INFOSPOT 24th SEPTEMBER 2015 Issue No. 26 THE MEDICAL CAMP: A TIMELY BLESSING The locals were excited to receive the free healthcare services. Some even described the experience as the best thing that happened to them since “Maziwa ya nyayo” (The free milk project initiated by former President Moi, also known as Nyayo’s Milk). The main illnesses treated were Ma- laria, Typhoid, dental ailments and sexual transmitted diseases. At the end of the day, we were glad to record a total number of 251 pa- tients having been treated. That news made all the fatigue and thirst experienced throughout the exercise worthwhile. The Tunza mobilizer, Anne Waceke, recorded a total of 94 family planning procedures that were performed on the women and instantly declared it a success. The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) on the 18th Septem- ber to the 20th September carried out their annual medical camps in the counties of Meru, Samburu and Laikipia. BATUK is a permanent training support unit based in Nanyuki. The army carries out a six-week medi- cal training in the form of Medical camps in areas close to their training grounds and stipulated by the Ministry of Health. OUR JOURNEY BEGAN IN MERU This year, the medical camp in Meru was situated in the small town of Mitunguu, which is approximately 30Kms from Meru town and was set to run throughout the weekend of 18th to 20th September 2015. Led by their Troop Commander Mike Oliver, the soldiers set up camp in Mitun- guu Dispensary on Friday, 18th September. “The troops dispersed in this area mainly consist of 26 British Army personnel who have joined the British Medical Corp. We also have additional support from two Kenya Defence Forces Medical Personnel and four Administration Police to as- sist with security,” said Commander Oliver. The gates to Mitunguu Dispensary were opened at exactly 9am and a long line of eager residents greeted the team. The majority of patients included the elderly, mothers with their infants and middle-aged women. The medical camp was divided into two sections: one area would cater for medical consul- tation services by the Army while the other area was a Tunza mobilization unit that focused on promoting Family Planning and Cervical Cancer screening. Also providing supplementary support in Maternal and Child Healthcare was the Beyond Zero mobile clinic donated by Kenyan First Lady Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta. dispensary arrived just in time to save the day as PS Kenya staff stepped in to offer translation where we could. The highlight of the day was the visit by the British Army Brigadier Eastman. Eastman toured the various stations interacting with the both the soldiers and the local folk who responded warmly to his reception. He also handed over a mosquito net to a mother and her infant. Dur- ing this camp, mothers with children under 5 years would receive a treated mosquito net as protection and prevention from Malaria. The British Army Brigadier Eastman presents a mosquito net to a Mitunguu resident A Red Cross Official assits in translating for the Mitunguu resident at the medical camp Registration desk. P&O UPPER EASTERN Co-ordinator, Paul Sitati (Left) engages with The British Army Troop Commander Mike Oliver (centre) The camp was ready to kick off but the colossal challenge that the well-trained soldiers were experiencing was the language barrier. Residents only spoke in their ethnic dialect-Meru and only two translators provided by the Red Cross Foundation could communicate with the increasing number of patients. Help was needed and needed fast. Fortunately, medical personnel from Mitunguu