The Need is Great
Today is our first official day off from the SFS curriculum. Okay, that’s not true- we’ve had no programs days and game drives and expedition, but today we are in academic limbo. Our course work in Kenya is done. Our work in Tanzania has yet to begin. No tests, no classes, no class work. But the learning always continues.
After breakfast, we set out for Mbirikani Medical Clinic in the Mbirikani Group Ranch. This hospital-esk compound was started by a woman from Chicago over a decade ago. She came to Kenya as a tourist to safari in Amboseli National Park. She stayed to set up a mobile clinic, driving around to distribute medicine and to take care of people. HIV/AIDS is especially rampant here, and both treatment and education can be scare. This woman saw a need, and she acted.
The clinic she established and continues to fund now treats some two hundred people a day. It has a pharmacy, in- and out-patient wards, pediatric and maternal care centers, emergency trauma reception, and TB and AIDS treatments available. Group ranch members receive free care– especially those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS who receive free medicine for life. Non-group ranch members pay a small fee. The clinic is largely solar powered, and has on-site petrol and diesel stations to fuel its ambulance and motorcycle mobile clinics. What the clinic doesn’t have currently, is enough blood to give to its patients.
That’s where we came in. All but a few of the students and even some staff (our lovely interns) took turns donating blood. Our average Hemoglobin (which relates to the health of the immune system) is around 13 or so. A Kenyan in this area is around 2-5. The doctors welcomed our donation as a huge blessing. The blood we donated would be used that day, maybe even still warm.
To preempt the concern that some readers might have buzzing around in their minds: the conditions and the attention I received at Mbirikani rivals that of any Red Cross blood donation I’ve ever been to. The clinic is immaculate- cleaner than any church hall or high school gym where American donations take place. I don’t mean to knock the Red Cross (God know I think their goals wonderful) but only to affirm my trust in Mbirikani clinic, that of the SFS Administrators who signed off on our permission slips.
After donating, I asked one doctor who would receive my blood. He said they don’t know exactly whose is whose now, because all the blood had been screened and approved, and would be distributed by type. But he pointed through the window behind me, into the Insolation Chamber for men with TB. A tired looking man, maybe a few years old than me, rested in a mosquito-netted bed watching the IV drip into his arm.
“He will,” said the doctors. “And many others.”
If you’re not squeamish, here’s my donation on tape. (Video creates to my pal Doug)
<Working on uploading this still…>
And I encourage all my readers to visit: and make a donation. Donations of every kind in every way, are a huge blessing.
PS. In two days- seven donations have been used!
Location: Mbirikani Group Ranch, Kenya