Today’s clinic was held in a Salvation Army Church, which was located in a very poor area of the county. Although the clinic ended at 3:00 pm, everyone was treated: 543 patients in the clinic, 326 children were dewormed (and the schools are closed!), and 20 jiggers patients were treated. In addition, there were 2 home visits, one to treat a patient with jiggers and the other to disinfect a home.

We met a young boy who had been so damaged by malaria that he could no longer walk and speak as he had normally. Last year, we managed to provide him with a wheelchair. Because of his increased mobility, he was stronger this year and was able to communicate more clearly. He was a determined young man (he is the boy in blue seated on a bench). We underestimate the damage malaria does to both children and adults. It is serious disease and is prevalent in these communities. Mosquito nets are certainly the first defense.

The Mundungu Elementary School is located next to the clinic. A remnant of a failed water project remains in the corner of the yard. In another area, a bored well had been dug by a nearby private school’s project for their community, “Paper for Water”. The well filled with silt and became unusable. CNFA asked a partner to get the well going again, which they did. The water isn’t potable, and it is still hampered by silt. The water is only used for cleaning or washing.

The nearest spring is about 800 meters away and down a very steep and muddy hill. Photos are attached in an attempt to give you a sense of the terrain. There are no stairs, only impressions in the ground where the women put their feet. This spring desperately needs stairs to facilitate a safer descent and ascent. The blue disinfectant tank sits unused. It was provided by a US company but the community has no money to buy chlorine and the organization didn’t provide any follow up. This county is filled with good intentions, but poor execution.

The school’s latrines are in a deplorable condition. One of the boy’s latrines is collapsing into the pit and had to be closed. Hand washing stations have long since rotted away. If any of you or a group of you would be able to assist in providing a well, securing the spring, or financing compostable toilets, please contact CNFA. Projects in Kenya have to help the population in the long term. Let’s try to keep this community both healthy and safe.