tropical clinics newsletter october issue

8/14/2019 Tropical Clinics Newsletter October Issue

1/7

Welcome to the Summer 2008 issue of

TropicalClinics quarterly e-newsletter!

This issue focuses on the medical camp

clinic we just completed in Kakamega,Kenya. We invite you and your friends to

view more pictures of the medical clinic

at our website: www.tropicalclinics.org

TropicalClinics conducts its annual medi-

cal camp at Kakamega and treats over

400 schoolchildren with tinea capitis (a

fungal infection of the scalp and hair).

TropicalClinics continues to provide

medical care and health support to the

people of Kakamega and surrounding

communities through its annual medical

camp. In July 2008, local pediatricians,

eye specialists, clinicians, dentists, nurses

and social workersa total of 80 health

care professionalscame together to pro-

vide eye care, antifungal treatment, denta

care, HIV-testing and treatment, Malaria

diagnosis and treatment, and treatment

of pneumonia and flu-like symptoms to

nearly 1,800 people, a majority of them

women and children.

Most of the children were infected with

very contagious fungal infections, either

ringworm or dermatophytes. Tinea

capitis is predominantly a disease of

preadolescent children. It accounts for up

to 92.5% of dermatophytoses in children

younger than 10 years, explained our

lead pediatrician, Dr. Kirui Kennedy. The

disease is rare in adults, although

October 2008 www.tropicalclinics.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

TropicalClinics Facts 1

TropicalClinics AnnualMedical Camp:

Treating ChildrensFungal Infections 1

Treating ChildrensEye Infections 2

The Pediatric Corner 3

Dental Care 4

HIV Prevention and Testing

Adults in Need of Care 5

Farmaceuticals for theMedical Camp 5

Our Staff 6

Why TropicalClinics? 7

Fundraising andSpecial Thanks 7

Contact Us 7

About UsTropicalClinics mission is to provide vital, life-saving medi-

cal care to Kenyas impoverished rural areas. Eighty percent of

Kenyas population resides in rural areas, making the distribution

of health care services difficult. With the help of donors, Tropi-

calClinics will be Kenyas first state-of-the-art rural health center.

TropicalClinics provides comprehensive and integrated HIV care

for women and children, prevents pregnancy-related deaths and

fights malnutrition and fungal infections in children. Founded in

November 2004, it is eventually expected to treat 160 in-patients

and over 400 out-patients per day once it is in full operation. It

will also be the only referral center in rural Kenya with a state-of-

the-art diagnostic laboratory.

TropicalClinicsAnnual Medical CampTreating Childrens Fungal Infection

TropicalClinics is a 501 (c) 3 U.S. NonprofitOrganization and a Non-GovernmentalOrganization in Kenya. Our federal taxidentification number is 20-1862000. Continue on Pg. 2

|


2/7October 2008 www.tropicalclinics.org |

occasionally, it may be found in elderly

patients. It is common in parts of Africa

and India, due to poor sanitary condi-

tions and personal hygiene.

The infection begins as a small papule, or

bump, around a hair shaft on the scalp,

eyebrows or forehead. Within a few

days, the red papule becomes paler and

scaly, and the hairs appear discolored,

lusterless and brittle. The lesion spreads,

forming numerous papules in a typical

ring form. Because it usually grows in acircle, it is called ringworm. Of course,

this is a misnomer, as there are no

worms involved in this fungal infection.

The infection may spread to other parts

of the body by scratching, or by con-

taminated clothing, combs, hairbrushes

or other household items. These items

may also spread the infection to other

household members or schoolmates. If

the ringworm infection is not treated,

it may become a permanent health

problem, even allowing other infectious

agents to enter the body through the

open wounds from this fungus. Young

patients with itchy scalp and patchy or

total hair loss are frequently ridiculed,isolated and bullied by classmates or

playmates. In some cases, the disease can

cause severe emotional impairment in

vulnerable children. We received hun-

dreds of school children presenting with

these ringworms. Thanks to the gener-

ous contribution of antifungal regimen

from MAP International, we administered

Griseofulvin (Fulvicin) and Fluconazole

(Diflucan) oral antifungal therapies to

these children. We did not expect to seeso many infected children and had only a

three-week supply of antifungal therapies

for each infected child. To completely

stop the invasion of the fungus, a 46

week treatment is required.

Can you imagine that only $15 per treat-

ment will help these children live with-

out this infection? With your continued

financial support, we expect to provide

an additional supply of antifungaltherapy, plus biweekly shampoo contain-

ing either povidone-iodine or selenium

sulfide to help eradicate this disease and

give these children the happy childhood

they deserve.

Treating Childrens Fungal Infectioncontinuation from Pg. 1

Look at these childrens infected heads!

TropicalClinics Facts

Founded November 2004 Rural Kenyas first state-of-art

health center

Planned as an independentnon-government health center

Estimated 160 in-patients,400 daily out-patients once infull operation

Focus: Integrated HIV-care;prevention of maternal mortalityin childbirth; prevention ofmalnutrition and opportunistic

infections in children Entrepreneurial vision: Empower

women as partners in their ownhealth care and communityserviceand opportunisticinfections in children

Motto: Treat Women, CreateHealthy Communities.

Treating Childrens

Eye Infections

TropicalClinics treats a severe case of a girlseye infection at its Annual Medical Camp.

Grace!

Grace presented to us with a lump/swell-

ing in the eyelid, blurred vision and

tenderness in the area of the swelling.

Continue on Pg. 3



Treating Childrens Eye Infectionscontinuation from Pg. 2

Here Dr. Kirui, a respected pediatrician,

examines Graces eye and immediately

consults with Dr. Kageha, an eye specialist,

on the correct form of intervention.

Thanks to MAP International, Kakamega

General Hospital and Siloamu Clinic, we

had eye drops, eye ointments and inject-

able eye antibiotic that saved Graces eye

and also kept its surface moist and pre-

vented itching.

The best management for this condition is

a surgical procedure to remove the excess

tissue from the lid margin. We plan to

raise the $600 that is required to help give

this girl her eyesight back.

Dr. Kirui could not believe the infection inGraces eye.

Dr. Kageha is shocked as well, but goes intoaction, first comforting Grace.

Here Dr. Kageha is applaying antibioticsin Graces eye

The Pediatric Corner at TropicalClinics Annual Medical Camp

Children are truly our future and if wecare for their well-being now, we are

investing in a betterand healthier

future, especially in this region of Kenya.

Malaria, fever, acute respiratory infections

and diarrhea were diagnosed as the

leading causes of illness for the children

attending our annual medical camp.

At the camp the children were examined

and treated with anti-malaria drugs,

antibiotics and multivitamins. It is clear

that due to a lack of basic healthcare and

hygiene education, the communities we

serve are suffering from many diseases

that could be easily managed through

training and support.

Brenda is checking this boys teeth beforeproviding dental care.

Our pediatricians treated over 400 kids!We are providing these kids with vitaminsand minerals

I am appealing to you to helpTropicalClinics offer medicaland holistic care to theserural women, their childrenand families; replacing sufferingand tears with smiles.

Margaret Kilibwa, Ph.D.Founder/Director, TropicalClinics



TropicalClinicsAnnual MedicalCamp ProvidesDental Care toNearly 500 People!

HIV Prevention and Testing

Dr. Kilibwa is counseling these boys onHIV prevention! They were eager to havethe HIV test.

While protecting rural Kenyan children

from deadly diseases is imperative,

protecting these health investments is

equally important. This is a vulnerable

period for rural Kenyas adolescents;

they face risks of early or unwanted

pregnancies and HIV infection.

AIDS has cut a wide swath through

Africa, and complicates virtually every

pre-existing health issue on the conti-

nent. So it was an absolute delight for

Dr. Kilibwa, founder and director of

TropicalClinics, to see a large group of

boys from a nearby high school flock to

our camp requesting HIV testing. Here

Dr. Kilibwa is chatting with the boys

and they confirm eagerness to know

their HIV status. The boys and girls

(not shown in the picture) also received

multivitamins.

Chronic diseases will soon become the

leading cause of health problems in

the developing world, and oral health

conditions are one of the most commonchronic disorders, according to the World

Health Organization. More than half of

the medical clinic attendees complained

of oral pain.

This may come as a surprise to our

readers but there is currently no access

to dental care whatsoever in some of

the remote villages of rural Kenya. We

brought dental services to this Kakamega

village where there are very few dentists.Ninety-five percent of the people we

examined had significant dental erosion

because of the presence of sand in their

food as a result of the arid environment

and lack of water for rinsing crops. We

were surprised by the extent of the oral

health crisis in this part of rural Kenya.

In an area where the population has little

access to sugary food and fermentable

carbohydrates, we didnt expect the

problem to be as bad as it is. We feel the

urgency to develop a sustainable oral

health program as an essential element to

improving the lives of these people.

Here our local healthcare workers provide

basic essential dental care, including

extractions and control of infections.

Additionally, the dental team educated

mothers about caring for the oral health of

their young children.

Our dentists supporting patientswith dental care.

Our lead dentist extracted many bad teethand counseled many patients on oral health.



Adults are in Great Need of CareIIn rural Western Kenya, access to health

care is almost non-existent for a large seg-

ment of the population. There are hospi-

tals in some of the larger towns and in the

cities, but the rural poor cannot get there

because their only means of transporta-

tion is walking, and the health care that

does exist is miles away.

A retired local physician volunteers his

services at the clinic, but without diagnostic

equipment, appropriate medicines or other

supplies, there is not much that he can do.

Eighty percent of Kenyas population

resides in rural areas, making the distri-

bution of health care services difficult.

Here our clinicians provide much-needed

screening and treatment to both young

and old.

Maternal Health:Womens health needs, nutrition and

medical care are widely neglected in rural

Kenya, and their access to care and support

for HIV/AIDS is delayed (if it arrives at all)

and limited. Family resources are nearly

always devoted to caring for the man.

Women, even when infected, are providing

all the care. They play crucial roles in both

the family and in Kenyan societys health

care overall.

Due to the socio-economic and cultural

status of women in Kenya, they are twice

as likely as men to become infected by

HIV/AIDS. Currently 60% of those living

with HIV/AIDS are women. Their access

to primary health care services is non-ex-

istent at best; prenatal care, vaccinations,

malaria and HIV screening have decreased

in many rural communities.

Women constitute nearly 67% of the total

population of Africa, and to achieve better

global health conditions, a focus on Afri-

can women is thus necessary. Community

participation in tropical disease health

initiatives largely falls on women in their

roles as first-line-household health provid-

ers and consumers.

One of our clinicians is attending to thiswoman patient; the focus of healthcare atTropicalClinics.

Pharmaceuticals for the Medical CampClinics in these rural areas lack many supplies such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, bandages, gowns,

disinfectants, thermometers and antibiotics which are readily available in any clinic or hospital in the United

States. The medical camp was stocked with medicines from MAP International and Johnson & Johnson,

Arise & Walk Ministries Foundation and Silomau Clinic in Kakamega, but a regular supply of pharmaceu-

ticals is desperately needed, along with funds to hire doctors and other health workers and to buy basic diag-nostic equipment.

Please visit wwww.tropicalclinics.org to make a contribution to

our initiative and help us make a difference for the people of

Kakamega and surrounding rural communities.



Our Staff

In a continent that experts say is in desper-

ate need of at least 1 million more health

care workers, full use of the existing work

force is crucial. Experienced nurses in

Kenya, mostly women, have an opportunity

to maximize their service to the commu-

nity. Training nurses to do jobs tradition-

ally done by doctors is part of our futureprogram to reach more patients and save

more lives. Here are pictures of the many

local clinicians, nurses and other healthcare

providers who participated in our medi-

cal camp. It was exhilarating to watch this

team of dedicated healthcare volunteers

work tirelessly through the day attending to

the plights of the many needy patients.

Also, we saw how the usually quiet local

church-building-turned-hospital becamealive with activity as thousands of would-

be patients queued up waiting for treat-

ment. It soon became apparent that we

needed to organize the droves of people who

wanted to see a doctor, so several persons

from the team developed a patient number-

ing system each morning. Lines formed at 5

am or earlier and the healthcare providers

began seeing patients as early as possible

and stayed until the last number was seen

as late as 6:30 pm (when it became too darkto see by the low wattage light bulbs).

Having well-trained, accessible community

health care workers has a massive impact.

It means that people dont have to walk for

three days to get medical careor do with-

out healthcare altogether.

Our clinicians.

Catering team

Our staff taking a break for lunch after a busymorning of caring for hundreds of patients.

Lead laboratory technician.

The pharmacy teamOn the day of the clinic, they worked tirelesslyfrom 6 am to 7 pm, dispensing medicine tohundreds of people

MembershipNewsTropicalClinics is a member of

the Global Health Council; www.

globalhealth.org, the worlds largest

membership alliance dedicated to saving

lives by improving health throughout

the world.


7/7October 2008 www.tropicalclinics.org

Why TropicalClinics?Africas health report card is catastrophic:More than 90% of the worlds malaria cases

occur on the continent, and less than 60%

of the population in sub-Saharan Africa has

access to safe water. And despite only having

11% of the worlds population, Africa claims

60% of the people living with HIV. The

Kenyan government recently declared HIV/

AIDS a national disaster. In Kenya, more

than 70 people die of HIV-related illnesses a

day. In 1999, there were about 0.1 physiciansper 1,000 people and about 1.6 hospital beds

available per 1,000 people. Government

clinics do not exist in sufficient number to

be easily accessible to the rural poor, many

of whom have to walk an entire day to reach

them. The burden on the government is

great, often resulting in medical stock short-

ages that could mean a mother walking for

days only to find that the medicine her child

needs is out of stock.

TropicalClinics sees the enormous impact

that a medical clinic and education center

would have on the lives of people suffering

from the ravages of AIDS, the cycle of pov-

erty and the atrocities of the past. We are an-

swering the call by setting up a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory with equipment

including CT scans, ultrasound, HPV and

Pap smear screening kits, EKG machines,

X-ray machines and other medical supplies

that will also benefit five area hospitals. We

are literary racing against time to prevent

the transfer of HIV infection from mother

to child at birth; pregnancy-related deaths;

increasing cases of breast/cervical cancer

and diabetes in women; and vaccine-related

diseases and malnutrition in children start-

ing in Kakamega. We hope this will be to the

delight of the community.

Here we provided certificates of appreciation

to the physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers who volunteered their servicesto our medical clinic.

Fundraising

Partners Join TropicalClinicsto Help Reach Its Medical GoalsFurther advancing its mission to provide

quality care to rural communities in

Africa, TropicalClinics is teaming up with

Rotary Club, Medicine for Africa, and MAP

International to secure medical equipment,

medicine and supplies. Our first mission

is in Kakamega, but we hope to expand to

other areas, providing desperately needed

healthcare where we can.

TropicalClinics has set up a Paypal account

on its website at www.tropicalclinics.org

making it easier for individuals, groups

and others to donate to our cause. Contri-

butions are tax deductible.

TropicalClinics is conducting a capital

campaign to increase awareness of its

charitable organization and raise funds to

support the women and children of Africa.

Special Thanks:Frances Griffith, Judy

Snow, Rod Sharp, Jennifer Moreland,

friends of Richard Harrison and John

Campbell, Arise & Walk Ministries

Foundation, Carmen Lebron, Jona-

than and Julie Meyers, Freedom Plains

Presbyterian Church, LaGrangeville,

NY, Barbara Bosch and Caroline Sagasi

for donating to the medical camp and sup-porting women and childrens health in

rural Kenya.

VolunteersJudy Snow

Maria Johnson

Carmen Lebron

Olubayi Olubayi

Christopher Sickels

Contact Us!TropicalClinics Organization105 Park KnollPrinceton, NJ 08540

Mailing AddressP.O. Box 622Kingston, NJ 08528-0622

Telephone: 732-331-6859Fax: 732-438-5202E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.tropicalclinics.org

Design and creative (pro-bono):East House Creative Inc.www.east-house.com

Editor (pro-bono):James McCann

tropical clinics newsletter october issue

Documents