Three Days in Bungoma (Jun 17-19th/14)

Blog by Rosemarie & Fran (we're sharing!)


Early breakfast Tuesday morning and off to the airport for the 35 minute flight to Kisumu.  Nairobi traffic in rush hour is unbelievable, 2 hours to the airport.  By the time the steward on the flight showed us the usual safety procedures and brought us juice we were there.  We 5 travelled by plane for several reasons, but mostly had been told that the roads to Bungoma were very rough and none of us wanted to endure a 7 hour drive under those conditions.  Nonetheless, Dr. Stanley, the dentist and lab technician had gone the day before, by van with driver Jackson, carrying with them all of the equipment and medicines.  Another hour drive to Bungoma, over poor roads and we were there.

Not much choice in airline.

Our mission in Bungoma is to hold three medical clinics, one for the general population and two to see the orphaned children who have been left at the Archbishop of Kenya's home.  Pat and Jennifer have been instrumental in building five wonderful classrooms as part of a new school for the children, more classrooms and dormitory to be built in the future.  The new classrooms are side by side, joined with a long sidewalk along one side, with doors opening into each classroom.  Cement floors are yet to be poured in four of the classrooms.  There are no furnishings as yet.  We had several lively discussions with Pat and Jennifer on how to raise money for the desks and chairs, at their next fundraising event in September.  Fran attended the September 2013 event which was extremely successful, and actually bought one of Robert's paintings from the Bustani cottages.  Dorcas, the Archbishop's sister, is the headmistress of the school.  She is a very quiet and unassuming person, but is in good command of the children who obviously love and respect her very much.

Our first stop in Bungoma was to be welcomed by Bishop George and then on to the Archbishop's home, as he had to leave shortly to consult with the President of Kenya over the recent uprisings north of Mombassa. What can I say about the roads to the Archbishop's home.  Jackson, our driver, says they are not roads, they are tracks!  You have to hold on for dear life going over the pot holes, and managing the large rocks and ruts.  At the Archbishop's home we were presented with a wonderful lunch and then visited the new classrooms with him before his departure. His home is in a very rural setting and it depicts his humble beginnings.  The house is made of mud bricks and the large living room is filled with many couches to accommodate visitors.  We were then were off to the general clinic where Dr. Stanley and two local doctors were holding fort.  We were unable to take part in this clinic, as it was late in the day and they were packing up.  The protocol of welcomes and distances from the airport and to these other places took a significant amount of time.

The Archbishop's home.

The children outside the temporary classrooms.

Inside the temporary classrooms.

Ruth asking arithmetic questions, what else!

Pat and the Archbishop walking to the new classrooms,

Inside one of the new classrooms, with new cement floor.

School children, teachers et al, outside the new classrooms.

Open clinic at a school outside of Bungoma.

Open clinic in full swing.

Dr. Stanley Siminyu, advising patient.

Dr. Zipphora, dentist, busy with patient.

Arriving back in Bungoma, we did a brief shopping to pick up necessities and then on to the Bustani Cottages for our three night stay.  The drive through an alley to the cottages went through a very poor and rustic area, past the "Hotel & Butchery" and very poor habitats.  Luckily Pat and Jennifer had stayed at Bustani before and had glowing recommendations.  Through the gates we drove into a lovely wooded and groomed compound consisting of several round buildings with tall thatched roofs, most bedrooms and one larger building for the lounge.  Rachel and Robert own and run the Bustani cottages.  He is a furniture maker, who ships world wide.  Many interesting pieces made from twisted branches and tables made from tree trunks.  He is also a painter and is known for his paintings of African landscapes and animals.  The bedrooms each with a bathroom, were small but very well furnished with large wooden beds, again made by Robert.  Unfortunately the plumbing was rather fickle, and showering was hit and miss because of unpredictable water pressure and the availability of warm water.  However, the rule of thumb while travelling in Kenya, is to be flexible.  Rachel and Robert were extremely sweet and tried their best to make us comfortable.  Their young daughter Imani was delightful.  Meals were served in the lounge and were quite adequate.  Ugali is a staple with each meal, made from maize and water, then steamed.  The first night proved to be very lively.  A wake was in progress next door, and we later found out that the family had been given a permit to make as much noise as they wanted until the wee hours of the morning.  Shortly after the loud music, screaming and yelling ended......the roosters started to crow (remember flexibility!)

Our favourite store in Bungoma.

Jennifer, Pat and Rosemarie, resting in the lounge at Bustani Cottages.

Dr. Stanley having a well deserved rest.

Bedroom at Bustani, thatched cottage.

Inside the thatched roof.

After breakfast we were off to the Archbishop's home again for the first of two day long medical clinics.  The clinics were held in the church the Archbishop built in memory of his late wife, Mama Karen, who died in 2010.  She is buried on the property next to their son who died in a car accident in 2009.  He has since remarried.  Rhoda is also an Anglican priest and was extremely hospitable to us when we arrived on Tuesday.

During the first full day clinic in the church, we saw many of the children and local residents as well, as the word spread.  Ruth worked on intake and Rosemarie in medication distribution.  Fran worked with Dr. Stanley and two local doctors.  Tables and chairs had to be brought in.  This structure is used at present as classrooms for the younger children.  They sit on the floor and really have nothing in terms of learning tools.  Crowd control was very difficult the first day.  When Pat and Jennifer joined us on the second medical clinic day, they helped keep the crowds away from the examination areas, as everyone was interested and wanted to see.  The local villagers had never had any medical service in the area, having to travel an hour to Bungoma for medical attention. We were able to see 156 people the first day and over 160 the next.  Tired we returned to Bungoma and both evenings at Bustani, Rachel served us dinner and we watched the Fifa World Cup soccer matches.

Children outside the church eating their breakfast, a gruel type of cereal.

Boys sweeping the floor, in preparation for the clinic.

Ruth preparing for triage. 

Dorcas, headmistress, overseeing the preparations.

Pharmacy prep, Rosemarie and Joseph.

Medications.

Dr. Stanley in his "Rocky" pose, Owen (lab tech) on the left,
and local clinical doctor who arrived to help.

HIV testing kits.  Only a few children were tested, but 4 found
to be positive.  Dr. Stanley is making sure we get enough kits to
check all of the children.  HIV testing and treatment are covered
by the government.

Crowd control the first day, not so good.

Pat preparing to help the second day with crowd control.  She
and Jennifer purchased puzzles to keep the children busy.

On the second day, better triage and less chaos.