Mary* is a subsistence farmer from the northern coast of Kenya. Her husband Balo* walks to and from work at a stone quarry a few miles from home every day. Two years ago they had a son, Favour, who had spina bifida. They wanted to get help for their baby, so they traveled almost 550 kilometers away from their home to get help from BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital. They spent 2000 Kenyan shillings for one-way fare, a huge amount considering their meager earnings.

While Mary and Balo were able to pay this money to get treatment for their son, other parents are completely unable to raise the bus fare to and from Kijabe to get treatment, follow-up care and advice. Due to the complications that may arise after neurosurgery cases, it is paramount that children have follow-up care by professionals, preferably those who know the patient’s history. We have addressed this challenge by taking the services close to the patients. With mobile clinics spread all over the country, many can now receive services without spending much for transportation. A small number of specialist nurses visit these clinics, screening new cases and advising parents. New cases are referred to the most appropriate medical centers where they can get help, improving the quality of life for many children.

With our frequent visits to a clinic in Mombasa, Balo and Mary won’t have to travel all the way to Kijabe. The risks of traveling are decreased, their costs are cut down substantially, and Favour gets the treatment he needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location of BethanyKids mobile clinics (red stars) in reference to Kijabe (blue star), including: Dadaab Refugee Camp, Eldoret, Embu, Joytown Special School-Thika, Kaplong, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombassa, Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Nyahururu