In our debrief time we should review our past days here in Kenya, evaluate what we were able to do, who we were able to minister to, and most importantly how have we been changed by it.   So I thought I might just write about some of the programs, people, and experiences that impressed me.    I wrote something about our Monday in Maua, so now I want to tell about my Tuesday in Maua.  On last Tuesday I spent the day with Stanley Gitari, the director of the Community Health Department at Maua Methodist Hospital.   The morning started with a meeting with leaders of the many programs: AIDS Orphans Project, Palliative Care, ZOE Hope Companions, Maternal Child Clinics, and more.  The work of the programs reaches hundreds of people each day and the way that the various programs integrate with one another is impressive.  The team discussed the development and expansion of two new programs and how they might be implemented.  The first was to discuss a partnership with the Central Texas Conference and the No More Malaria campaign of GBGM.  Basically, there is limited accessibility to bed nets in Maua, yet 30% of admissions to the Children’s Ward are caused by Malaria.  The mortality rate in the below 5yr age group is quite high.  There was an energetic discussion and exploration of how to obtain the raw materials and training needed to manufacture the nets in Maua (employing ZOE Orphans who have sewing machines) and using the existing trained community health workers to distribute them.  The discussion was quite animated and positive.  Another topic on discussion was the analysis of data collected recently from street children (glue sniffers).  They are exploring entry points for ministering to the children and establishing a rescue/detox center for them, and getting them back in their homes or some supportive group in their villages.  

Stanley and I traveled some dusty back roads to visit two rural clinics operated by MMH, Kijua and Ndolili.  At Kijua a Mother/Child clinic is held monthly.  Babies are immunized, family planning is offered, education about childcare, disease prevention is given while the mothers wait their turn.  Several MMH staff, Nurse James, and trained community health workers operate the clinic which takes place on the grounds of a Methodist Church.  Immunizations given are pretty much the same as we give at home.  The infants all appears robust and the moms content.  The clinic (dispensary) at Ndolili operates daily and functions as a general clinic for all.  The dedication, ingenuity, persistence, and compassion of these health care providers inspires me.  (picture of Kijua Mother/Child clinic).