Gerties News Issue 56 | Dec. 2015

Gertrude’s News

Changing & Growing With You, Gertrude’s Doonholm Clinic

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital opened its first satellite clinic in June 2003 in Lavington. This was closely followed by Doonholm Clinic the success of which encouraged the opening and commissioning of many others. The additional clinics are Pangani, Nairobi West, Embakasi, Komorock, Buru Buru, Rongai, Kitengela, Thika and Mombasa. The clinics are designed in a child friendly manner with facilities that allow for ample waiting, patient procedures, and well-baby services and in some cases dental facilities. All our clinics have well stocked pharmacies and laboratory services. The clinics have staff amenities including separate washrooms, kitchenettes and relaxation areas.

The Hospital has noted over the years the growth in patient numbers at the Doonholm Clinic which has resulted in congestion within the waiting area and is in the process of constructing a new building adjacent to the current clinic. Our goal is to make the clinic which will be the first one constructed by the hospital to be a state of the art centre which will provide additional services that are not available at the moment that is dental and x-ray services.

Safety measures have been put in place to ensure that during construction our clients are not injured in any way and there will be no disruption of services. There is ample parking as well as waiting areas for the various services.

The expected date of completion is June 2016.

OFFICIAL GERTRUDE’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

The artist impression of the proposed new Doonholm clinic currently under construction.

Iwould like to welcome you to the last issue of Gertrude’s News 2015 and hope that you will enjoy reading the articles. The editorial team is always happy to receive comments and suggestions in order to make the newsletter more exciting and enjoyable to read.

As the Hospital strives to offer quality healthcare near your neighbourhood, a new clinic will soon be opening at the Thika Road Mall to serve the clients living along Thika Super Highway and its environs. The planned opening of the clinic is in February 2016.

The hospital has also embarked on the construction of a new modern building at the Doonholm clinic so that a range of more extensive services can be offered to our clients with the expected date of completion being June 2016.

I am pleased announce that the Denmark-based Oticon A/S, will establish a paediatric hearing care centre in Muthaiga. This will enable us to offer paediatric audiology services that are currently not available in Kenya and offer much relief to hearing impaired children through early diagnosis and treatment.

Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation held its 25th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club in September 2015 where a total of Kshs. 4.5 Million was raised to help treat the needy and less privileged children in the society. Once again, I wish to thank all of our sponsors, supporters and well wishers who have stood with us in this noble cause.

Gordon.

Gerties Fun Day 2015

Every year, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital staff take a well-deserved day off to relax, recharge, and have fun. This year, they enjoyed a great day at Utalii Sports ground. There was excitement in the air. The cheers and singing reached the ears as one stood at Utalii Sports ground on 28th August 2015.

The annual Gerties fun day was full of action. Racers were sprinting on the tracks with such speed it was almost possible to hear the zoom as they went past you. The determined faces of the competitors were visible as they gathered all their might to race to the finish line as fast as they could.

An excited crowd of over 200 participants, from all Gertrude’s clinics within Nairobi as well as the main hospital, gathered at the Annual Gerties Staff Fun Day at Utalii Sports Ground. There were six teams randomly made up in order to have a cadre of staff in each team.

This well organized programme would not be anywhere near complete without the good coordination, commitment and enthusiasm shown by everyone. The day was amazingly harmonized with the staff stepping out in the sun to cheer their colleagues. If one stood in the centre of the field on that day, one would be startled with the activity and regular cheers erupting from different corners of the field. The crowd was energized and their oohs and aahs seemed synchronised with every activity that took place in the pitch.

After a short captain’s briefing of the day’s activities, the instructors from Utalii, led a mass warmup to evoke and harness the Sports Day spirit. The games commenced with the CEO’s Race with staff hopping, shuffling and stumbling their way down the track. Next up, the tug of war, with Team Yellow proving to be a tough nut to crack. This was followed by bucket filling with Team White emerging top winners. The King and Queen Cross Over competition took part and was later followed by football.

The energy and atmosphere was electric in anticipation for the final standings. The overall winner was Team White with total 84 points followed by Team Blue with 71, Team Orange, Team Yellow, Team Black and Team Red coming in that order.

Samuel Moko leads Team Yellow to win the Tug-of-war against Team Blue during this year’s Gerties Fun Day at Utalii Grounds.

Accessing Career Advancement Without Financial Challenges

Time and finances are major challenges facing students the world over. Pursuing a career is therefore out of reach to many students struggling to find skills and knowledge that would meet the desired requirements for the job market.

This was the case with Vincent Sambrir, who is an admitting officer at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital. He enrolled for a free online certified Diploma course in Business Management and Entrepreneurship with Alison, a global online learning institution. The training was made possible with the help of Euphracia Ligabo, a librarian at Gertrude’s Institute of Child Health and Research, who shared the information and encouraged him to apply. Vincent went through and passed the initial examination before he embarked on the course which took him nine months to complete.

As an online student, he had to make sacrifices and create time to study and complete his assignments within the set deadlines. “I am delighted that Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital fully recognizes Alison’s certificates. This is one of the greatest moments of my life and an inspiration to all staff who are keen to advance their careers,” said Vincent when he was presented the Diploma by CEO Mr. Gordon Odundo on behalf of Alison Online Institution.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Signs A New Deal With Kudheiha

Unionisable workers of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital are set for revised terms after the hospital and The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with effect from 1st August 2015. The CBA will cover two (2) years till 31st July 2017.

This agreement was signed by the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Gordon Otieno Odundo and Mr. Stansylus Buleti, Industrial Relations Officer representing the Secretary General of KUDHEIHA. Present during the signing was the hospital’s Head of Human Resources, Kenneth Afwande & the Shop Steward, Jerome Changawa.

Vincent Sambrir receives his certificate from CEO Mr. Odundo (L) accompanied by Euphracia Ligabo (2nd R) and Mr. Samuel Moko (R)

CEO Mr. Gordon Odundo and Mr. Stansluas Buleti, Industrial Relations Officer, KUDHEIHA Workers, exchange the CBA signed for 2015- 2017.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

Paediatric GraduationEndocrinology

Paediatric Endocrinology Training Centre for Africa (PETCA) held its 9th graduation for PanAfrican Fellowship Programme in Paediatric Endocrinology fellows on Friday 25th September 2015.

PETCA is a joint initiative of the Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), Aga Khan University Hospital, International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), University of Nairobi department of child health and sponsored by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF).

The graduation was attended by Professor François De Villiers the Scientific Advisor, a tutor, a Paediatric Endocrinologist and a member of ISPAD, Dr. Thomas Ngwiri the Project Director, Mr. Gordon Odundo CEO Gertrudes Children’s Hospital and wife of the Sudanesse Ambassador Mrs. Hanadi Hassan Ali Babiker.--

The fellows were Dr. Asmahan Basheer and Dr. Samara Hassan from Sudan, Dr. Ugo Chikani and Dr. Omoshalewa Ugege from Nigeria, Dr. Virginia Muviku from Kenya and Congolese Dr. Steve Mandilou the only male fellow in the group. They could not hide their joy for the time well spent over the period they attended the programme.

The graduands were later treated to dinner party before leaving for their respective countries to practice what they have learnt.

Doonholm Deliverance Church Medical Camp

Gertrude’s Doonholm Clinic staff together with other colleagues from other units participated in a two day free medical camp at Deliverance Church in Doonholm on 26th and 27th September 2015 which was organized by Deliverance Church and was their first medical camp to be held. A total of 1610 patients were seen of whom 813 were children. The entire church leadership was greatly impressed with our well organized patient flow being as well as being the sole providers of medicines.

The graduands pose for a photo with their tutors as well as the CEO Mr. Gordon Odundo (centre) and Mrs. Hanadi Hassan Ali Babiker (3rd Right) the wife of the Sudanesse Ambassador.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

Members of the public patiently wait to be attended by Gertude’s staff during the two- day medical camp held at Deliverance Church in Doonholm.

Sexual Violence Against Children

By: Janet Irungu.

Every parent’s nightmare is to find that their children have been hurt in one way or the other. We leave them under the care of trusted caregivers and let them play with their peers and even visit peers but even so, unfortunately the majority of the cases of violence against children are both unreported and unrecorded and are usually connected to those close to or related to the children involved.

The information is hidden for many reasons, the first being fear. Generally children are afraid to report incidents of violence against them. Social acceptance of this violence is also another factor and if the violence leaves no visible traces, then there are no reliable ways that it can neither reported or believed, although the Kenyan Sexual Offences Act has a whole chapter describing and defining sexual violence against children

What is considered child sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse of children comprises touching and non-touching activity. Some examples of touching activity include:

• Touching a child’s genitals or private parts for sexual pleasure. Making a child touch someone else’s geni tals, play sexual games or have sex putting objects or body parts inside the private parts for sexual pleasure.

Examples of non-touching activity include:

• Showing pornography to a child

• Deliberately exposing an adult’s genitals to a child

• Photographing a child in sexual poses Encouraging a child to watch sexual acts

• Inappropriately watching a child undress or use the bathroom

Parents should watch out for such red flags as:

Note: Any of the signs below taken on their own do not necessarily mean a child is being sexually abused, unless several of these are noted, take action by talking to your child or alternatively seek professional assistance as quickly as possible on what to do.

• Acting in an inappropriate sexual way with toys or objects

• Nightmares, sleeping problems Becoming withdrawn or very clingy

• Becoming unusually secretive

• Unexplained personality changes, mood swings and seeming insecurity

• Regressing to younger behaviours, e.g. bedwetting

• Unaccountable fear of particular places or people

• Outburst of anger

• Changes in eating habits Using new adult words for body parts with no obvious source of knowing them

• Talk of a new, older friend or unexplained money or gifts

• Self-harm like cutting, burning or other harmful activities

• Physical signs, such as, unexplained soreness or bruises around genitals or mouth, pregnancy or symptoms of any sexually transmitted disease Running away

• Fear of being alone with a particular child or young person

Remember, these above signs can also emerge in other stressful times such as during a divorce, a death of a family member or a pet, problems at school or with friends, being bullied and other anxiety-inducing or traumatic events.

Beacon Of Hope Medical Camp

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in partnership with Beacon of Hope Centre held a one day medical camp on 1st August 2015 at Ongata Rongai. The event, which is held annually, is meant to offer medical assistance to the less privileged in the community.

This year, over 2000 people attended the medical camp and sought treatment. There were several emergency cases which were refered for further treatment to various hospitals. Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital staff together with Beacon of Hope Centre worked tirelessly to ensure that everybody who came was attended to received the necessary treatment and medication. The services provided included gynaecology, laboratory, dental, nutrition, HIV AIDs testing and counselling.

Child Development Centre Holds A One Day Training For Parents And Caregivers Of Children With Special Needs

On Saturday, July 18th 2015, Gertrude’s Child Development Centre held a one day interactive training to help parents and caregivers of children with developmental delays, autism including other neurological disorders. The guest speakers of the day Karen Robbins, Special Needs Teacher from Vancouver Canada, Sharon Pemberton, from Burleson TX, U.S.A. a Reading Specialist and Jenae Dryden, Speech Language Pathologist from Washougal, WA, U.S.A.

The parents and caregivers present were happy to have the speech therapy training and unanimously asked the organisers to consider holding more of such trainings to help them raise their children with special needs in a more professional way.

In her remarks, Grace Njuguna, a staff nurse at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital assured them of such trainings in future and thanked them for honoring the call to attend the training.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

Members of the public queue for registration during the Beacon of Hope medical camp.

Karen Robbins, Special Needs Teacher in a session in the one-day training for parents and caregivers of children with special needs.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

@GertrudesHosp

The latest staff to join Gerties family pose for a photo together with the CEO (left-behind) and senior management during the CEO’s breakfast.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital staff follow keenly the hand washing procedure during The Hand Washing Week 2015.

Left-Right: Mr. Kenneth Afwande Head of Human Resource, Dr. Robert Nyarango Head of Outpatient Services, Edwin Barine Mombasa Clinic Manager and Samuel Mugo Chief Accountant chatting during the Annual Planning and Management meeting held at The Tribe Hotel.

A section of tender applicants follow the procedures of the Tender Opening held at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Muthaiga on 1st October 2015.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital staff attending to visiting clients during The Nairobi trade fair 2015

Gertrude’s catering team pose for a photo with mugs awarded to them for a job well done during their quarterly department meeting.

Dr. Lee Ngugi gives a presentation to trainees during the Acute Pain Management Training held on 11th- 12th August 2015 at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital.

Left- Right: Histotechnologist Boniface Musila, Dr. Beatrice Kabera Chief Pathologist, Dr. Mary Mungania HistoPathologist and Peninah N. Chege Lab Manager in the department of Pathology.

Team

Team

Team

Team

Team

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

@GertrudesHosp

‘The Champions’ Team White who emerged the overall winners during the Gerties Fun Day

Blue the 1st runners up psyched up and geared up.

Black also known as ‘Wazito’. They emerged 5th in the competition.

Red seemed raedy for the action during the Gerties Fun Day. They came in 6th

Orange also known as ‘The Digital Team’. They were the 2nd runners up.

Yellow voted the noisiest of all. They were 4th in the competition.

R. Bak of Rupal Dhanani Trust takes a swing during the 25th Annual Gertrude’s Foundation Charity Golf Tournament.

Jacob Manje of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital takes part a the sack race during Jigger Staircase Relay 2015 held at KICC.

Gertrude’s Team Comes Close To Winning The 4Th Edition Of Jigger Staircase Relay

For three years now, Ahadi Kenya Trust has organized an exciting fun-filled event dubbed the Jigger Staircase Relay. The 4th edition of Sportpesa Jigger Staircase Relay was held on Saturday, the 15th August at the KICC starting from 6.30am.

In this event, Individuals, organizations, NGOs, corporate companies, universities, media, colleges and schools registered to participate in teams of 5-10. Each team took turns in running from the KICC lawn, through the lengthy KICC staircase all the way to the helipad on the 27th floor and back.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital team emerged first runners up in the corporate category. The team also performed tremendously well in the marathon. Other activities that took place during the event included sack-races, where Gertrude’s team came in first runners up. There was also the three-legged race where Gerties team triumphed through to the semi-finals, tug-of-war, and egg races.

Participating corporates also had a chance to exhibit their products and services with Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital offering first aid services.

Gertrude’s Paediatric Hearing Care Centre

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital and Oticon A/S, a hearing aids devices manufacturer based in Denmark, recently established a paediatric hearing care (audiology) centre at the main hospital in Muthaiga. This partnership is crucial because the services of paediatric audiology are not readily available in Kenya. Worldwide, 360 million people comprising of 328 million adults and 32 million children, have moderate to profound hearing loss due to various causes such as noise, genetic conditions, infectious diseases, complications at birth, chronic ear infections, medication effects, and ageing. The number is predicted to increase by one third per generation over the coming century. WHO estimates that half of all cases of hearing loss are avoidable and identifying diseases in their earliest stages can prevent a lifetime of disability, suffering and poverty.

In developing countries like Kenya, access to healthcare is seldom easy, and the objective of this program is to demonstrate how to identify, diagnose and treat children at an early stage, in an available, professional set up. This includes all disciplines required in paediatric audiological care, hearing aids, including counselling and rehabilitation as known from the Scandinavian model for more than 50 years. Oticon A/S, was founded in 1904, is a global company that helped pioneering the hearing industry more than 110 years ago. To date, Oticon is one of the largest companies in the industry and is a world-leader in audiological science. The core business is development, manufacture and wholesale of hearing aids, both hearing solutions for adults and children. The Gertrude’s state-of-the-art Hearing Care Centre aims to diagnose, treat and manage children with hearing impairment of varying degrees.

Three Gertrude’s staff visited DGS Poland in September 2015 for training on production, servicing & repairing ear- moulds of Oticon hearing instruments. An ear mould is a device worn and inserted in the ear for sound conduction and / or protection. The course took 7 days and the staff are now able to take ear impressions, produce and service the soft & hard ear moulds. Free hearing screening services are currently offered at the Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital well baby clinics. Children who require follow up will be referred to the Hearing Care Centre from November 2015.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital team cheer one of their own as she takes part in one of the race during the 2015 Jigger Staircase Relay at KICC Nairobi.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel For Baby Elvis And His Parents

Ababy is like the beginning of all things: hope and even a dream of possibilities. In a world that is cutting down its trees to build highways, losing its earth to concrete, babies are almost the only remaining link with the natural world of living things from which we spring. The pains of the birth of baby Elvis were altogether different from the hidden pain that awaited his parents. When his father received the news of his new born, he immediately rushed to the ward to receive his source of joy.

Shock on him when he saw that, yes, it’s a baby boy, but there was a problem. He could not hold onto the fact that his son was born with a cleft lip. He shook and fainted and was now admitted in hospital instead of him celebrating the good news of his new born.

He had never seen anyone born with a cleft lip before and to him, this was more of a ‘curse’ than a blessing. Elvis’ mother had seen people with such conditions and so she was strong in heart. None of their friends, colleagues and even some relatives ever saw Elvis in his condition.

They then embarked on a journey to get medical solutions to their new born son in different hospitals all without vain. Most of the hospitals promised medical assistance but only ended up turning them down after shady deals.

At some point, they were advised to hire a professional nurse who would come to feed the child at a cost of Ksh. 4000 a day. All this never worked out and they almost gave up on the race to medically assist their son.

After walking in and out of many hospitals in search of Elvis’ medical assistance, their hopes finally rested in the good hands of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital through Smile Train and Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation. When they were told that their son would be treated at no cost they doubted the news. They were eager to see `this treatment at no cost’ if it could come out to be one of their greatest news of their lives. The cleft lip operation went on well and after the first operation there was light at the end of the tunnel.

When Elvis’ father saw their son after the successful operation, he had a smile on his face. Elvis is now fine and this is now one of the greatest reasons his parents can smile. They have gone through a lot of emotional and financial suffering and now, thanks to Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation and Smile Train for granting them a smile drive back home. They can afford to get and share the great news with their friends, colleagues and family.

Baby Elvis Nzule before he met Smile Train.

Baby Elvis Nzule after surgery. Completely healed and all-smiles.

Gertrude’s Histopathology Laboratory

before being taken to theatre. Please do not hesitate to call the laboratory to arrange this, preferably 24 hours before the procedure. The histopathology section will serve as a teaching, clinical, and research centre.

What happens in the Histology Lab?

This section provides diagnostic service for evaluation of biopsy specimens/tissues and body fluids.

• Specimen registration involves capturing demographic and clinical details of the patient,

• Specimen grossing ref. the macroscopic examination of specimens. It is at this stage that specimens are sampled.

Gertrude’s laboratory is one of the leading hospital clinical laboratories in Kenya. It is for this reason that we recently introduced our new histology/histochemistry laboratory in the department of Pathology and began its operations on the 17th August 2015. This new service was introduced following a need assessment and the department’s desire to improve out turn around time for histology samples. Our clients also can benefit from direct access to pathologists for advice, case discussion and access reports immediately through our web-based reporting system.

The operations in the department started following an elaborate planning and setup. The process involved various personnel within the entire hospital. A suitable space was identified within the laboratory and prepared for the specification of histopathology service. Modern equipment was bought and set up.

With the facilitation of the Head of Clinical services, Chief Pathologist and Lab Manager, one Histotechnologist and HistoPathologist are currently running this section. Currently we are receiving between 2- 3 specimens per day and we expect more. The turn around time is 3 – 5 days. Our pathologist can also be booked for frozen sections

• Tissue processing- chemical treatment of tissue which results in paraffin wax impregnation. This renders tissue firm enough to cut.

• Tissue embedding results in the optimal orientation of processed tissue.

• Microtomy is the cutting (sectioning) of tissue into sections that are 3-5µm thick, which allows light to pass through.

• The tissue section is then floated out in a water bath and picked up on to a glass slide.

• Sections are then sent for staining. The slides are cover-slipped and dispatched to the pathologist for diagnosis. A formal report is compiled, edited and released. Optimally processed tissue results in the production of high quality standard haematoxylin and eosin sections used in routine diagnosis. It preserves quality of proteins within the tissue allowing for accurate immunohistochemical and the molecular testing, if needed.

We sincerely appreciate all those who have participated in making the initiation of this service a success.

Dr. Mary Mungania HistoPathologist and Boniface Musila Histotechnologist testing the newly acquired histology/histochemistry laboratory equipment in the department of Pathology.

FIA Foundation @FIAFdn Oct 1

Thanks to @MarkMasai + @GertrudesHosp for fantastic #SaveKidsLives campaigning in Kenya!

Carol Musyoka @carolmusyoka Aug 26

#TwitterThumbsUp to Dr. Kiama and Nurse Gertrude at the Othaya Road branch of @ GertrudesHosp for wonderful care, attention and follow up.

Gertrude’s Sunshine Smiles Clinic Participates 1St Ever Adolescent Partners Meeting Nairobi County

Sunshine Smiles Clinic was invited as an implementing partner to the 1st HIV and Adolescent Partners meeting for Nairobi City County held at the Panafric Hotel on the 27th August 2015. The meeting mainly focused on a shared understanding of Adolescents and HIV within Nairobi City County and also improving integration of quality HIV care, prevention and treatment interventions for adolescents in Nairobi City County as well as agree on best way forward to conduct their adolescent data assessment for the county.

Phoebe Ongadi of Gertrude’s Sunshine Smiles Clinic gave a presentation on their work focusing on strategies, best practices, results, challenges and the lessons learnt on high impact interventions for Adolescents and HIV. She emphasized on the strides the clinic has made towards ensuring youth friendly services as well as the integrated sexual and reproductive health services for the youths and young adults.

Ulrike Gilbert- Nandra, Chief HIV and AIDS UNICEF Kenya in her remarks assured the partners present of their continued support to ensure zero HIV related adolescent deaths and urged all the partners to work towards achieving the targets. The health care professionals were urged to lead from the front in ensuring adolescents living with HIV access timely and appropriate medical

integrated services. Sunshine Smiles Clinic is one of the sites with the highest numbers of

MaqC Eric UNICEF Kenya, Phoebe Ongadi Gertrude’s Sunshine Smiles Clinic and Ulrike Gilbert- Nandra, Chief HIV and AIDS UNICEF Kenya during the adolescents partners meeting.

What is hand hygiene?

Hand hygiene is an action of hand cleansing and it involves both hand washing with soap and water and also use of alcohol based hand rubs.

Why hand hygiene?

• Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing the spread of germs.

• Infections spread can be stopped through good hand hygiene Hand hygiene saves lives.

• Who should perform hand hygiene?

• it is everybody’s responsibility. Have you washed yours?

• You, your loved ones, your visitors and your healthcare providers should practice hand hygiene.

• You can take action by asking both your healthcare providers and visitors to clean their hands.

Hand hygiene, When?

• Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food Before and after caring for someone who is sick

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

• After touching garbage

Hand hygiene, How?

• Wet hands under warm, running water. Avoid contact with the faucet after this point.

• Lather the soap on your hands for at least ten to fifteen seconds and then rub your hands together. (liquid soap from a dispenser is preferred )

• Wash your palms, the back of your hand under your fingernails and in between your fingers; focus on the ends of your fingers.

• Rinse your hands thoroughly under the warm running water.

• Dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel from a receptacle. Turn off the water with your elbows if tap is elbow operated or use paper towel to turn off tap to avoid re-contamination of hands.

Gertrude’s Mombasa Clinic Takes Part In Diabetes Walk Mombasa

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

Gertrude’s Mombasa Clinic took part in this year’s Diabetes Walk for Mombasa held at Butterfly Pavilion in Bamburi. The team interacted with different corporates in attendance, distributed the clinic’s fliers and assisted in health screening. The team led by their Clinic Manager, Edwin Barine, was awarded a certificate of participation as well as a trophy.

(Right): Gertrude’s Mombasa Clinic team led by their manager, Edwin Barine, pose for a photo after taking part in the Mombasa Diabetes walk

Kids Health And Nutrition

This is a platform where correct information on infant and young children nutritional requirements is passed to parents and caregivers. The aim is to educate care givers on how to feed children using diverse nutritious meals.

The activity was held at Gertrude’s Children’s hospital Training School. The forum was opened for anyone who takes care of children like paediatricians, nutritionists, parents and caregivers.

Dr. J.K. Mbuthia, a paediatrician, reminded the participants that malnutrition is among the five major health challenges faced by many in this country; this is not due to lack of food but due to poor dietery practices and lack of correct information.

Dr. P. Ngwatu on his remark emphasized on the importance of making children’s meal more appealing and remove the monotony. He urged them to make meal times happy moments and to refrain from disciplinary measures or

Nutritionists, care givers and parents are served with some of the delicacies that they were taught how to prepare in the training.

discussing school performance. This usually makes children associate food with bad events and therefore skive!

Parents were reminded that most children do not like vegetables, it should therefore be blended in their favourite meal, for example if a child likes chapatti, carrots can be grated and be mixed with the dough. The participants were then treated to sumptuous easy to cook nutritious meals and the children who attended had fun in tasting them!

Miritini Medical Camp

Gertrudes Mombasa Clinic, in partnership with Family Health Options through an invitation by the Redeemed Gospel Church Miritini offered free medical services to the people of Miritini in Mombasa County. The camp was held at World Bank Primary School Grounds, Miritini. Mombasa clinic offered laboratory services which included blood sugar tests, malaria tests and urinalysis.

Church Army Academy Primary School Spots Day

Gertrude’s Buru Buru clinic joined Church Army Academy Primary School during their annual Sports Day. Led by the Clinic Manger, Fildis Kaari, they offered first aid services to the students and their teachers. They also took part in some of the activities of the day which included short and long races, singing and dancing competitions.

(Right): Fildis Kaari, Manager, Gertrude’s Buru Buru clinic, takes part in an activity with pupils of Church Army Academy.

Gertrude’s Mombasa clinic staff attent to some of the clients who attended the Miritini Medical Camp.

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital