Unrest in Nairobi, quiet day at the hospital

rs. The situation here in Kenya is still not very promising. Yesterday there was report of another riot in Nairobi after a student was killed. The students went on the street and demonstrated. Today another demonstration was announced in the Uhuru park. We can feel a lot of dissatisfaction in the country.

This morning I waited for a call of Maina Muhia from the WFP but there was none. I then went to the hospital to check everything there. Some relatives came to visit patients and brought cakes which is certainly not the right thing for the diabetes patients. Anyway it is not allowed to bring food to the hospital from outside. In general it is a quite day here at the Rhein-Valley Hospital and I am heading towards home when the daily rainfall is starting. Many things wait to be done at home too and I have to look after my health; I catched a little cold. So I will have some time watching the first fooball matches out of Switzerland.

Building swings for the children

click on the picture for a larger view

rs. On the way to the hospital I stopped by a shopping center to buy some string for two swings we are building on our ground. I was the first to test them and even took a child on my lap. Everything was fine, so we invited the children and they have now so much joy and used them the whole day. I used to have a similar swing in our home on the countryside in Switzerland where I grew up and I got back all my remembrances...

Photos: Ruth Schaefer

Refugees don't want to go back

rs. Today we had a visit of the assistant mayor of Nakuru. He wanted to discuss the future with the refugees of our camp. The answers of the people were the same throughout the group. Nobdy saw the possibility of a safe return to their homes. Even if they get 10,000 KSh, as heard from some sources, it will not help substantially. The rents and food prices went up considerably and without a job you are lost. As came out of the discussion, the majority of the people want to stay here as log as possible. When and if we close the camp will be our decision at the Rhein-Valley Hospital. The assistant mayor stayed for four hours and then said he planned to come back next week - for another round of discussion ...

Children's vaccination day

Weight control for babies

rs. Today it was chilly an cloudy, around 17°C. In the morning I wrote a few letters and then I went to the hospital. Today is vaccination day so we had many mothers with their babies here. Some of them came early because they know that in the afternoon it starts raining and then it will be complicated to go home - a 4 or 5 hour walk is no exception. At 1 pm the big rush was over and also our medical staff could pause for a lunch break. I took the chance to speak with doctor Wanjara about the organisation in the camp. We have to make it clear that they don't have a permanent home here; they have to start making plans for the future. Also the hygienic standard, especially of the women, is not very high. So it is not easy to make them understand how we act in the civilization; many origin from the bushes and are difficult to teach. We make our best to bring some order and purity in the camp life.

Small crops expected for this year

rs. The weather is quite funny. Although it is raining daily, it is not enough to let the corn crop flourish enough. It has a height of not even half a meter and already starts to dry out. As it is the case in other parts of the world, a shortage and a prize increase of various food products is predicted. As many farmers had to leave their fields after the clashes in Kenya, not enough seeds could be sowed. Many fields are empty. When I went home there was a special atmosphere. A thunderstorm was arriving and the last sun rays created a nice rainbow. I have to hurry to send my report before the power collapses again. Luckily I have some laterns to make my daily office work and to fill out my tax forms...

Today is Kenyan Holiday

rs. Many things happened today. Our Nurse Wilda was completing the medical history sheets, Carolin needed new batteries for an instrument and one new guest wanted to join our refugee camp. Today is a Kenyan holiday so the children could stay at home and were enjoying their playing. The women all were doing laundry at the same time and our doctor Wajara prepared new cards for the patients. Then I saw our grandma who is surprisingly better after many treatments she got. Her husband helped her walking through the garden. The boy who has weak muscles was asking for a better softer mattress. Fundi wanted to order charcoal, but I told him to wait until end of this month, we have to keep our budget plan. At 5 pm I went home while the first drops of the daily rain started to fall and one of the IDP's needed a ride to Nakuru because he wanted to visit his sister in the general hospital. He could come with me and I gave him some money for the way back.

Laundry lines booked out!

Every day new patients are coming to our hospital

Medicine from Minister of Health

rs. Today at 2 pm we got an unexptected delivery of medicine from the Minister of Health. As the driver had problems with his truck on Friday, he came today although it is Sunday. Before we put everything in our medical storage room, I asked Wilda to clean all the shelves. Hygiene is important, in our hospital as well as in the camp. That's why we check every day all our facilites. And from time to time we also have to tell the displaced people in the tents to get some sense of purity and order...

Lions Club's eye test not very effective

rs. Today people from the Lions Club offered a free eye test and two of our nurses helped them. What first was looking like a selfless service by members of the Lions Club, finally became a more business oriented action. They didn't made a proper eye test but only wanted to sell glasses. And if a treatment was suggested, our camp people have no many to get it later on. At 4 pm I told them to hurry up because dark clouds announced another thunderstorm. They ignored my advice and when I came home I heard that all their 8 cars were stuck in the mud and that they had much difficulties to get back on the road...

Maina Muhia (WFP) visits our hospital

rs. Today I got a call from Maina Muhia (WFP) that they will bring the corn delivery at lunch time. And he wanted to visit our place, so I went to get him at his office. When we arrived at the hospital the truck was just unloading 15o bags of corn and they had to take back an older delivery that went bad because it was packed before it could dry completely. Mr. Muhia went through our camp and spoke with the displaced people. He asked them if they thought of returning home some time but nobody wants to leave. He saw that the people were happy in the camp. Some men even tried to get some work but it's not that easy. The women who got a piece of land to cultivate, were occupied with their garden ad the elderly women took care of the children. It is also surprising how well the different tribes live together. Muhia said that our camp is an example for all of Kenya. While he had discussions with the camp people, I organized everything for tomorrow, together with our doctor Wanjara. On Saturday the Lions Club of Gilgil will offer a free eye control for all residents. For this we will prepare a room and supply two nurses. At 4 pm Maina Muhia asked me if I could bring him back to Nakuru and in the car he thanked me again for this beautiful and informative day and he even had time to laugh. He would like to come back next week.

The odyssee of a container in Nairobi

rs. During the last two days I had some unbelievable experiences. In the morning at 4 am I went out of the house to take the journey to Nairobi where the kidstokids container is blocked since several months. Our secretary, Njaga joined me. First we could share the driving and secondly it was saver not to be alone. In the past weeks we were mainly occupied dealing with the Government to get the different permissions but now it was the actual work of filling out dozens of papers at the customs in Nairobi. Each officer adds his stamp until he papers were filled to the brim. The agent at the last station told us that we have to go back to the entrance gate to get a pass. Finally we were standing in front of the container where we had to find a worker with pliers who should remove the seal. Then we would have to unload everything to be controlled by him. It was five minutes before his lunch brake, so he hesitated to do it before he would leave. On my side I convinced him that it does not take more than five minutes to do it otherways I would do it myself. Then reluctantly he did his job but the lock was not moving. Something had been crashed and blocked. The door could only be opened with the help of a fork lift truck and after five tries we succeded.

Njaga was worried that we would have to unload everything by ourselves, but I only laughed at him and said, that we now call the agent in charge of controlling the content and he can tell us what to do. He came and convinced himself that there was only school supplies in the container but he asked for a seal number but there was none to be found. He said we should go back to the entrance where we could get a number. Back in the office we got again some stamped forms that we had to bring to the airport where we got the final paper. But the actual transportation to Nakuru will only take place next week. So we spent two days from 4 am to 11.30 pm just getting done the last paper works... that is the second last episode of our container episode.

On the way to Nairobi. In the custom area we were not allowed to take pictures.

No internet - no container yet

The internet connection is still blocked and there is again no big news today. We just heard that Ruth again went to Nairobi early this morning to get out the container with school supplies and gifts for Kenyan children. The container is waiting for many months to be released. Hope we have more and better news by tomorrow.

Waiting for a better internet connection

Today we have no report due to a breakdown of the internet and telephone connections. We hope to be back tomorrow!

Playing gives joy to old and young

rs. First thing in the morning for me is usually a checking tour through the camp. Without order and purity it is not possible to live in these primitive circumstances. Our guard Askari also helps me doing the duties. The children always get some toys to play with and they love it. Also these elderly men enjoyed their time with a game they recently got.

In the hospital we can witness some progress. The grandma who was half lame now can walk a little but with the help of her husband - all thanks to our steady therapies. Needless to say that the husband is also very happy and grateful. The four newcomers that arrived this morning, got their first meal on our ground. One of them said that he hadn't properly eaten for three days and he was also full of gratitude. All three were chased away from the region of Eldoret. They told me that it is impossible to return home; there is no security. The fear of the people is still reigning everywhere. I the meantime they got a little hut but then the owner kicked them out again. He wanted a rent but they couldn't afford to pay anything because they had no work. That's the reason they are now here and ask for a tent place. Soon our 50 tents are full!

Peaceful Sunday - but not everywhere

rs. Here at the Rhein-Valley Hospital ground things are quite peaceful. In the morning many of the displaced people of our camp went to church. Then they prepared lunch. But not everywhere ihn Kenya there is such an idyllic situation. I heard that Aska again had trouble. After being attacked herself some weeks ago this time her son and house aid were brutally beaten at her home and all valuable possessions stolen. - Although it was Sunday some members of our crew were here to help around although they get not paid for it. When I came home, there was again no electric power and therefore no light...

Enjoying the weekend

rs. The weekend is usually a more quite time. We can prepare the working plans for the coming week, we see what we need in terms of food supplies and we can do some office work. When I returned home today it became chilly as usual in the evenings and I was looking forward to a good hot Swiss coffee at home...

On my way home I came accross one of these long Kenyan freightliners that connect Mombasa and Nairobi with Uganda.

Enough water thanks to our water tank

rs. After spending more than half a day in the Garage controlling and repairing my "Liseli" (how I call my car), I came late to the hospital and could witness various activities, that are part of our daily life in and around the Rhein-Valley Hospital. The gardener cleaned corn before it can be grinded in the machine, behind the house two workers are fixing our rain-water tank and Fundi is spraying the walls in the house against insects. The water-tank has quite some importance, especially now. For four days Nakuru is without water because the water authorities didn't pay the electricity bill and therefore couldn't activate the water pumps anymore. You can imagine how the situation currently is at the public camps of Nakuru, where 17,000 people live together. It is unbearable for them and if you pass the camp you can smell the stinking atmosphere. Here on the hospital ground we are fortunate to have water and also some happy people. Inside the house we are very busy with many patients and doing the needed vaccinations for the children.

Former doctor Wanjara comes back

rs. This morning I checked my car and found out that some oil is leaking, so I am planning to go to the garage tomorrow. It is wise to stay with your car when you let do reparations because otherways you find yourself with a car that is lacking parts they took out and want you to buy them back... That is Kenya. So I drove carefully to the hospital because I didn't want any calamities to happen with my car. And Joseh Wanjara (see picture above) the former doctor of our hospital joined me. He wanted to visit the place after a while. All crew members were happy to see him again. He found himself comfortable in our medical storage room and he loved to explain some of the medications we got from Italy. Then I asked him if he would not like to stay here for a while. We have so much to do, we need some additional qualified man power. He smiled and said, why not.

Soon, our camp is full.
Nearly every day new people join like this young lady

Two births and one eating shelter

rs. Today two childs were born, a boy shortly after lunch time and a girl later in the afternoon. So we were quite busy today at the Rhein-Valley Hospital. I explained to the crew how to adapt the bed of our grandma because she is not able to go to the toilet during the night. Her husband is so grateful that we take care of her day and night and that he can go to sleep in the night. Generally, we have more patients at the moment, because it is quite cold and wet and several children caught a cough. They have not learned to properly use a handkerchief so the germs propagate. Today we also finished the banks and tables so that the elderly people have a proper place to eat and have some shelter, especially in case of rain.

Riots in Kisi

As we heard from our laboratory assistant Caroline, who lives in Kisi, there were heavy riots there and 11 people were killed. Shortly before midnight she sent me an SMS and asked for help. I advised the police and finally they came, but only with four agents that couldn't spread a group of 300 youngsters who were straying through the village and put fire to many houses. It is still boiling among the population and it seems to be only a question of time until unrests start erupting again.

About the laundry passion of the Kenyans...

rs. When I arrived at the hospital today, Fundi showed me the refuge for the camp people. We had to enlarge the cooking section in regard to a bigger capacity in case of rain. Also for the elderly among the IDP's we need some banks and tables because most of them were used to a better life before the crash. Now we have a big family and we have to help them leading a decent life within the given circumstances. During the day I was again and again suprised to see so many people doing their laundry. It seems that washing clothes became one of the main occupations... I realized that it is high time to make a laundry plan, as we know it in Europe, otherways there soon will be a chaos. After the lunch break our security man Maine told me that some asked for more flour, sugar, milk and beans. And also there was no more soap around. So we went to our storage container and filled the needs. We waited in vain for the promised corn delivery by the WFP, but patience is needed in Kenya.

Little patient with a present from Mama Matata

Learning to use shampoo!

rs. What is daily routine to us, seems to be an adventure to rural Kenyans. Mama Matata had to learn them today how to use shampoo to wash their hairs. These people have no money to buy shampoo. With the time they realized how it can be useful. Many things are new for them and many of our disciplinary rules need some time to be adapted. I was happy to see that most of the tents are proper and those who don't believe in it like some women on Sunday, had to clean the tents after church, before lunch was given out. I could also witness many women doing laundry and hanging their clothes on the laundry strings. They don't mind if soon the rain will start as it is daily routine these days and weeks. Today I also spoke with our doctor John about the condition of our new grandma. I suggested to do some therapy to bring movement in her body and the doctor agreed. I started with a leg massage and the woman seemed to enjoy it! And then the expected thunderstorm and I rushed home, after calling Maina Muhia from the WFP not to bring the corn delivery today; it's too risky for the truck on the muddy mountain street. Hope he can come tomorrow morning.

Joyful playing in the camp