1. INFOSPOT
24th SEPTEMBER 2015 Issue No. 26
THE MEDICAL CAMP: ATIMELY BLESSING
The locals were excited to receive the free healthcare services.Some even
described the experience as the best thing that happened to them since
“Maziwa ya nyayo” (The free milk project initiated by former President
Moi, also known as Nyayo’s Milk). The main illnesses treated were Ma-
laria,Typhoid, dental ailments and sexual transmitted diseases.
At the end of the day, we were glad to record a total number of 251 pa-
tients having been treated. That news made all the fatigue and thirst
experienced throughout the exercise worthwhile. The Tunza mobilizer,
Anne Waceke, recorded a total of 94 family planning procedures that
were performed on the women and instantly declared it a success.
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) on the 18th Septem-
ber to the 20th September carried out their annual medical camps in the
counties of Meru, Samburu and Laikipia. BATUK is a permanent training
support unit based in Nanyuki. The army carries out a six-week medi-
cal training in the form of Medical camps in areas close to their training
grounds and stipulated by the Ministry of Health.
OUR JOURNEY BEGAN IN MERU
This year, the medical camp in Meru was situated in the small town of
Mitunguu, which is approximately 30Kms from Meru town and was set
to run throughout the weekend of 18th to 20th September 2015. Led by
their Troop Commander Mike Oliver, the soldiers set up camp in Mitun-
guu Dispensary on Friday, 18th September. “The troops dispersed in this
area mainly consist of 26 British Army personnel who have joined the
British Medical Corp. We also have additional support from two Kenya
Defence Forces Medical Personnel and four Administration Police to as-
sist with security,” said Commander Oliver.
The gates to Mitunguu Dispensary were opened at exactly 9am and a long
line of eager residents greeted the team. The majority of patients included
the elderly, mothers with their infants and middle-aged women. The medical
camp was divided into two sections: one area would cater for medical consul-
tation services by theArmy while the other area was aTunza mobilization unit
that focused on promoting Family Planning and Cervical Cancer screening.
Also providing supplementary support in Maternal and Child Healthcare was
the Beyond Zero mobile clinic donated by Kenyan First Lady Her Excellency
Margaret Kenyatta.
dispensary arrived just in time to save the day as PS Kenya staff stepped in to offer translation where we could.
The highlight of the day was the visit by the British Army Brigadier Eastman. Eastman toured the various stations interacting with the both
the soldiers and the local folk who responded warmly to his reception. He also handed over a mosquito net to a mother and her infant. Dur-
ing this camp, mothers with children under 5 years would receive a treated mosquito net as protection and prevention from Malaria.
The British Army Brigadier Eastman presents a mosquito net
to a Mitunguu resident
A Red Cross Official assits in translating for the Mitunguu
resident at the medical camp Registration desk.
P&O UPPER EASTERN Co-ordinator, Paul Sitati (Left) engages with
The British ArmyTroop Commander Mike Oliver (centre)
The camp was ready to kick off but the colossal challenge that the well-trained
soldiers were experiencing was the language barrier. Residents only spoke in
their ethnic dialect-Meru and only two translators provided by the Red Cross
Foundation could communicate with the increasing number of patients. Help
was needed and needed fast. Fortunately, medical personnel from Mitunguu

2. INFOSPOT
11th September 2015
NEXT STOP…ISIOLO
Our next stop the following day was Gambela Primary School in the out-
skirts of Isiolo town.The warm welcome we received from the BritishArmy
troop and the curious residents helped ease the effects of the scorching
sun. The medical camp in Gambela was set to run for two days, 19th to
20th September.
TheTroopCommander Emily Stone gave us a warm welcome and after en-
suring that our car was in a well-parked spot, she gave us a quick orienta-
tion of the compound. PaulSitati, our Regional ProgramsCoordinator then
proceeded to assist in interpretation since the locals mainly spoke Swahili
and there was only one translator provided by Red Cross.
Meanwhile I interacted with the locals who were waiting to be treated or
had already been treated.They expressed their deep appreciation to all the
stakeholders involved in making this medical camp a reality because ac-
cess to medical assistance is close to impossible with the nearest hospital
being Garissa General Hospital which is 15kms away.
MEET MOHAMMED MWENDA
Mohammed Mwenda (42) has called Gambela his home for the past 20 years. As a farmer, he relies on the produce to educate his 6 children
and put food on the table. It hasn’t rained for months now, but the predicted rains in October give him hope that perhaps he might just have
enough to go by this year. Mohammed has already began preparing his farm as like other farmers in Isiolo despite the seemingly coarse
landscape they are relying on their hope to get them through.The water in the village borehole is barely enough so they have to take turns to
irrigate their land in preparation of the rainy season.
The problem is, sometimes your turn may fall at night and you have to brace yourself to stay out in the cold to ensure they fully irrigate their
land.As a result, majority of the residents have been diagnosed with pneumonia on numerous occasions. “I only came here today because of
this constant aching pain in my chest,” Mohamed says. “The pain is making it difficult for me to work on my farm because I get so weak. I also
do not have square meals and often go for days without a proper meal. Sometimes a cup of black tea is all I take in a day,”he adds.
Soon his name is called and he motions towards the cheerful soldier who
directs into the consultation room. I move on to discuss with other pa-
tients waiting to be seen when I note that Mohammed is heading out of
the school.
“Nimepewa dawa, sasa nitapona, nifanye kazi,” (I have been given medi-
cine, now I will get well and go back to work) he tells me.
The experience at the medical camp opened my eyes to how much we
take life for granted and how a simple medical camp with minimal re-
sources was able to put the smiles on the faces of the people who matter
most.
The residents of Mitunguu and Gambela can only hope that such medical
camps happen more often before a lasting solution is devised.
As Paul and I drove back the bumpy road of Gambela and into the hori-
zon, I could only hope that much more good is in store for these Kenyan
citizens.
BY IRENEWAMBUI ODHIAMBO
Corporate Communications Intern
Mohammed Mwenda (far right) and his peers at Gambela
Medical camp as they await to be called in for treatment.
LIFE INTHE EYES OF MOHAMMED
A man and his son are brought to the Gambela Medical Camp
on a motorbike.