Saturday May 8, 2010
Today we left the guest house just after 8a, picked up meds and headed out to our clinic which was held at a Quaker Church. Registration was outside with triage, the doctor’s rooms and the medication room inside. We treated 621 people today, a record. It was only through a great effort by everyone that we managed to process so many people. The patients appeared to have a little more than many of the patients were have helped recently. The helpers were had yesterday came of their own accord to help us today. With their experience with registration and crowd control. the clinic went much smoother. The patients panic thinking they won’t get through the clinic and the crowding can become daunting to say the least. Another first is we treated everyone who was in line by 4p. Again I saw 7 year old children at the clinic by themselves and others near that age bringing along their siblings.
At closing today, we were helped by a downpour of rain which slowed the crowds. There is always someone who comes late and wants to be treated but no children were left behind. It was satisfying. Trish and Lynn ate dinner then headed to the med room to organize the medicines for tomorrow. They were presented with the key by Priscilla before she left to return to Canada. Each days success depends on the preparation that goes before it.
We have seen few animals, with the exception of the baboons and zebras enroute here. There are few dogs around. I have no idea why, and I don’t want to know. We have Maribu storks in our compound but they are of no threat to anyone. Sylvia spent part of one night battling a gecko in her room. It was a transparent one and even with staff help, its whereabouts remained unknown, All I know is that her mosquito net was wrapped tightly around her bed until the day she left. Lynn has found a cockroach in her room. The other morning, it stretched its little arms, crawled out of her sweatpants, and disappeared. I think it is near Sherry’s room as she keeps hearing sounds within her walls. Blanca just keeps everyone calm with her various canned foods, dispenses Oil of Oregano for those who aren’t feeling well, and has a ready supply of tea. Gail has found a moth the size of a luncheon plate in the corner of the hallway. We didn’t tell anyone about it. She doesn’t have a lot of time for animals as she is keeping each of us on an even keel and paying the bills. As the Kenyan shilling is dispensed in large amounts, it is hard to keep perspective when the gas bill is over 3,000 KSH. Oh yes, and Dawn…she is the authour of and responsible for this blog, so all complaints have to go to her. The others are off the hook.
