Haba Na Haba Hujaza Kibaba.
(Swahili for: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step")
Tomorrow I leave for what I think will be one of the greatest journey's of my life. I've been preparing for this medical mission trip for several months now. I'm as immunized as can be (typhoid, yellow fever, Hepatitis A, & polio boosters) and I'm on day 3 of my 47 day prescription of anti-malarial meds. It is surreal to think that at 9pm on Thursday I will be arriving in Nairobi, Kenya with luggage stuffed with medical supplies and nursing skills ready to be put to use.
On Thursday evening I will be staying in Nairobi with my team. This is where we'll begin our adjustment to the 9 hour time change...after a 22+ hour flight. I'll let you know how that goes :) Friday morning we will have a brief orientation, then we'll hit the ground running by going to a medical camp in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Here we will examine children and adults and screen for serious medical need and refer our patients on to docs as needed.
#TheTeam
Kibera is the largest slum in Africa, as well as being one of the largest slums in the world. The average size of a shack in Kibera is 12 ft x 12 ft, built with mud walls, screened with concrete, a corrugated tin roof, dirt or concrete floor. These shacks often house up to 8 or more people, many sleeping on the floor. There are about 1 million slum dwellers in Kibera, and only about 20% of them have electricity. This means refrigeration for vital medicines like insulin, outlets to plug in necessary medical equipment, and air condition or heaters for newborns or the elderly are very hard to come by. Kibera has no government clinics or hospitals, and it is through charities like New Hope Initiative (the organization my team and I are going through), that these people are able to receive medical assistance.
Our team will be in Kibera from July 4th-July 6th, then we will be crossing the border of Kenya into Tanzania. We will be in Arusha, Tanzania for a week and a half serving in The Olorien Clinic, and doing home visits to people in more remote villages who are not able get transportation or walk to the clinic themselves. Our evenings will be spent with the youth of Arusha. I cannot wait to see these smiling faces I've heard so much about from friends who have studied abroad in Tanzania (shout out to Emily Hejna & Sarah Clancy).
I
know I am not going to be able to go over to Tanzania and Kenya for two weeks and take away all of the poverty and illness. It is my hope however, to make a difference in
the patients that I do have the opportunity to serve. I hope to walk away from this experience
as a more cultured and knowledgeable student nurse. I have a feeling that this trip will forever change
my life, and I cannot wait to serve the people of the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya
and of Arusha, Tanzania. I will serve
them with the greatest care and love as I have been taught, and I will keep an
open mind. I hope I come back from this
trip complaining less, appreciating more, and feeling like I’ve made a
difference in Tanzanian and Kenyan peoples’ lives.
I am really hoping I'll be able to keep you all updated the next 16 days. It all depends on time & wi-fi accessibility. If I don't get the chance to say it though, thank you so much for those of you who have supported me with financial/medical supply donations and words of wisdom. Thank you also to those of you who will continue to support my team and I by lifting us up in your thoughts & prayers.
PS- Also consider praying for my girl Amy Koch these next 2 weeks. Hehe.
Wouldn't have these supplies without the kindness & generosity of: Jennah Jackson, Monte Yakle, Glen & Amy Koch,
Christy Porterfield, Mt. Sterling Dental Center, Dr. Jeffery Reuter, & Dr. Stephanie Barquist.
Safari njema! (Bon voyage)
Anna Koch
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