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  • Home
  • About us
    • History
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Board
    • Kenyan Partners
    • Current Sponsors
    • Special Donations
    • Mobile Medical Missions
    • In Memory of Aggrey Mulamba
    • Solomon
  • Get Involved
    • *New* Volunteer Job Positions
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
  • Programs
    • Jiggers Eradication Program
    • Wheelchairs & Critches
    • Sexual Health Teaching
    • Reusable Sanitary Pad Project
    • COVID-19 Food Distribution Project
  • Events
    • CNFA 2022 Online Auction
    • CNFA Wine Fundraiser 2021
    • CNFA 2021 Online Auction
  • Blog
    • Upcoming Missions
    • Past Missions
    • Projects
  • Donate Now

Clinic Day Eleven – Hamadira

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 6, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:3 Comments

Well, this is it.  It's bittersweet really.  We are tired.  We miss our families.  We look forward to heading home to Canada.  But, every one of us will miss Africa. …

Continue ReadingClinic Day Eleven – Hamadira

Clinic Day Ten – Homunoywa

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 5, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Welcome to Homunoywa clinic.  Yes, I had to write that name approximately 500 times.  I'm finally starting to get used to writing consonants and vowels together in unusual combinations.  I…

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Clinic Day 9 – Kedoli

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 4, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

Welcome to Kedoli! We set up clinic beside a school, where Lynn taught her class.  Jerry and Nina also went through the school, class by class, and treated ringworm.  I…

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Clinic Day Eight – Viyalo

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 3, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

Today in Viyalo, there were 653 people treated at the clinic.  Approximately six wounds and 20 jigger treatments as well as home follow up visits.  During clinic, a woman appeared…

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Clinic Day 7 – Chavakali

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 2, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

All in all, there were 589 people attending clinic today.  This does not include glasses.  We NEVER have enough reading glasses for our clinics.  Please consider picking up a few pair of…

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Pictures from Clinic Week One

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 1, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog/Uncategorized
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Below you will see another wound, as well as Jeff treating Jiggers.  Johnstone moves around so fast I haven't got a picture of him!  Jerry is so great with that line…

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Sunday – no clinic

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:May 1, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

Today, one of our student nurses shared a tragic story. Last June in Kenya, malaria was very prevalent.  So many kids were needing treatment that the malaria testing couldn't be…

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Clinic Day 6 – Inguga

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 30, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog/Uncategorized
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Today, clinic was alongside of what seemed to be a main thoroughfare rather than a more isolated location.  The hustle and bustle of Saturday traffic was an added attraction for…

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Clinic Day Five – Kigama Pictures

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 29, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Uncategorized
  • Post comments:0 Comments

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Clinic Day Five – Kigama

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 29, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Today, one of my helpers was an 18 year old girl who is in her last year of high school. She is hoping to attend university next year and to…

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Priscilla’s Home Visit

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 29, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

I had the opportunity to be invited to a young mother's home. She and her one son were treated for jiggers at our clinic but that is just the first…

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Wangulu photos

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 28, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

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Clinic Day Four – Wangulu

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 28, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

          The last two days, before the clinic begins, all the Kenyans gather with the CNFA team, and two or three people share how CNFA has affected their lives and…

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Burned leg day 3

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 27, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

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Clinic three photos

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 27, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:0 Comments

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Clinic Day Three – Mugongo

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 27, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

A day of adventure. Due to the all night downpour, the van got stuck on the way to the village. We ALL had to get out and push, Pricilla diving…

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Clinic Day Two – Budaywa

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 26, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

Today, 481 people attended the clinic at Budaywa.  Fewer people needing care means that the programs of education and treatment are EFFECTIVE! Six wounds required attention, including that of the…

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Clinic Day One Itegero – April 25, 2016

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 26, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog/Uncategorized
  • Post comments:0 Comments

After traversing some crazy, bumpy roads we arrived at the village of Itegero.  Lots of constructions means the nation is developing so, how can we really complain?  We were terribly…

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Ready for Clinics

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 24, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:2 Comments

Intro - I'm Michelle, Gail's niece, and I have the privilege of managing the blog this year. Quick update... We picked up the medication today from the chemist in Kisumo. …

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Clinics tomorrow

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 24, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Uncategorized
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Habari from Kakamega! Brief intro.  I am Michelle, Gail's niece, and I have the privilege of doing the blog this season. Quick update: We picked up the medications today from…

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Coming up…

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 19, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:1 Comment

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Upcoming mission 2016

  • Post author:Canadian Nurses For Africa
  • Post published:April 19, 2016
  • Post category:2016/Blog
  • Post comments:2 Comments

T minus 3 days till takeoff! We are so excited to be on our way! This is a blogging test run to make sure we have the system down pat…

Continue ReadingUpcoming mission 2016
Our Vision:

To support and improve the health of people who live in rural communities of Kenya through short term health care and sustainable health initiatives.

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All members of Canadian Nurses for Africa are volunteers. All funds donated and raised go toward supporting the medical missions and public health programs directly. Our largest expense during each mission is medications. As the jiggers program, deworming program and building latrines are all on going, they require continuous financial support.


Charitable Number: 83508 0904 RR0001

Canadian Nurses For Africa
Old Oakville.
PO Box 52024
338 Lakeshore Road East
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 1N5

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Charitable Number: 83508 0904 RR0001
Copyright 2023 - Canadian Nurses for Africa

Trish Corbett – RN, BN, MSN, GNC

Trish has sat on the CNFA board of directors since 2011 and served as Treasurer from 2013 to 2015. Trish has been a member of five past medical mission, as part of the lead team. Present and past nursing experience includes Geriatrics, Emergency medicine, Intensive Care and Public Health. Trish also serves on the BOD of the Geriatric Nurses Association of Ontario, Hamilton chapter.

Nancy Vandenbergh – MN, NP-PHC

Trained as a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Nancy has had a wide and varied nursing career mostly in paediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Her experience includes Paediatric Critical Care, Emergency as well as providing care to adult patients with cardiac issues. She provides primary care of patients at a Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic (NPLC) and is Director of Health and Wellness at a summer camp in Ontario.

She has lived overseas, providing humanitarian work in the country of Ghana. Currently she is working at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as part of the COVID-19 response at the Assessment Centre, working with Infectious Diseases and managing COVID patients at home as well as vaccinating.

Nancy has a Masters in Nursing, is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto Bloomberg School of Nursing and has been a clinical instructor at the university level for many years.

She has a passion for women and children’s health in low income settings and conflict areas. She volunteers at a Refugee Health Centre and also for Global Medic, a global disaster relief organization. She has been to Kenya with the 2019 CNFA Medical Mission.

Meaghan Harris – RN

Meaghan graduated with a BScN in 2011 and is currently pursuing graduate nursing studies. Meaghan has been involved in CNFA since 2018 and has been on the past two medical missions. She has work experience in internal medicine, surgery, surgical oncology, and critical care. Meaghan is excited to have joined the BOD and brings a strong passion for nursing and helping her community.

Margaret Vokes – B.A., M.A.

Thirty+ years of experience helping organizations to set – and achieve – specific goals in international and domestic markets. Specialist in helping organizations to make sound decisions based on research, analysis, due diligence, feasibility studies and strategic partnerships.

Significant professional experience in international development, organizing and leading trade and investment missions to and from various countries and regions of the world.

Currently focused on Volunteer work. In addition to joining to the Board of Canadian Nurses for Africa in 2022, I also serve as a Volunteer Advisor with the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO), a non-profit agency funded primarily by the Government of Canada. This involves providing time and energy to advance social and economic change working in partnership with international organizations.

Also focused on work with the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar as a member of the International Service Committee and the Club’s Board of Directors, as well as fundraising initiatives.

Jacinda Mills – Treasurer

Jacinda is one of the newest CNFA board members. Currently, she relishes the challenges in her role as a staff accountant with Henderson Roller Smit Professional Corporation in Oakville. Her skills developed over the past 10 years in public accounting will help CNFA meet its goals and support the organization’s clinical missions to Kenya. She is excited to join the board and is looking forward to the rewards of being one of such a dynamic group of women.

Gail Wolters – RN (ret’d), Founder and Past President of CNFA, Honorary Board Member

Gail worked as a front line hospital nurse in hospitals across Canada, as well as Northern Outpost Nursing in remote communities of Ontario and Manitoba. She worked in many areas including Neurosurgery, Trauma, ICU and the Emergency Department. As well, Gail has volunteered in a variety of capacities with an array of community organizations.

In 2007 Gail became acutely aware of the poverty and lack of health care in Western Kenya. Deeply moved to make a difference, she founded Canadian Nurses for Africa with the intent to provide free medical care to the people of these communities. As Team Leader, Gail has lead ten successful medical missions to Kenya. She also oversees the implementation and monitors the public health programs.

After ten years of development in the Kakamega and Vihiga regions of Kenya, there is a marked improvement in the overall health in these communities, which local people and leaders attribute to the health care provided by Canadian Nurses For Africa. Gail stepped down from the President’s role in 2021 and the board of directors in 2022. She remains a valuable resource to the board of directors and is now an honorary board member.

Patti Harbman – NP-PHC, MN, PhD.

Trained as a primary care and acute care nurse practitioner (NP), Patti has worked in a wide range of nursing roles throughout her career, mostly in acute care and ambulatory care cardiology settings. She also has experience in emergency and walk-in clinic settings.

Patti completed her PhD in Nursing (University of Toronto), where she developed and tested a NP intervention for patients following heart attack. Following her PhD she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship with the Canada Research Chair for Health Interventions.

In her most recent position as a Nurse Scientist, in partnership with McMaster University, she developed an innovative approach to improve patient care by teaching healthcare providers how to integrate research and leadership activities into their practices. Currently Patti is taking time off from her academic work to pursue activities such as the CNFA medical mission work in Africa and becoming a competitive dressage rider. Patti is very excited about being a member of the CNFA team and hopes to contribute to the success of future missions.