We Are Not Alone

As we have been open and seeing patients now, I have to say what a blessing it is to have other organizations that are available to assist our patients.  We are not alone. Just to give a couple of examples:

We had a gentleman come in who had been referred by a neighbor we had seen here. He was from the slum area of Nyalenda, and had been “sick” for some time. He had been to several facilities, and had been treated for some of his symptoms, but was also trying to self treat. He did have a job, but had been unable to work, so our low consultation fee was an added incentive to come.  While he did have several issues that needed lab testing to sort out, his most immediate need was for HIV testing, as he admitted to being married but having 3 “side women”, and not knowing his own or their HIV status.  We were able to call on ICap, an NGO we have mentioned earlier to come and test him at our facility without cost, and he was found to be positive, and needed to be started on treatment.  However, he also needed more laboratory testing for his current symptoms, and was not able to afford those, or even the transport to the lab.  As we commiserated on what to do, our Medical Records Officer mentioned that in the next gate over, there was an NGO called “Love Matters Most”, who specialise in services for HIV patients.  So we went over and talked to them, and that is what they do- help HIV patients to get transport and the testing they need! What a blessing, and they were right next door.

Another patient came in with pain in her left eye after having the eye removed for an unknown type of cancer several years ago.  She had not had the resources to get any follow up, and had actually gone to Tanzania for the surgery because there was a physician’s strike in Kenya at the time. We were able to get a CT scan done through the local church oblation fund, and did not find any evidence of tumor growth, but the pain she was having was keeping her from sleeping at night, and she had almost given up on life.  I knew of an NGO called KenyaRelief in Migori, who, before Covid, was having teams of physicians from the US come over to provide surgeries at a low cost.  I called Steve James, the director from Tennessee, and found out they had a team of ophthalmologists coming in 3 weeks! He gave me the name of the leader of the team, and I contacted her with what was going on, and she agreed to see our patient. To make a long story short, she was able to give the patient a nerve block that completely took the pain away, giving her a new lease on life! They were also able to get her safety glasses to protect her remaining eye.

Our patient and the eye doctor at KenyaRelief.

It is so heartening to see the many organizations that are working together to offer services to the low resource population here.  People have asked how much of an impact could a single clinic have, and truly it is just a drop in the bucket of the need.  But working with so many others, each drop becomes part of a stream that can make a difference in the lives of so many.