- INDEX -
Acknowledgement
Programme
Visiting and practice in Suba field station
Visiting hospitals in Suba and Nairobi
HIV/AIDS−control measures in Kenya
Visiting Schools in Suba
Visiting Kibera slum
Acknowledgement
We really appreciate to all staffs of NUITM-KEMRI project; Dr.Sammy M.Njenga, Dr.Mohamed Karama, Mr.James K'opiyo, Mr.Rashid Agolla, Dr.Kyoko Futami, Ms.Shiho Honda in Nairobi office, Dr.Emmanuel Mushinzimana, Mr.George Sonye, all DSS staffs in Suba field station, and great support of Professor Shimada, Professor Kaneko, Professor Minakawa, Professor Ichinose .
During this trip, we learned health and social problems, environment, and hope of Kenya. It was so fruitful experience for us. We wish we will be able to work for Kenya in future.
Jun Takeuchi
Tasuku Kitajima
Wataru Hase
Keita Nakanishi
Daisuke Kume
Medical Student
Nagasaki University, Japan
Programme
We visited Suba field station from 13 to 20 January 2007. We studied purpose, system and practical work of Demographic Surveillance System, and field work of vector control team.
1) In field station
All collected data is sent to the station. We were so impressed that a lot of well-trained Kenyan staffs work there.
Left:Mr. James K'opiyo, a programmer work with DSS system. He is an excellent programmer.He told us about the system.
Right:PDA which used for data collecting.
The collected data by field staffs are sent to the main computer and dropped on the digital map. We can easily check the data by clicking houses on digital map.
2) Field practice with staffs
One day, we joined to household visiting with field staffs. Usually they visit each house on foot. We learned this work is very interesting and important but also very hard.
Left:Mr. Davil, a field staff of Suba. One day I followed him to visit households.It was tough, but he worked very hard.
Right:We went to Lianda village. I was shocked because many men died because of Malaria or HIV.
On 14 January, Dr. Emmanuel showed and told us about medicinal herb in the market. We learned that traditional medicine is widely used in Kenya. It is very important to know how people treat diseases by traditional ways.
3) Practice with vector team
We visited an island where vector team is working. Now they have conducted vector mosquito surveillance. They visited each houses one by one, and collected mosquitoes. We also tried to collect and count mosquitoes. Collected mosquito larvae were fed in Nairobi office. Mr. Peter Luitali told us how to grow larva.
We walked for a few hours for the work. It was really tough but interesting.
2. Visiting hospitals in Suba and Nairobi
We visited St. Jude’s Clinic, Mbita Sub-district Hospital, Sindo District Hospital, and Mission Dispensary in Suba. And we also visited Kenyatta National Hospital, Gertrude’s Children's Hospital and Nairobi West Hospital. We learned the actual conditions of rural and urban hospitals, and problems they have. These visits challenged us to study harder than before.
1)
St. Jude’s Clinic
We met Dr.Sawa and many staffs. Dr.Sawa taught us about the system of hospitals in Kenya and present state of rural hospitals.
His explanation about Kenyan hospitals was very useful during visiting hospitals after then.
2)
Mbita Sub-district Hospital
We met the public health officer, two clinical officers, nurses, and staffs at dispensary and laboratory. We observed what they did, and asked some questions. We saw how they consult, how they treat, and how they examine Malaria. Talking with the staffs was very fruitful. We could get some information about the life in rural areas, and problems they have.
3)
Sindo District Hospital
We met doctors, nurses and many staffs. Dr.Kimutai introduced the rooms in the hospital. After that, we saw how they do ward round. The ward round was a good experience because that was the first time for us to see severe patients suffering from Malaria and HIV/AIDS. In the afternoon, we attended at the conference about nutrient management to HIV/AIDS patients. Though there were many problems, I thought the staffs are thinking seriously to improve the hospital, and I hope the condition in Suba will get better in the future under the leadership of the staffs.
Mission Dispensary
Sister Alexina and Mrs. Kiptanui introduced the dispensary. Though the dispensary was a small one, good medical services were provided. We also saw many sisters, and they were so kind to us that I thought the tender love of sisters is common in all countries. I also thought medicine and religion are very close.
4)
Kenyatta National Hospital
We visited the TB clinic. At TB clinic, doctors and nurses showed us how they consult and give medicines. They are very kind and we could get much information about TB. We also visited the respiratory and dermatology wards. There we met James’s sister (James is the programmer working for NUITM-KEMRI project) and she explained us about the condition of the ward. We also visited the examination room and got some tests.
5)
Gertrude's Children's Hospital and Nairobi West Hospital
We were very surprised to see the beautiful and high-level hospital. We were also surprised to see the patients knew very well about the diseases. Staffs were very talented, and Dr.Kiptune, who kindly introduced the hospital, told us that they had to work hard to meet demands of patients.
In Nairobi, Dr.Njenga guided us hospitals. He kindly supported us, and we could talk each other about Kenyan and Japanese culture. It was very interesting.