Party Day and Farewells

September 23, 2012

After the last day of work, we always have a party with all of the volunteers.  This gives us a chance to thank the Kenyan volunteers and recognize their effort, spend fun time together, and say farewell.

 The party wasn't until 2:00, so we had a leisurely morning.  A few local villagers showed up to be seen for pains, coughs, wounds, and other issues.  Ever since we held the clinic in Sabaki, we have had a slow stream of people coming in the morning and evening.  With only a few days remaining and a good supply of toys left, we try to give the children a treat in addition to seeing to their medical needs.  It was punch ball day at the Sabaki Clinic today.

Punch balls were given to all child patients today

Diane and I had intended to go for a walk to the river, but we never quite made it.  While Marlene went to Malindi to pick up the pastries for the party and to change some dollars into shillings to give to the volunteers as a thank you, the rest of us worked on preparations at the hotel.  We sorted the last of the supplies, separating items to leave at the regional hospital and supplies for the wound care kits we gave to each of the volunteers. We emptied bins that we raffled off to lucky Kenyan volunteers and set aside a basket of health care kits for everyone. We also set out and organized prizes from America for the volunteers - clothing, jewelry, cosmetics and odds and ends that we were leaving behind. 

A basket of health care kits for the volunteers

At 2:00, the volunteers arrived and assembled under the gazebo.  After a welcome from Rodgers as our host, everyone was given the chance to speak to the group.  There were many heartfelt expressions of gratitude and camaraderie, with good wishes given between the Americans and Kenyans.

The speaking part of the program culminated in a speech by Francis in which he thanked the American volunteers and organization for their care and support of the people in the villages.  "Imani" means faith in Swahili, and Francis said that faith in each other is a guiding principle of the Imani Project in Kenya.  He has faith that together we can create opportunities for improving the conditions of his people.  He then praised the Kenyan volunteers for working without asking to be paid.  That teaching and caring for their neighbors was not a job, but an act of love from the heart, and he was proud to have so many people willing to give their time to lift up those who need help.

Francis praises the volunteers for giving their time to help others

Then each volunteer was given a wound care kit so that they had supplies to help treat people in their villages with burns or cuts.  Many of the volunteers have become unofficial health care workers in their communities, and their neighbors come to them for help.  Names were drawn to give away the empty bins, which are highly valued since plastic storage bins are not available in Kenya.  Refreshments of cake and pop were served while people came one-by-one to choose prizes from the clothing and jewelry.  Henry took charge of the iPod and Boombox speaker to select music for the festivities.

 

The volunteers get their wound care kits

The party ended with a group photo of all of the volunteers together.

Imani Project volunteers, 2012

After the Kenyans all departed, the Americans made a final trek to Hippo Camp on the river.  No hippos were out, but we had a beautiful sunset to end the day. 

Sunset over the Sabaki River

 

HIV/AIDS Support Group

September 22, 2012

The last two weeks have gone by quickly, and things are winding down. For five days, we have had clinics every day, with Wednesday being a half-day in Sabaki.  We are looking forward to an opportunity to go into Malindi, to do a little shopping and find the holy grail of comfort in Africa -- a cold drink.

This morning was the HIV/AIDS support group meeting.  Marlene assured us it would be finished by noon, and it was finished by noon African time: about 1:30.  While Marlene, Earline, Cindy, and I went to Musifini for the meeting, Diane stayed back to sort through supplies to create twenty wound care kits that we can leave with the Imani Project volunteers to continue wound and jigger care in our absence.  After two weeks of intensive clinic experience, the volunteers are actually better qualified and trained than the community health workers (CHW), even though CHWs have to complete training in Malindi to be certified.

Two years ago, the HIV/AIDS support group was chaotic and poorly attended, but not this year.  34 people, mostly women, showed up at a church in Musifini. 

HIV/AIDS support group meeting in Musifini

People from different villages traveled some distance to be there, including a few people from Sosoni who were newly diagnosed due to AIDS tests we administered at the clinic. We also tested three people this morning, and two of them were positive. 

2 positive tests

Marlene stated the purpose of the group very well when she told the attendees they are proof that people with the HIV virus can and do live healthy lives if they take care of themselves. Working together to support each other helps them all to learn what they need to know and keep doing what they need to do.

Francis then gave what Marlene called a "fire and brimstone" speech. There seemed to be two main themes (of what was translated for us, at least). The first was to always use condoms to protect themselves and others. Since men are not always responsible enough to supply the condom, the women should be prepared with their own supply. The second theme was that nothing will remove the virus from their blood and not to waste money paying for "healing" from traveling preachers. Apparently, it is common for preachers to come to the villages and make a show of laying on hands and shouting a prayer that will cure their HIV/AIDS infection…for a fee. The more the people pay, the more powerful the healing is supposed to be. Francis told them that when they give their money to the preacher,  all that happens is that their family goes to bed hungry and the preacher gets fatter.  Only when Jesus himself comes down to give the blessing, he said, could you be healed.

 

Francis works the crowd with his "fire and brimstone" speech

The Imani Project gives a lot of support to these people. Each person who attended got a health kit that Earline put together, six kilo bags of unga (corn flour), three bottles of WaterGuard (chlorine water purification liquid), and about two dozen condoms.

Earline explains the health kit

Handing out condoms

Everyone got so much, we wondered how they were going to carry it home. We distributed what boxes and flour bags we had, but the rest had to make do. 

 

After the meeting was over, everyone was served bread and hot tea.  They only had seven or eight cups, so they served a few people, washed the cups, and then served some more.

Hot tea and bread

Marlene hoped that word would spread of how much everyone received so that others with HIV/AIDS would want to come and join the group.

Carrying their goodies in a conga on their heads

On the van ride home, we finally had a chance to stop at a little valley with four big Baobab trees that I've wanted to photograph. We drove past it every day on our way to and from the clinics, but with a van full of people after a day or working, I couldn't ask everyone to wait while I took photos.   Cindy and Earline I could ask to wait, however.

Since I was riding in the front seat, I had a chance to chat with James, the van driver. While going through Sabaki, he pointed out a local witch doctor and the Baobab tree where he treats people.  We asked Rodgers later about it, and he said it is devil worship.  The witch doctor lives and works at a Baobab tree because those trees are considered sacred places.

The witch doctor's Baobab tree, surrounded by bushes

They call on the spirits of the ancestors to intervene in people's affairs, and use herbal "remedies" in their spells and for more conventional herbal healing. One example that Rodgers gave is when a woman in Malindi meets a visiting mzungu (white) man and wants to bring him back or keep him as a husband, she comes to the witch doctor in Sabaki. He washes her with a special herbal mixture and call on spirits to answer her desire. She pays him a fee then, perhaps 5000 shillings (about $6.50), but if she gets her man, she pays him another fee later, perhaps 20,000 shillings.  Apparently sorcery for hire is alive and well in Kenya.

We did make it into Malindi in time for a late lunch at I Love Pizza before shopping. Since Malindi gets a lot of Italian tourists, the Italian food is pretty good. We were surprised to see that the restaurant had a pizza delivery tuk-tuk, but I don't think they would deliver to Sabaki.

I Love Pizza delivery tuk- tuk

Then it was off to the tourist market!

Malindi Tourist Market

 

Looking for bargains

 

The shoppers