Today was clinic number 1 of 11. We were situated in the village of Budaywa. We were set up in the Budwaywa Friends Church, while CNFA dies not have any religious affiliation at all, we are often housed in community churches and schools as they serve as community meeting places for these villages.

We were welcomed by our old friend Solomon who thanked us and introduced us as a team to the people of the village. Our morning started in song and thanks.

We were able to see and treat approx 460 patients today including wound care, basic medication prescriptions along with sexual health classes for a group of boys and a group of girls seperately and  de worming a few classes at the village school.

So many smiles exchanged, connections through hugs and broken english as we worked through the people along side Kenya nurses, medical officials and community partners. Part of the CNFA philosophy is not to come to Kenya and expect a clinci to run as it would in Canada but rather to come to Kenya, work with our Kenyan team and meet the needs of the poeple with the tools and supplies available to us while being culturally understanding and accepting. We are here to help not change.

The clinic ran so smoothly, the last patient was treated with as much love,compassion and professionalism as the first one.

Three team members and one of our awesome nursing students were off at the Maternal child program today where they spent time teaching community support workers how to support women and families duirng the laboutr,birth and post partum periods. From what we hear there was a lively role playing time that the community supports really really bought into and addressed so many aspects of support. The day was filled with education, laughter and community building. Health education is an amazing tool to improving the health of a community.

At our debrief tonight as we sat waiting for our meals, some of the testamonials and musings included:

"I has and absolutely amazing  experience today. The people's stories added to the teaching, It was positive and heartwarming" (Maternal Child program)

"The team is so strong , that when we arrived with no power we just made it work, we did that so the participants could have the best experience" (Maternal child program)

"Organized chaos, things were happening but everyone knew what they were doing" (clinic observations)

"it was truly heart warming", "I teared up when I saw how much we were wanted there", "i know I can be even better tomorrow for the people" (clinci observations)

One thing shone through when reviewing our day, it was challenging, it was far busier then any of us are use to, but it was so beautifully orchestrated and excecuted.

The nice thing is we get to do it all over tomorrow, and even better than today.

See some photos below of Budaywa,Come with us to Chavuli tomorrow and check out instagram @CanadiannursesforAfrica1 for more photo journals.

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