Mission Trip 2010: Medical (Colleen Micele )
I spent the first half of the Kenya trip near Machakos, Kenya at Kaliluni Hospital and Clinic. Half of the working day was spent performing outpatient care at the clinic and the other half working in the community. Many patients were unable to walk to the hospital for care so David, the clinical officer, and I walked up and down this mountainous region to bring medications and treatment to them. This time spent with David allowed me to experience the presentation and treatment of malaria, typhoid, and brucellosis; diseases not seen in the US. God was so good to allow me this experience as days later I would treat many, many, many malaria cases at NLCC.
Last year I applied for and received a two thousand dollar grant to be used to purchase medications in Kenya. Additionally, money was donated for medical work during speaking engagements conducted through out the year. As God continued His good work, I was able to purchase medications at cost in Machakos. What a blessing! The Lord provided everything I needed to treat malaria and the many of diseases and conditions our Kenyan sisters and brother were suffering from.
The NLCC clinic opened at 8 and closed at 6. Groups and groups of people from newborn to the very aged trekked miles to be seen at the clinic. During mission trip 2010, no less then 200 cases of malaria were treated at NLCC . Injections, intravenous, and oral quinine were readily distributed and lives stricken with malaria were saved. It was shocking to me to see the patients both before and after malaria treatment. I feel blessed to be part of the NLCC clinic.
Some of the more prevalent illness and conditions seen at NLCC include malaria, pelvic inflammatory disorder, peptic ulcer disease and heartburn, upper respiratory illness, intestinal worms, and many skin conditions. Helen worked to translate and dispense medications, and by the end of the trip, Pastor Joseph and Ronald worked as receptionists to document complaints to allow the clinic run more efficiently.
Unfortunately not all patients could be treated as there were just too many to be seen. But the Lord continued to provide. Funds were provided to pay a local registered nurse with advanced medical training to work at NLCC two mornings per week through October. The clinic is currently well stocked with medications that should sustain the area for at least the next few months.
You cannot fully comprehend the need for a year-round clinic until you see the large lines of patients waiting in line to be seen. Or worse, to see the faces of those turned away because the need greatly exceeds the resources. Or even more, to see the smile on the face of the woman whose life was saved by the administration of quinine the day before.