mother and her children that was escorted by the military to her original home place and all she found was one clay wall and nothing behind. She started to weep and was helped to set up a tent. She has no money and no clothes. How can she make a living? One of the many open questions here in Kenya. Tomorrow we will get a visit from Bern (Switzerand). It's always good if people come and make themselves a picture from the situation and our work.

New food delivery from Kenyan Red Cross

rs. Today I planed a full program but several unexpected things occurred. The telephone rang early in the morning to inform me about an express mail from the Meds company, problably the insulin was in it, and I had to hurry because it needs refrigeration. Then I heard that the Kenyan Red Cross was at the hospital with a food delivery and I had to get the key of the storage container and asked all available refugees to help unload the track. It was matter of time to get everything into the dry before the next rain started. It's not only that but the truck has no chance to get down the hill on a slippery road! By 5 pm everything was done. Although I had a sweater, I was freezing because the temperature went down to 16°C and it was raining extensively. I am happy to have a covered home but had to think of the many camp people who also must be cold tonight.

Discipline brings the refugee camp to flourish

rs. Today, we first discussed how we can rationalize the food distribution because after 2 pm it often starts to rain and we have to continue in the wet. So the proposition for next week is to devide the group in two on two days, Monday and Tuesday. Like this we are finished by lunch time and have the weather on our side. For today we still had the old system and luckily it stayed dry until we gave out the past portion. It is great to see that the displaced people slowly start to show some joy in their faces. The men sometimes need a little bit more discipline because the group has to work together and all duties have to be done by both genders equally. Finally, after explaining it to everybody, it worked well. The men also took part in cooking and washing dishes afterwards. The older children could start school today in Kasambara and they have been well accepted by the teachers. Our small patient with the head operation could leave the hospital today and only has to come back for periodical controls. By the end of the day, some men came to us and were looking for a volley ball. So playing, having joy and getting back to a more or less normal life are of paramount importance to bring a better atmosphere to the camp. We make our best to help them wherever we can.

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.

11 year old girl and grandma join our camp

rs. Today again was a log day. The sanitary installations are almost finished. A new supply of medications arrived. And we made the final listing for the camp. Each tent gets a number which will be visible from outside. So it's like a little town, each tent will have his "house number". As we were writing down the list, an old woman and a young girl came and asked us if they could also join the tent camp. It was the 70 year old grandmother that we knew from before. They are the remaining members of the family. The girl lost both parents during the fights and is now together with her grandma. It's hard to believe if you hear all these tragic stories. Sure enough, we found a tent for them and gave them mattresses and blankets. The only things they had was a small bag with clothes. At 6 pm our doctor John came back with the boy who had a serious operation in the Kijabe hospital. The intervention was successful and we can now take over the after-treatment. It suddenly was after 6 pm and Njaga reminded me that it is high time to go home, because it's no more safe, once it is dark. Jokingly he said, that I should take my cat with me and start living in one of the tents, then I could work and discuss the whole night...

Today the Hospital is four years old!

Mama Matata (Ruth Schäfer) with Kenyan children in the tent camp of the Rhein-Valley Hospital in Kasambara, Nakuru.

rs. Today we had another of these 12-hour days, and this on May 1st, where some have a holiday. After experiencing heavy rain in the past few days, we were lucky today, the weather remained fine. The electrician came to control the secutity lights at the hospital and then we brought to paper the various rules we want to implement for the camp. Suddenly we saw Wakoma with his donkey, carrying a load of wood (see picture below). I exclaimed "Don't forget to give water to your donkey for all his heavy work." The wood is used to accomplish our toilets (see picture right). As you see on the picture there is no luxury, but it's better than nothing. Together with Njaga we finalized the plan to house 20 more men and their families within our tent camp. As today marks our fourth Anniversary of the Rhein-Valley Hospital (it was opened May 1st 2004), we bought some mineral water and sat together to celebrate the event. At the same time we could explain the new rules to the displaced peoples of the camp.

Click on the picture to view it large or
check the Kenya Photos Blog

Parish council member's unclear complaints

rs. In the morning I called the Kenyan Telecom and checked about our internet connections and finally it came back to life during the day. We also unpacked our car and started to distribute the kitchen ware we bought yesterday. Mr. Muhia called and informed us that he will deliver 50 more mattresses for the IDP's today. Then we had an unexpected visit by a parish council member and an assistant policeman. They said they first wanted to take the police car to arrest me and Njaga, our secretary, but he told the boss that he knew me and that we will find a solution without further consequences. It seems that that they claimed that we dismantled the church kitchen without permission, that they wanted back the hut, where we have our material and that the border wire would belong to them. And we had cut the trees without their permission. I asked Njaga to bring the ground plan and finally they had nothing to add anymore and left. I then rushed to my car before the big evening rain started. The temperatures dropped now to 19° C.

Shopping in Nakuru - Internet interrupted

rs. According to official informations, the Kenyan internet is currently out of function due to technical problems. We hope to have it back soon. In the meantime I am sending this text by other means to keep our daily posts alive.

This morning I went to Nakuru for shopping, together with our secretary Nijaga. As most of the IDP's have no washing bowls, nor dishes or pans, we decided to buy bigger and smaller pans for cooking. We also bought hand lanterns that work with paraffin, because we often envision power brakes during the night. Alltogether we spent nearly five hours in a shopping center and even after we payed our bill the owner wanted to check everything over and over until my patience became thin like a thread! When we finally wanted to load my "Liseli" (that's the name of my Landrover), we realized that it is too small so we had to hire a little 3-wheel taxi and due to the usual evening shower we had to bring everything into my home. Tomorrow we will bring the things to the hospital and will distribute them to the people.

Some signs of joy

rs. As on Monday's we have our food distribution and as always we had to check the people because we are only allowed to give out food to the IDP's from our camp. The sanitary installations make more and more progress and what is enjoyable, the people are smiling a little more. They are happy that somebody cares about them and that every day the circumstances in the camp are a little better. Some children even start on their own to clean up the ground and started to play. If you instruct the children early, you can see the result. This morning we had another joyful moment: a mother gave birth to twins - all three are fine.

Photos: Ruth Schäfer

Camp toilets almost finished

rs. Our improvised toilets are almost finished. We worked hard the whole week to digg the earth wholes, to cut the wood pieces and to get the needed materials. Now only the plastic sheets are missing. By the way, in the meantime the people could use our hospital toilets.

During the day I made some plans to properly organize life in the camp. Discipline is of key importance. We have to include the help of these people to bring an order into their daily life. This is general cleaning and especially of the sanitary installations, who is in charge for the fire place and a laundry plan for the different tents. The Kenyans are not so easy to handle, so you have to tell them the things many times until they do it. Without a lot of patience it's impossible to survive. It was an active Sunday and not much time for my household or office work...

First cholera death in Nakuru town

It's now 7 pm and I just got the latest news that a girl died of cholera when she was brought to the hospital in Nakuru town.

Mattresses will bring some help for the people

rs. This morning we went to Nakuru to get the ordered 200 mattresses. They were already waiting for us in front of the warehouse. After counting them we loaded them into the truck and had to wait quite some time until the driver was ready beacuse he needed to fill up his tank. Anyway, everything arrived at our place in good condition. After storing the mattresses in a tent, a mother with her three teenage boys grabbed my attention; her husband had been killed and all she has is a small oven, some dishes and some clothes. Luckily we now have the mattresses so that people like them can get a place to sleep. Still many refugees have to rest on a piece of card board or a plastic sheet. I finally gave them some food enough for today and tomorrow. Later in the afternoon again the daily thunderstorm seemed to be imminent. Not that I fear the rain, but with the water the streets are transformed in a dangerous slippery path and even with my Landrover it's hard to stay in line. In the car I got a call from Fundi who told me that the woman with the 1 month old child just arrived. So many things are waiting to be done and I don't think I will have a long weekend...

Buying 200 mattresses and more ...

Stephan is back home in Switzerland and I started my day with shopping. We need 200 mattresses and I tried to get the best price in the industrial section of Nakuru. I finally payed 390 for one, which is not bad - including the transport. I will control the loading tomorrow morning and then we will bring them to the hospital. While being in town I checked our post office box. By the way that's the only way to get the post - in Kenya there are no postmen, to save costs. In town I met the boys who usually look after my car while I am shopping. I then called our doctor and asked how the little boy with the tumor is. The patient will be brought to the Kijabe Hospital for an urgent operation and I gave them the needed money. Until 6 pm I had no news about him. I also sent one of our staff members to Nairobi to get the documents for our container still waiting to be released. Also here no news yet how things went. - Mama Matata

Last works for the sanitary installations

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.

Video reportage on Mama Matata's work

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.

Little malaria patient

Strenuous negotiations to get our container

sh. Since two months a container with school supplies and gifts for Kenyan children is blocked in Nairobi. So today we drove another time to Nairobi to speak with several offices to release the container at an acceptable price. I also had to explain them what the Rhein-Valley Hospital does. Finally they promised us that we will get the needed document by tomorrow. Let's hope for the best! After a whole day of wandering from one instance to the other we started our trip back at 5 pm and drove through the Rift Valley towards Nakuru. We drove over two mountains with 2600 m altitude and experienced all aspects of Kenya from city smog to beautiful landscapes.

Despite rain 3000 IDP's got their weekly food

sh. Today we had our big food distribution with corn, sugar, lentils, biscuits and baby food, and everybody was registered. The weather was not very favorable and we had a heavy rain for 1 1/2 hours, so we had to interrupt our distribution and the people found shelter under the roof of the new fire place and in the hospital. Finally, by 5 pm we had served everybody. During the day I also had the opportunity to meet the patients currently being treated in the hospital and learned why they were there. 3/4 of the patients are displaced persons (IDP) and get the treatment as well as the medications free of charge. - Today a DHL truck finally brought the latrines and soaps for our sanitary installations.

Morning at Nakuru Park

To see the picture in large size visit our Kenya Photos Blog.

Invited by Mr.Muhia and his family

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.

All those who are using Apple's new
OS X Leopard operating system;
this is a real one, taken in the Nakuru park by Stephan Holderegger

Kenya, also a paradise for zebras