The population is still suffering

rs. In Kenya the situation is still very tense. It's not so easy to send news so we bring informations whenever possible. We have still a nationwide famine and the government is not active enough. There is also a lack of international aid. For the lastt 2 months, many people in the camps have no clean drinking water and the refugees are desperate. We continue with our medical help. Unfortunately food is getting short and the last available corn is so expensive that nobody can afford it. The government sold the corn to Sudan and our population is suffering. This week we try to bring some containers with fresh drinking water from our water station to the suffering population in the camps.

Planting trees to show oneness with poor

Amanda Ammann (Ex-MissSwitzerland), Musician Nicolas Senn, Beda Filliger and Mama Matata each planted a little tree on the ground of the Rhein-Valley Hospital as a symbol of oneness with the poor. (Photo: Nicolas Senn).

Horror situation in Kenya

ns. According to the Kenyan Government there should be no more refugees... But the truth is different: each week around 700 people are coming to the Rhein-Valley Hospital to get the minimal food supply. Amanda Ammann (former Miss Switzerland), Stephan Holderegger (founder of the RVH), Nicolas Senn and even the Ambassador Georges Martin and his wife are now helping fulfilling the tasks. The Ambassador was moved about what's going on here after he had been introduced by doctor Wanjara. We also helped a new established inofficial refugee camp of 250 families outside of Nakuru. Our medical staff was there for 7 hours to get the most needed medical help to them. The ground is dried out, the hygienic circumstances are frightening. We couldn't find any suitable water supllies nor toilets. Even our help with medications, T-Shirts and necessary cloths are only a drop in the sea of mysery. If there will not be help from the Government and from more privare sponsors in the near future, the work of the Rhein-Valley Hospital is in danger!

State of Emergency in Kenya

rs. Because of famine President Kibaki called for a state of emergency in the country. 10 million people or a third of the population is affected. Hundreds of refugees come to us daily and ask for food. One positive news: Ex-Miss Switzerland Amanda Ammann (see archive portrait below) will visit our hospital on February 4th. She wants to help us!

Teacher on strike - no agreement so far

rs. This is now the second week that the teachers are on strike and the schoolchildren are waiting for better times. Although the schools are closed, some children still can be seen going their way to the school. Perhaps they have not been informed. Some parents are angry because they payed for the school and for their food...

Health Commission checked our Hospital

There are a lot of internet difficulties either on the side of the connection of the hospital as well as at the place I currently am, so news for the next couple of days will be irregular. But we do our best. - Editorial Note


rs. We had a visit of the Health Commission of Nakuru. Our doctor Wanjara showed them around and excplained them what a big service we are doing for the community. Several times they asked if the Hospital really opened in 2004 because they could't imagine that it still looks so proper. One of the two agents even said that you don't need any medications here, you get better from the pure vibration! Still they checked our medications but everything was in order. After 2 1/2 hours they left and were happy with what they saw and we were proud about the condition of our place!

A special tribe sign

rs. This year belogs to a woman of the Tugen, Bokott or Masai tribes. She came to us to get registered to get regularly fresh water. As she didn't learn to write, her son signed for her. Her face shows that she went through many hard periods in her life.

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EDITORIAL NOTE: As the Editor of this blog is on the road for the next three weeks, there might be some irregularities in posting. We try to make our best and thank you for your understanding.

Sunday: Office work and fun

rs. Sunday is the day to do some office work like bringing the register cards into order... and a funny mood is also allowed on Sunday.

A bad cut in the finger

rs. This woman had a severe cut in the finger and the wound was already infected. Today she came to us to get help. She was lucky not to get a blood poisoning.

A new addition to our team

rs. Today a new male nurse inquired our hospital. He intends to join our team. His name is Eston (left). Our doctor Wanjara showed him our enterprise and after 3 hours he agreed to take the job. He was looking forward to his new activity and said that he is happy to be here. He checked many places but nobody welcomed him so cordially. Eston is a cheerful young man with quite some knowledge. If he works as good as his qualifications, we both can look forward to our enlarged team.

Informing the mothers

rs. Today our medical staff informed the mothers about the upcoming dates for vaccinations and important hygienic rules. Also they covered nutrition for children. Often the children are not properly fed. All present mothers were grateful for the education because they don't get it elsewhere. They also took the opportunity to ask questions at the end.

Hairstyle - the Kenyan way

rs. I found this girl in Thugunui. Others helped her to get her hair ready. The Kenyans always use false hair to mix with the real ones. It might take up to four hours until everything is done. Such a hairstyle will keep for about three months.

A little patient could survive

rs. Internet and my swollen foot still make my life difficult but I try to do my best. With a lot of difficulties and a special mobile connection I could transmit this picture. It shows a little girl, that arrived here four days ago. When the mother brought her, she was dried out and her life was at high risk. Today the little patient is much better. If the girls had not been brought to the hospital she probably would have died. (You can click on the picture to see it in full size as it appears on our photoblog "Kenya Photos")

The Internet is on and off

rs. Yesterday I had no internet so I could't write anything. Today it was starting to function again, but I didn't function properly - I sprained my ankle. (Editor's Note: the days around full moon are always special: positive and negative things can happen...)

The ideal transport form for Kenyans

rs. This is the common transport forms for Kenyans and especially for people up in the mountains. The boys leading them instruct the animals with simple sticks. Sometimes they also pass our hospital and make a small break. They get some water for the donkeys before they continue their way.

Checking the generator in Thugunui

rs. Today I brought a 20-Liter can of fuel for the generator of our water station in Thugunui. I took the opportunity to check the machine and the electronic part. The Kenyans are not used to control and check machines.

Alive brought her parents to the hospital

rs. Early this morning Alice from Eldoret called. She is a student who made a report about our hospital last year. As her parents were on the way to Nakuru, she asked me if I could get them in Nakuru to bring them to the hospital. The mother suffered from malaria and bronchitis. Our doctor helped them and Alice was very grateful for our assistance.

School starts on Thursday

rs. This monday school started here. The schoolchildren can register during 3 days. In Nakuru you can see children from wealthy families while up in the mountain, in Thugunui the poor people walk for 15 km to reach their school room. Here registration is much more primitive. On Thursday, school finally will start everywhere.

Vaccinations and 36 ° C in the shadow

rs. After a quiet weekend this was a stressful day. We had about 50 mothers who came with their babies for a vaccination. The medical team could not even make a lunch break to handle the situation. Some patients waited inside, others preferred to be outside. Our cooking girl brought them some drinking water because the temperature again rose to 36 °C. We hadn't had such a hot summer since 5 years.

Good to know for us Europeans who suffer an especially cold winter with lows of -30 °C. -Editorial note

Baby with beginning rubella

rs. This is a baby with beginning rubella. The mother didn't go to the routine controls in our hospital as it is the case with many. Then they do not insist in getting the necessary vaccinations for their babies because they fear that the children might become sick. Our medical team does its best to inform and illumine the mothers, but not always with success...