International School of Bellevue Helps the Imani Project

The Imani Project is working to prepare for our September, 2014 trip to Kenya to run medical clinics in the remote villages near the coastal city of Malindi.  We are taking 800 health kits with us to distribute to families who come to the clinics. We need a lot of pills and band-aids counted and bagged and pamphlets folded to get ready.  We have been getting a lot of help with this enormous task!

Diane and Phil Garding gave a slide-show presentation on the Imani Project medical clinics that we conducted in 2012 to twenty-one students from the International School of Bellevue, Washington.  The students then spent the evening helping prepare materials for the 2014 trip.  In ninety minutes, the students did the following:

• Folded and counted 820 first aid pamphlets 
• Folded and counted 1000 diarrheal disease pamphlets
• Counted and bagged 12,000 cotton swabs
• Counted and bagged 4302 cough drops
• Counted and bagged 5880 acetaminophen pills

Thank you!

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

 

Karimboni Clinic, Day 1

September 12, 2012

Waking up in Kenya is an amazing experience.  It starts to get light around 5, and the sun rises at about 6 (and sets at the other 6).  As soon as the sunlight begins, the birds burst into song.  The birdsong is varied and continuous for the next few hours.  This would certainly get me out of bed if it wasn't for the eye mask and ear plugs that let me continue sleeping until about 7.  One of these days, I need to get up earlier, I promise.  Bird photos aren't going to take themselves, you know.

This morning was our first clinic day at the village of Karimboni. Karimboni is one of a series of villages spread out over a 10km area, with 540 households.  The local officials said that with an average of 10 people per household, that would make at least 5000 people. Karimboni is much further away than the villages we visited in 2010; it takes over an hour to drive there by bone-jarring, rattling van, speeding down the dirt roads that connect the villages.

 

The van that jars our bones

 

Since we had only an hour yesterday to set out the medical supplies for the clinics, it was a bit of a frenzy this morning to get everything ready.  We got a late start, however, and arrived at Karimboni an hour late by American time, which is right on time (if not a little early) by African time.  Once we arrived, it took a bit more time to get things set up for the clinic. We didn't begin until about 90 minutes later than scheduled.  First days are always like that.

The dispensary building at Karimboni where we held clinic

The first part of the day was reserved for classes.  We had planned for six classes of 25-40 women to teach about TB, diarrhea, and the health kits, while Marlene taught a class for men on AIDS.  These classes would be taught by Earline, Amy, Anya, Cindy, Diane, and me, with a Kenyan volunteer translator teach.  Not as many people were there for the morning, however, so Diane continued to set up medications and clinic supplies, and I took my video camera, camera, and extra lens in hand (and pocket) and recorded the teaching and distribution of the health kits.  Knowledge is power, and many people were empowered to live healthier lives today.

 

Cindy teaches a health class

 

Anya teaches a health class

 

 

Marlene and Jonathan teach the men's AIDS class 

 

The clinic began about noon.  Marlene and I conducted triage, where we interviewed the patients to record their complaint, a limited history, and their blood pressure and temperature.  The patients then queued to be able to see Amy, Diane, or Cindy who evaluated their conditions and decided whether we had medications that would help them and gave advice on how to care for their medical needs.  Meanwhile, Earline worked to clean and dress wounds.  Everyone who was seen had a triage form filled out.  I would like to tell you how many patients were seen today, but some of the triage forms went missing.  First days are like that.

 

 



Earline treats a wound with the help of Jane

  

Diane treats a woman with Jackson translating

 

 

I learned something about myself today: apparently I am quite frightening to children.  The people in Karimboni were  more willing to have their pictures taken than other villages I've been in.  Even adult women shyly approved me to take their picture.  Children are as eager as always, and they love to see their own pictures after.  One little boy, about a year old, was toddling around at the edge of Marlene's AIDS class.  I crouched down and raised my camera, thinking that he would have no idea of the camera.  Surprise! He immediately let out a blood curdling scream.  Later, I was showing children their pictures, and some other child saw the back of the camera and started screaming.  Am I that scary?
 

Kenyan children love to see their own photos

 

That's not a smile; just after this the screaming began

 

At the end of the day, we are back in Sabaki.  Our dinner was served with a surprise: 

 

Tonight Elvina served us in almost royal finery:

 

We ended the evening by sorting through a few more health kits for quality control and listening to some music courtesy of my iPod and the "Boombox" magic system that turns a plastic storage bin into a speaker.  Brilliant!  I am finishing writing this while sitting outside, enjoying a pleasant breeze, a star filled sky, and the occasional mosquito trying to bite at my legs.  Having exercised my malaria medicine, it is now time to go to bed. 

 

The "Boombox" attaches with a sticky pad and the vibrations turn anything into a speaker!

 

Other people we treated at Karimboni:

 

 

Health Kits

 

 

One of our efforts in Kenya is to teach basic health principles around diarrheal disease, tuberculosis and first aid.  With the help of MANY volunteers and donations in the US, we brought materials to assemble 750 health kits. At each village where we have a clinic, we teach a class on the principles of basic first aid, how to prevent the transmission of tuberculosis, how to make drinking water safe, and how to treat diarrhea (usually caused by drinking contaminated water).  Diarrhea and dehydration due to diarrhea are the number 1 cause of death in children under the age of 5 in Africa. 1 in 3 people in Africa have TB, and TB is the leading cause of death of people with AIDS in Africa. 

Each kit contains:  30 assorted sizes of Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, Ibuprofen, tweezers, cotton swabs, a syringe (without a needle, useful for measuring fluids and squirting water to wash wounds), alcohol swabs, a splinter remover, soap, a washcloth, condoms, and a first aid booklet (kindly translated into Swahili by a volunteer at Microsoft).  In addition, the kit contains an Oral Rehydration Spoon (used to measure sugar and salt to create a Gatorade-type of solution to prevent dehydration), two courses of zinc tablets, and a booklet in Swahili teaching how to treat diarrheal disease and instructions on how to use the spoon (also translated by a volunteer at Microsoft).  The entire kit then fits into a handmade drawstring bag, kindly sewn by volunteers.

 

Amy teaches a health kit class at Karimboni with Rodgers translating

Cindy teaching how to wash hands at Karimboni with Phenny translating

 

Women listening to the class at Kadzifitseni

Anya distributing bags at the end of her class

 

 

 

Villagers at Khadzifitseni show their health kit bags

 

But they don't make very good headbands

 
THANK YOU to everyone in the US who donated supplies, helped count pills, squeeze ointment tubes, and sew drawstring bags to make this project possible!

Training Day

September 11, 2012

Today was Training Day, the day when the Kenyan Imani Project volunteers come to the hotel to be instructed on the activities of the next two weeks.  Because the bins of supplies didn't fly with us yesterday, we had to delay the start.  Without the supplies, we couldn't organize the medical supplies or prepare for assembling the health kits.  We were forced to enjoy a leisurely morning (against our wills, of course). 

All the bins arrived about noon, so our fears of not getting the hard-prepared supplies were relieved.  We had an hour to unpack a few things before the volunteers arrived.

We have about twenty Kenyan volunteers. Many that we worked with last year have returned, but there are many new ones, too.  It was good to see Henry, Jackson, Pheny, Helen, Constance, Jonathan, and the others again.

 

The Kenyan volunteers are assembled

Marlene greets everyone, with Fondo translating

 

Rodgers and later Francis gave their welcome statements, and all volunteers introduced themselves.  Marlene described the schedule of clinics and gave an overview of who would have what responsibility.  Francis went through all of the medications that had been purchased and explained their use and dosage. 

Francis, Marlene, and Fondo review the medications

 

I gave my contribution by photographing and videotaping throughout.  We took a break for an excellent meal cooked by Elvina.

 

Elvina serves the lunch

 

After eating, Cindy went through the TB training, Earline reviewed the diarrhea and ORS training, and Diane described all of the materials in the health kits that we brought.  (We decided that "health kit" made a better name than "first aid" kit, since the kit also contains the ORS spoon and two condoms.)

 

Cindy demonstrates how to wash hands to prevent spreading TB

 

Earline describes how to use the ORS spoon

Diane shows off a health kit drawstring bag

We then split everyone into two assembly lines and filled the cloth bags with the health kit supplies.  Because we were delaying in starting the training, we were fighting sundown to get them completed.   We almost made it, falling short by 30-40 before we shut down the assembly. What a great time saver it has been to have the volunteers assemble the bags!

Happy workers on assembly line 2

Handing off a bag on assembly line 1

Over 700 health kits are assembled!