REKORD August 2019

R E SPE KT P UBLICAT IONS | AUGU ST 2 0 1 9

I SS UE 0 2

REKORD RESPEK T THE MISSION

EVENTS AND UPDATES

Take a glimpse at some of the projects and activities that Team RESPEKT has been a part of. >>> pages 5, 7, 9

IMPASSIVE PATIENTS’ ADVOCATE

An insightful commentary on what more we can do as part of the medical fraternity >>> page 15

UNSPOKEN TRUTHS

A different perspective on something that is all too common but yet not addressed openly enough. >>> page 17

PLUS

Put some faces to the names and meet the people who make up the Curriculum Development Team! page 11

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

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REKORD | AUGUST 2019

C O N T E N TS

MESS AG E F R OM E D ITOR

W »» p.5

»» p.15

el com e b a ck! L ike pa ren t ea g er t o

PRIMARY SCHOOL

11 meet the curric-

t h os e of y o u w ho I ’ve hi t w i th a ‘ h ey, y o u w ere there f o r

a n y d ot in g n ew O n t h a t n ot e, I’ d a l s o l ike

t h is ev ent, c o uld y o u ha nd in a w ri te up a nd b ri ng tho s e

s h ow off t h eir b a b y a n d t h e

t o s a y a h u g e t h a n k y ou t o

prog res s it h a s m a d e, s o t oo

ev er y on e w h o t ook t h eir t im e of u s w ho c o uldn’t a ttend o n

is m y ex cit em en t ( a n d n er-

t o pen a n a r t icl e ( or poem ! )

v ou s n es s ! ) t o b r in g y ou t h is

a n d s en d it in – it is n ot f l a t - s u re t o i ntera c t w i th y o u tha t

s econ d is s u e of R E KO R D.

t er y w h en I s a y t h a t w it h ou t

it ’s h a r d to f eel a ny remo rs e.

y ou , t h is is s u e w ou l d s im pl y

A l on g tho s e li nes , b y the w a y,

n ot h a v e b een pos s ib l e. I d o

I’ d l ike to ta ke the o p p o rtu-

l on g er y ou keep a t s om e-

h ope t o receiv e m ore s u b -

n it y t o i nvi te y o u to f reely

doctors, who enjoy

t h in g , t h e ea s ier it b ecom es ,

m is s ion s f rom y ou , w h il e f or

s en d in y o ur s ub mi s s i o ns –

instant convenience,

a n d I h a v e t o con ced e t h a t

t h os e of u s w h o a re on t h e

d on ’t be mi s gui ded i nto thi nk-

and disregard matters

it is t r u e t o s om e ex t en t

f en ce a b ou t s en d in g in t h eir

in g t h at o nly o ff i c i a ls o r o rga -

»» p.17

It is of t en s a id t h a t t h e

5 VISIT TO ITHANGA

a d v a n ce f or t h a t !

b oa r d ? ’ , b ut i t’s s uc h a p lea -

A quick look at a (re)

ulum development team

visit to the iconic Ithanga

It’s not news that RESPEKT

outside their consultation

( es pecia l l y w h en y ou u n d er-

w r it in g b eca u s e t h e pros -

n izer s ha ve the ri ght to c o ver

Primary School

is huge. But who, exactly,

rooms and wards? Patrick

s t a n d h ow f l ow t ex t w or ks

pect is in t im id a t in g , I’ d l ike

ev en t s !

is part of the mission?

Angila offers an insightful

a n d s t op pa s t in g col u m n s

y ou con s id er t h is : ev er y t h in g

This month we meet the

commentary on the state

a cros s t h e d ocu m en t ! ) …

in t h is m a g a zin e w a s w r it t en

Curriculum Development

of the nation and what

b u t , a s w it h ev er y t h in g el s e

b y s om eon e w h o’s in ex a ct l y

a l l a v oi c e, a nd I enc o ura ge

Team through the eyes of

we as medical students

rel a t ed t o b ein g pa r t of Tea m

t h e s a m e b oa t a s y ou – n on e

y ou t o s ei z e thi s o p p o rtuni ty.

Barbara Nyaga, its newest

and doctors need to do to

R E S P E KT ( a n d d a re I s a y, l if e

of u s a re prof es s ion a l pu b -

In t h e mea n ti me, s i t b a c k,

member. Read on to find

ensure a brighter future

in g en er a l ), t h ere’s a l w a y s

l is h ed w r it er s ( y et ? ), s o t a ke

rel a x , and enj o y the rea d!

Anushka and Carol tell us

out a little something

for our patients, ourselves

m ore t o l ea r n a n d a ch iev e.

h ea r t in t h in kin g t h a t if a

about the successful joint

about who’s who and what

and the country as a whole

I’ d t h ou g h t t h a t I’ d g ot t en a

f el l ow s t u d en t ca n w r it e, s o

Bes t w i s hes ,

venture between SCOPH

she’s gained from the

d ecen t g r a s p on pu b l ica t ion s

ca n y ou ! A n d res er v e a ppl i-

A d it i Va ki l

and RESPEKT.

experience!

a n d w h a t t h a t en t a il ed w it h

ca t ion of t h e f requ en t l y -

A telling and

t h e g r u el in g m a m m ot h s prea d

t ou t ed w is d om a b ou t keepin g

heartwrenching narration

t h a t w a s Is s u e 01, b u t n ow

y ou r opin ion s t o y ou r s el f f or

Head on over to find out

by Cheryl awaits you here

I s ee t h a t it w a s on l y t h e

ot h er f or a , pl ea s e – h ere a t

where Amal Ali wants to be

as she casts light on

b eg in n in g : a l l I’ d g ot t en w a s

R E S P E KT, w e w a n t t o kn ow

Bidian shares his

taken back to, and enjoy

one of the unfortunately

a f eel of t h e g en er a l h ow - t o –

w h a t y ou t h in k! It ’s h on es t l y

experience as an emcee

yet another composition by

common yet unaddressed

t h ere a re s t il l m a n y n u a n ces

s o ref res h in g t o rea d d if -

for the 8th Annual

one of our in-house poets,

incidents in Kenya.

a n d d et a il s t h a t I’ m y et t o

f eren t per s pect iv es on t h e

Pharmaceutical Symposium

Redscar Daniel.

l ea r n a b ou t , l ea v e a l on e

is s u es t h a t a ff ect u s a l l , a n d

m a s t er. I d o l ook f or w a r d t o

it ’s a n h on or t o b e a b l e t o

receiv in g y ou r f eed b a ck, com -

s h a re it w it h t h e w or l d .

7 respiratory, oral

and hand hygiene for kids and reproductive health for teens

9 african pharmaceutical symposium 2019

and tells the rest of us who couldn’t make it what

13 poetry

15 impassive

17 unspoken truths

m en t s a n d s u g g es t ion s on

went down. You know

patients’ advocate

h ow t o d o b et t er w it h f or t h -

Nor m a l l y, I’ d b e in cl in ed

where to go!

Where is this nation

com in g is s u es ! Th a n k y ou in

t o t h row in a n a pol og y f or

was discussed and what

heading with apathetic

R E KO RD w a s b o rn to gi ve us

3

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

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REKORD | AUGUST 2019

EV E N TS AN D UP D AT E S

5

In s u b s equ en t v is it s w e h ope t o in it ia t e a R E S P E KT cl u b

visit to ithanga secondary school

w h ere w e s h a l l t r a in s t u -

M i t c h e l l e K a g ot ho

a n d t h ey w il l b e t a s ked w it h

d en t s w h o w e id en t if ied f or t h eir a ct iv e en g a g em en t in t h is v is it . Th es e s t u d en t s w il l s er v e a s off icia l s of t h is cl u b con t in u ou s l y ed u ca t in g t h eir peer s a b ou t m a t t er s S R H R .

40 mi nute s o ff th e Thika Gar issa Highwa y

w a s q u i t e e v i d e n t t h a t q u i t e a l a rg e n u mb er

o n a m urram ro ad b rought us to the

o f t h e s t u d e n t s w e re s e x u a l l y a c t i v e a nd

f a mo us I thang a Secondar y School. This i s

t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e y h a d a l o t o f i n fo rm a t ion

o ne o f the fi rst schools that we as Team

a bo u t s e x , m o s t o f i t w a s m i s g u i d e d .

R E S PEK T vi si te d, and we were honored t o rec e i ve a c o rdial invitation f rom the

DO YOU WANT TO BE FEATURED IN REKORD?

pr i n ci pal to e ng age with a new b atch of st u d ents.

Wh eth er it’s artwork, articles, p oetr y or simply feedback on th is issu e - we’ re ex cited to h ear from you !

A f t er a bri e f breakf ast meeting, the si x t e e n o f us were ushered outside where appro xi m ate ly 40 0 students (f or m 1 -3 )

You may send in multiple contributions, each no more than 700 words.

we re wai ti ng e ager ly.

Ov e ra l l , t h e g i rl s s e e m e d t o be q u i t e a w a re o f t h e i r bo d i e s a n d w e re m o re p o s i t i v e l y engaged in the discussion than their male

Articles sh ou ld in clu de at least one relev ant pictu re to be u sed in th e article, a tta ched separately, in addition to a ph o tog r a p h tha t th e au th or( s) wou ld like to appear b esid e th eir n ame.

c o u n t e rp a rt s

We d i v i de d bo th our selves and the stud e n t s i nto fi ve smaller group s and dis-

A maximu m of two su bmission s will b e consid ered for an y on e issu e, bu t feel f ree to sub mit even more for con sideration for use in f uture issu es.

pe r se d to vari o u s classrooms.

I n t he g ro ups we tackled the f ollowi ng : c o ntrac e pti on, teenage p regnanc i es, m e nstrual hygiene, consent as wel l

T h e call for su bmission s is alwa y s op en - so don ’t worry if you don ’t see you r a r ticle in th e n ew issu e - it will be con sid ered f or the issu e to follow ( or th e on e after...)

as othe r to pi c s that came up f rom the Q & A se ssi o n. By end of the sessions it

Su bmit to pu blication s@respekt.or.kee

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

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REKORD | AUGUST 2019

kn ew. By t h e en d of a l l t h e

t h em w it h a b r u s h a n d

d a n cin g a n d s in g in g a l on g t o

a ct ion s a s w el l a s b y s in g in g

n u r s er y r h y m es t h e ch il d ren

a s on g w h ich g a v e a s t ep b y

respiratory, oral and hand hygiene for kids and reproduc tive health for teenagers

w ere el a t ed a n d m ore com -

s t ep ex pl a n a t ion a n d w a s

f or t a b l e w it h u s t h a n ev er

ca t ch y en ou g h t o keep t h eir

b ef ore.

in t eres t . We pl a y ed a g a m e

An us hk a Ma tt h e w s a n d C a ro l Wam b ui

EV E N TS AN D UP D AT E S

7

w it h t h e ch il d ren , w h ich We w ere d iv id ed in t o cl u s -

in v ol v ed t h em pl a cin g s t ick-

t er s of 6 t r a in er s , ea ch

er s of f ood s on a ch a r t w h ich

w it h 2 v ol u n t eer t r a in er s

w a s d iv id ed in t o t w o s id es ,

in or a l h y g ien e, 2 in h a n d

on e f or f ood s t h a t m a ke ou r

h y g ien e a n d 2 in res pir a -

t eet h h a ppy a n d t h e ot h er

t or y h y g ien e. Th e 135 kid s a t

f or f ood s t h a t m a ke ou r t eet h

t h e h om e w ere t h en d iv id ed

s a d . Th e g a m e w a s a g rea t

in t o 9 g rou ps of 15 ea ch

id ea a n d a s u cces s a s t h e

a n d a t t en d ed t o b y a cl u s t er

ch il d ren w ere ex cit ed a n d

O n S aturday the 1 3 th of

h el pin g ea ch ot h er g et t h e

J uly, we de parted to Mogr a

r ig h t a n s w er s .

C h i l d re n’s Ho m e with the g o al o f e duc ati ng children on

Th e res pir a t or y h y g ien e t r a in -

t h e im po rtanc e of hand, or al

in g w a s a ccom pl is h ed b y

In t h e end w e ga ve ea c h o f

and re spi rato ry hygiene and

u s in g a pl a ceb o in h a l er a n d

t h em a to o thb rus h, to o th-

ho w the y affe c t our health,

d em on s t r a t in g cor rect u s e

pa s t e, b a r o f s o a p , ha ndker-

as w e ll as e duc ating the

of it t o t h em , a f t er w h ich a

ch ief , bo dy lo ti o n a nd f o r

t ee n ag e bo ys and gir ls on

f ew of t h em a t t em pt ed t o d o

t h e ol der o nes , a na i l c utter.

re p roduc ti ve he alth.

t h e s a m e t o t h e ot h er s . For

Th ey w ere a ll ela ted a nd

of 6 t r a in er s . Th e t een a g e

h a n d h y g ien e, w e s h ow ed

l ef t w ith b i g s mi les o n thei r

To w atc h o ur lo cal off icer

g ir l s a n d b oy s w ere t r a in ed

t h e ch il d ren h ow t o ca r r y

f a ces . A numb er o f p a rtners

C a rol Wam bui ru n towar ds

on S ex u a l a n d Reprod u ct iv e

ou t a t h rou g h h a n d w a s h in g

w ere invo lved i n the s uc c es s -

t h e chi ldre n, e mb r ace them

H ea l t h b y R E S P E KT. Du r in g t h e

proces s a n d f in a l l y g ot a l l of

f u l ex ec uti o n o f thi s event:

and li ft o ne up in the air

t r a in in g , t h e ch il d ren s a t in a

t h em t o w a s h a n d s cr u b t h eir

S C O P H , Keny a Pa edi a tri c

m ad e us fe e l ri ght at home.

circl e, w h ere t h ey in t rod u ced

h a n d s w it h s oa p a n d w a t er,

A s s ociati o n, Keny a Medi c a l

H e r bo ndi ng wi th them and

t h em s el v es b y t el l in g t r a in er s

A s s ociati o n, U ni lever, T he

lo si ng he rse lf i n their little

shor t sk i t fo r t h e m , s a n g

c re a t e a w a re n e s s o f t h e

t h eir n a m es , w h ich cl a s s t h ey

U n iv er si ty o f Na i ro b i f a c ulty

wo r l d bro ug ht a sense of

nur ser y rh y m e s a n d d a n c e d

i m p o rt a n c e o f h a n d h y g ien e

a re in a n d w h a t t h ey l ike.

m em b ers , RE S P E KT a nd

war mth and lo ve even b ef ore

mer r ily s o a s t o bo n d w i t h

a n d h o w i t a ffe c t s t h eir

M os t s a id t h ey l iked d a n cin g

H eroes f o r Cha nge, w ho c o l-

we be g an o ur agenda f or the

the chil d re n a n d g e t t h e m

health.

a n d s in g in g a n d ev en s a n g a

l ect iv el y s p o ns o red a nd s up -

d ay.

to b e co m fo rt a bl e a ro u n d

l in e or t w o.

por t ed thi s o utrea c h p ro gra m

us. The s k i t p o rt ra ye d w a y s

Ea c h v o l u n t e e r i n t ro d u ced

We b e g an o ur day b y gather-

in which c h i l d re n fa l l s i c k ,

themselves and it got the

For or a l h y g ien e, w e s h ow ed

m a ke an even b i gger i mp a c t

i ng a ll the c hi ldren together

such as by n o t w a s h i n g t h e i r

c h i l d re n v e ry h a p p y t o h ea r

t h em h ow t o b r u s h t h eir

in f u t u re w i thi n the c o mmu-

i n a hall and per f or med a

hands a ft e r v i s i t i n g t h e

some unique names and

t eet h proper l y. We a ch iev ed

w h ich t h ey w ere ex cit ed t o

n it ies w e li ve i n, w i th a ll the

washroo m . T h i s w a s d o n e t o

s o m e fa m i l i a r n a m e s th ey

t h is b y d em on s t r a t in g t o

d o.

s t a m in a w i thi n o urs elves !

in v a r io us w a y s . We ho p e to

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

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REKORD | AUGUST 2019

a g rea t ex per ien ce in t er a ct -

EV E N TS AN D UP D AT E S

in g w it h ea ch a n d ev er y on e of t h em , b u t I h a v e t o s a y,

african pharmaceutical symposium 2019

t h e m os t m em or a b l e m om en t w a s w h en t h e Rom a n ia n s g ot ev er y on e d a n cin g - Ion u t a n d M el a w ere a l w a y s a s ou rce of joy.

B i d i a n O k o t h Ot i e no Key t o t h e d is cu s s ion s w a s t h e rol e of ph a r m a cis t s a s key s t a keh ol d er s in t h e U n iv er s a l H ea l t h ca re con v ers a t ion a n d t h e n eed t o m a in s t rea m t h e prof es s ion a l y ou t h b od ies in t h e g l ob a l a g en d a a n d d ecis ion m a kin g . M y pers on a l v iew t o t h es e d is cu s s ion s is t h a t t h e ph a r m a cis t s , ju s t l ike t h e d oct or s , n u r s es , n u t r it ion is t s , pu b l ic h ea l t h a n d cl in ica l off icer s a re key a n d cr u cia l pil l a r s of h ea l t h ca re s y s t em s . It is on l y b y t h eir in t eg r a t ion t h a t a pa t ien t ca n receiv e t h e h ig h es t a t t a in a b l e h ea l t h s er v ice. Th eref ore, it is im por t a n t t o in cl u d e ea ch of I w a s de li g hte d to b e invited

Muthoni , S a ra M o h e y El d e e n

Ph e l o a n d T h u t o ) , t h e

t h em a s key s t a keh ol d er s t o

as a trai ne r i n t his year ’s

and you rs t ru l y ) . M y fo c u s

Gh a n a i a n s a n d N i g e ri a n s w h o

t h e U H C 2030 C on v er s a t ion .

8t h Afri c an Pharmaceutical

was on a d v o c a c y.

c o u l d n ’t s t o p fi g h t i n g ov er

S y m po si um ( AfPS2 0 1 9 )

J o l l o f ri c e (N i i Ofo l i An a n g

It w a s s u ch a pl ea s u re rep-

L eade rshi p i n Tr aining (LIT)

Af ter ward s , I a t t e n d e d

“ I s a a c ”, Pri s c i l l a , B ru ce, Ya w

res en t in g R E S P E KT in s u ch a

f rom 18th to 20th July 2 0 1 9

the main s y m p o s i u m fro m

v s I w e n d i Go d s g i ft , Gra ce

m a g ica l ev en t

i n K a m pala, Ug a nda. The

2 1 st to 2 6 t h J u l y 2 0 1 9 i n

Ad e ba y o r a n d N e s o ) , t h e

t r ai ni ng bro ug ht together

Enteb b e, U g a n d a w h e re I

Zi m ba bw e a n d a n c e m a s t er

y oung le ade rs from across

ser ved a s t h e m a s t e r o f c e r-

Ta p i w a , a re m a rk a bl y v is ion -

t h e co nti ne nt who were

emony fo r t h e 6 d a y s e ri e s

a ry C o n g o l e s e , Pa s c a l , t h e

t r ai ne d o n di ffe rent asp ects

of addre s s e s , t ra i n i n g s a n d

g ra c e fu l U g a n d a n s l i k e Mercy,

i n l eade rshi p by a team of 5

adventu re . I m e t t h e re l e n t -

An g e l a , J a m m i ra h , K a k a n d e

t r ai ne rs ( Ms. Pur ity Wamb ui,

less, vib ra n t a n d e v e r e n e r-

a n d t h e h i g h l y re s o u rc e-

K e n n e dy Odo k o n yero, Lilian

getic So u t h Afri c a n s (N t a n d o ,

fu l Fe l i x a n d B re be u f… It w a s

9

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

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REKORD | AUGUST 2019

ME E T TE AM R E S P E K T

BARBARA NYAGA: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT TEAM

I a m t rem en d ou s l y g r a t ef u l

t ea ch in g t h e t een s in t h e

t h e C od e o f Co nduc t Revi ew

f or t h e l ea d er s h ip a n d g u id -

s ch ool v is it s . Th is is a ct u -

Tea m . My a p p li c a ti o n f o r thi s

a n ce t h ey h a v e prov id ed a s

a l l y t h e s ou rce of in s pir a -

w en t t h ro ugh a nd I a m ho n-

ou r a d v is or s a n d t h eir con -

t ion f or t h e ‘ S C O R A R E P R O

ou red to b e w o rki ng w i th

t in u ed en cou r a g em en t a s

H E A LTH S E R IE S ’ in it ia t iv e

L a u r a La luc a t the I FMSA

w e s u g g es t ed n ew id ea s on

on W h a t s a pp – it a l l ow s

S C O R A G enera l A s s i s ta nt.

h ow t o m a ke t h e cu r r icu -

m e t o cov er a l l t h e a s pect s

l u m m ore a ccom m od a t in g t o

of s ex u a l a n d reprod u c-

C DT h a s mo ulded me a s a

M y nam e i s Barb ar a Nyaga, a

minded. He a l s o h a s a g re a t

i s a v e ry t ru s t w o rt h y p er s on

a l l . In a d d it ion t o t h a t , t h e

t iv e h ea l t h t h a t I h a d b een

l ea d er a nd ha s rea lly c o ntri b -

f our th ye ar m e d ical student

sense of h u m o r, n o t j u s t

a n d I a m g ra t e fu l fo r th e f a ct

v a r iou s s u cces s es t h a t t h ey

u n a b l e t o in cl u d e in m y pl a n

u t ed t ow a rds my evo luti o n a s

f rom Eg e rto n Un iver sity who

b ecause h e s t a l k s m y s t a -

t h a t s h e i s i n m y l i fe .

b ot h ea r n ed in ot h er l ea d er-

of a ct ion in S C O R A . F in a l l y,

a per s o n. I ha ve a ls o i nter-

i s a n ac ti v e R ESPEKT vol-

tuses on Wh a t s a p p , bu t

unt ee r and m e mb er of the

b ecause h e m a k e s a l l o u r

N o e l l e M u ru n g a i s a n ot h er

C u r r ic ulum D e v elop ment

online me e t i n g s i n t e re s t i n g .

be a u t i fu l s o u l fro m s c h ool

CDT has mould e d me as a le ad e r and has re ally cont ribut e d t oward s my e v olu ti o n as a pe rson. I hav e also int e ract e d wit h w o nderful pe ople who hav e mad e me a better hum an be ing

w h o I ’v e g ro w n c l o s e t o on l y

Team ( CD T) i n the Wor king G roup. I o ffi c i all y joined on

Fiona Wa m bu i i s a n o t h e r

a ft e r j o i n i n g C D T. Ap a r t f rom

18t h Fe bruary, 2 0 1 9 , and in

new f r ien d I ’v e m a d e . I s t i l l

h e r o u t g o i n g c h a ra c t e r a n d

as muc h as I ’ d b een eager to

remembe r t h a t t h e fi rs t t i m e

h e r k i n d n e s s , I a d m i re h er

j o i n, I hadn’t re a lized how

we intera c t e d w a s w h e n s h e

fa i t h i n Go d a n d h o w s h e

m uc h m y li fe would change.

gave me h e r p h o n e t o k e e p

c a rri e s o u t h e r w o rk b ot h

T h i s i s, i n part, thanks to my

f or her a t o u r t e a m bu i l d -

i n a n d o u t o f t h e C D T. S h e

s h ip pos t s , s u ch a s f ou n d -

b ein g a ccept ed in t o t h e

a ct ed wi th w o nderf ul p eo p le

wo nde rful te am memb er s:

ing hike a t Ol o l o s u k u a n –

a l w a y s ra d i a t e s p o s i t i v e

in g of KE H H S f or M a r ie C l a ire

C DT h el ped b u il d m y con f i-

w h o h ave ma de me a b etter

since th e n t h e fri e n d s h i p h a s

e n e rg y, k e e p s t h e Wh a t s a pp

a n d pion eer in g of P roject

d en ce in a ppl y in g f or ot h er

h u m a n b ei ng. Pers o na lly, I

B r i a n Abe ri i s the f un

b lossome d . Wh e n e v e r I ’v e

g ro u p l i v e l y a n d h a s a cer t a in

L ou d a n d C l ea r b y S h eil a ,

oppor t u n it ies a n d I l a t er

d on ’t regret a s i ngle s ec o nd

am az i ng le ade r whose lively

f elt like I ’m l a g g i n g i n m y

go0getter attitude that I truly

h a v e in s pired m e t o t h r iv e a s

on a ppl ied t o b e in on e of

b ein g pa rt o f the Curri c ulum

c h a r ac te r bri ng s lif e to the

resp ons i bi l i t i e s , s h e ’s be e n

a d m i re . I a l s o re a l l y l ov e

a l ea d er in w h a t ev er pos t s I

t h e S m a l l Wor kin g G rou ps of

Dev el op ment Tea m; I c o unt

t eam . He ’s v e ry or ganised

the f ir s t p e rs o n I ’v e t e x t e d

h o w s h e ba l a n c e s h e r s ch ool

m a y h a v e, t o b e s t ron g ev en

IF MS A S C O R A a s a m em b er of

t h is a s o ne o f the b les s i ngs

and syste m ati c , and moti-

just to c o n fi rm t h a t I ’m n o t

l i fe a n d h e r e x t ra c u rr icu l a r

w h en f a ced w it h oppos it ion

v at es e ac h and ever y one of

alone. I h a v e l e a rn t t h a t s h e

a c t i v i t i e s a n d t h e k e e n in t er-

a n d t o a l w a y s a im a t h el pin g

e s t s h e t a k e s o n t h e c u r ren t

peopl e ev en w h en I f a ce

p u bl i c h e a l t h c h a l l e n g es , a n d

a d v er s it y a s a l ea d er. Th ey

t h e p a s s i o n a n d d i l i g e n ce s h e

h a v e m a d e a h u g e im pa ct

c a rri e s e a c h a n d e v e ry on e of

on m y l if e a s a C DT m em b er

her duties, challenges me to

a n d a l ea d er in ot h er S R H R

be a be t t e r p e rs o n .

pl a t f or m s .

I a l s o c a n n o t fa i l t o m en t ion

O n a per s on a l l ev el , t h e C DT

o u r a d v i s o rs , w h o w e re a l s o

h a s h el ped m e d ev el op cr it -

t h e p i o n e e rs o f t h e p roject :

ica l t h in kin g in a rea s of

S h e i l a K i ro n g o t h i a n d Ma r ie-

reprod u ct iv e h ea l t h I h a v e

C l a i re Wa n g a ri . Al t h o u g h I

ig n ored in m y w or k a s a L oca l

h a v e n ’t p e rs o n a l l y m et t h em ,

O ff icer in S C O R A . I h a v e a l s o

us t o be c re ati ve and op en

b ecom e m ore eff ect iv e w h il e

11

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

12

RE Spe a k e r s : P O E T RY

take me back

/ in w h ich a ff ect ion s a re in s t il l ed in u s b y d in t of h a ppen s t a n ce ( b y red s ca r d a n iel )

A mal A li in w h ich , a l s o, w e d o w it h l ov e w h a t b rea k d a n cer s d o w it h l im b s : m ot h er s h ere h a w k t h eir in n ocen ce t il l s u n d ow n f or u s t o s u r v iv e. h ow in b l a ckm a il s t r a y f a t h er s com e Ta ke m e bac k to when ever ything was t o t a l l y d i ffe re n t .

W h e n the wo rl d was at its p eak and h u m a n s w e re s i g n i fi c a n t .

a n d s ip n ect a r a n d m ol a s s es b ef ore l ea v in g

B e fo re the re volution and the evolutio n .

l ike it ’s s w a g g er, l ike it ’s pil g r im a g e. w h a t a

B e fo re m ate ri a lism took our p osition.

w on d er it w ou l d b e

Ta ke m e bac k to when WE mattered.

if t h es e s is t er s w it h kin ky h a ir w ere n ot on

Ta ke m e bac k to when f r iends were yo u r re a l fri e n d s . N o t yo u r fo l l o w e rs .

cu e: pot - b el l ied u n cl es

To whe n we all didn’t live lies and ha d t o p re t e n d .

To W he n we didn’t gr aduate with degre e s o f d e c e p t i o n ..

l on g prom is ed t h em com pl et en es s in ex ch a n g e

Ta ke m e bac k to when we loved our se l v e s ! An d I d o n ’t m e a n i t i n a s e l fi s h w a y.

f or u n d er g a r m en t s a n d pl a s t ic pa r a d is e, a n d

Ta ke m e bac k to when p eop le’s op inion d i d n ’t m a t t e r.

who

B e fo re the numb er of “doub le tap s” ma d e y o u fe e l s p e c i a l .

w ere t h ey n ot t o pl a y b a l l ? is it n ot ob v iou s

To whe n yo u could b e your self and not be j u d g e d .

To whe n we help ed p eop le in need wi t h o u t t a k i n g a p i c t u re o f i t

h ow ou r b oy s t oo h a v e b een t a u g h t t o t a ke

To whe n we saved lives instead of p os t i n g t h e t ra g i c d e a t h e v e n t s .

pr id e in ped d l in g pen is es ? h ol y m u ck, t h e s ig h t of preg n a n t n u n s h ere

Ta ke m e bac k p lease.

w il l g reet y ou l ike h a l l el u ja h a s s t a u n ch

Ta ke m e bac k to the lif e of ease.

b is h ops

Ta ke m e bac k to when your b eauty wa s n ’t a l w a y s o n t h e o u t s i d e .

Ta ke m e bac k to when kindness wasn ’t c o n s i d e re d a w e a k n e s s .

s od om ize t ot s . ou r s is t w is t ed l ov e d is h ed in t or ren t s

Ta ke m e away f rom all this negativity.

l ike t h e s pit t l e of s ix t een g h os t s t h a t s w a b ou r s ou l s . in w h ich w e l ov e b eca u s e it ’s h ow t o pa s s t im e.

A s a m atte r o f f act, Ta ke m e bac k to simp licity.

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

14

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

RE Spe a k e r s : O P I N I O N A RT I C L E

impassive patients’ advocate Pa t r i c k A n g i l a

S

a m a zin g t h a t s om e d oct or s

s ig n if ica n t l y im pa ct ed on t h e

E ku r u Auko t’s T hi rdw a y

ev en t h in k t h eir ow n U n ion

M w a n a n ch i. Th e s t or y of Dr.

A l l ia n ce’s p ro p o s a l, a nd

b os s es a re pol it ickin g w it h

A n g u ch e A m u kob ol e, H ea d of

y ou ’ l l b e a ma z ed.

m a t t er s h ea l t h . M ed ica l

P u l m on a r y C r it ica l C a re U n it in

s ch ool s h a v e con s t a n t l y pro-

S a x on y A n h a l t , G er m a n y con -

Ken y a ns ma rvel a t the

d u ced d oct or s w h os e ch ief

t ex t u a l izes t h es e pa in s . A s a

Wa m l a mb ez s o ng, b ut c a n’t

f ocu s is l im it ed t o t h eir con -

d oct or in Ken y a , h e repor t -

en g a g e o n key i s s ues . We’re

s u l t a t ion room s a n d w a r d s .

ed l y w a t ch ed a 19- y ea r ol d

t oo d ee p ly i mmers ed i nto

Th is n a r r a t iv e ca n ch a n g e.

g ir l d y in g a f t er a com pl ica t ed

m ed ioc ri ty !

d el iv er y, b eca u s e h e h a d a o m uc h i s going on

Doct or s a n d t h e U n ion , ju s t

d ia g n os is w it h n o equ ipm en t

C a n ’t do c to rs f i ght f o r the

aro und an d within

a b ou t 2010, l a r g el y ig n ored

t o m a n a g e h is pa t ien t . H e l ef t

h ea l t h o f thei r p a ti ents w i th

‘ Me di c i ne ’ as a career,

t o rea d t h e propos ed con s t i-

Ken y a f or pr a ct ice a b roa d .

pol icies, o uts i de the c o ns ul-

b o t h i nsi de and b eyond the

t u t ion t h a t d ev ol v ed h ea l t h -

Recen t l y, G er m a n y cel eb r a t ed

t a t ion ro o ms a nd w a rds ?

K enyan bo rde rs. Under stand

ca re, w h ich is s u ch a cr it i-

h is a m a zin g m ed ica l s kil l s .

t hi s as yo u m ay, b ut ulti-

ca l s y s t em . Tod a y, w e h a v e

Bin g o t o h im !

mat ely, c o m e now, let’s

s een d oct or s a n d cou n t ies

reaso n to g e the r!

en g a g in g in pu s h a n d pu l l -

Ju s t h ow m a n y of ou r d oct or s

s ch ool s ha ve la rgely no t

s reg a r d in g em pl oy m en t pol i-

w il l t h is n a t ion l os e, b ef ore

s h ow n a ny def i a nc e to the

U n f or t u na tely, medi c a l s tud en t s go i ng thro ugh medi c a l

T ho ug hts and o pinions are

cies , a l l ow a n ces , equ ipm en t ,

n or m s es ta b li s hed b y thei r

mo re ‘ m o no pso nized’ than

a n d pos t - g r a d u a t e s t u d ies

s en ior s . A lo t ha ve f ully

mo no po li z e d, hence I take

a m on g ot h er is s u es . S ee h ow

b ecom e o ri ented to thi s

t he li be rty to share my

t h e a pa t h y a n d in d iff eren ce

s a m e l ine o f tho ught. S ho uld

t ho ug hts wi tho u t ex p ec-

d oct or s d is pl a y ed h a s cos t ed

Ken y a ns b e ho p ef ul? We ho p e

t at i ons o f e ndo rsement or

t h is n a t ion ? Kir in y a g a C ou n t y

t h in g s s p i n a lo ng a di ff erent

s u p po rt, but ye t invite you to

d oct or s w ere t ea r g a s s ed

t a n g en t.

t hi nk alo ng wi th me.

w h en t h ey s ou g h t t o s ee

I f ee l c o nc e rne d ab out

t h eir g ov er n or. H os pit a l s w ere

W h ere i s thi s na ti o n hea di ng

cl os ed . Pa t ien t s s u ff ered .

w it h a pa theti c do c to rs , w ho en joy i ns ta nt c o nveni enc e,

h ealthc are i n K e nya. Who is

we, the c i t i z e n s , h a v e a ro l e

a l o t a t w o rk , bu t a ren ’t

O n e m a y t h in k it ’s t oo f a r

respo nsi ble fo r the p erceived

to p lay i n t h e be t t e rm e n t

t h e s e a d d i t i o n a l re s pon s ib il -

f rom t h em , u n t il it g et s rea l l y

t h e rem a in in g on es ca n

a n d d isrega rd ma tters o uts i de

( o r the ac tual) mess that’s

of our h e a l t h c a re s y s t e m s .

i t i e s p a rt o f t h e i r res pon s i-

cl os e, a s in d eed is a l rea d y

d rop t h eir a ppa ren t in d iff er-

t h eir co ns ulta ti o n ro o ms a nd

repo rte dly all o ver ? A lot of

That’s u n d e n i a bl e . Al l o w

bi l i t i e s ? I n t h e e l e c t ion eer in g

h a ppen in g t o a l ot of g r a d u -

en ce a n d en g a g e t h e n a t ion

wards?

t i m e s, and ri g htly so, the

me ex tra p o l a t e t h i s s a m e

s e a s o n s , w e ’v e a l l s een pol it -

a t e d oct or s . H a d d oct or s rea d

on m a t t er s t h a t b en ef it t h e

go v e rnm e nt o f th e day takes

though t . D o n ’t d o c t o rs i n t h i s

i c a l l e a d e rs e n g a g e t ea ch er s

a n d g iv en t h eir in pu t d u r in g

h ea l t h ca re in t h is n a t ion ?

M a n y tha nks to KMP DU f o r

chunk s o f the bl ame. These

country h a v e a d d i t i o n a l ro l e s

a c t i v e l y, s e e k i n g t h e ir s u ppor t

t h e con s t it u t ion a l rev iew, a

Is it a s u r pr is e t h a t t h e

t h e n ew s tra tegi es . I t s ha ll

go v e rnm e nts are however the

in this re g a rd ? I t h i n k t h e y

a n d o p i n i o n s . Aft e rw a r d s ,

l ot of t h es e prob l em s cou l d

P u n g u za Mzig o Ref eren d u m

b e d on e. T ha nks to Mo mb a s a

p ro d uc ts o f c i ti zens waking

do.

t e a c h e rs ’ c o n c e rn s h ol d

h a v e b een s ol v ed b ef ore t h e

h a s n o propos ed ch a n g es

C ou n t y f o r c o mp li a nc e to

w a t e rs . N e v e r h a s t h is h a p-

n ew con s t it u t ion a l d is pen s a -

in cl a u s es t a r g et in g h ea l t h -

a g reements .

t ion in 2010.

ca re? Is n ’t h ea l t h ca re in Ken y a

u p t o que ue and casting their v ot es di li g e ntly. It’s a sur-

In man y w a ys , d o c t o rs m a n -

p e n e d w i t h t h e d o c t or s of t h is

p r i s e we all c o mp lain af ter-

if est th e g re a t e s t i n d i ffe r-

n a t i o n . T h e y h a v e s eem in g l y

w a r ds, and so perennially,

ence tow a rd s m a t t e rs o u t s i d e

d e v e l o p e d a n a p a t h et ic a t t i-

E v en a f t er, Ken y a s u ff er s

f in d in g ou t w h a t d oct or s g en -

t hat i t’s be c o m e a nor m and

healthc a re . N o o n e d e n i e s

t u d e a bo u t a l o t o f is s u es ;

m ore b r a in d r a in , w h ich h a s

er a l l y t h in k a b ou t t h e Dr.

a m antra fo r m any. Clear ly

the f ac t t h a t d o c t o rs s t ra i n

i n t h i s c a s e , p o l i t i c s . It ’s

in n eed of u r g en t h el p? Tr y

15

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

16

REKORD | AUGUST 2019

She now

RE Spe a k e r s : A RT I C L E

unspoken truths Annie Agutu

understood why she’d been feeling nauseated by the slightest smells, why that morning

T he pai n wre tc hed through

that it w a s d e fi n i t e l y t o o

S h e w a s n o w bl e e d i n g pro-

h er bo dy, c ausi n g her to clasp

ear ly f or h i m .

fu s e l y. Wh a t k i n d o f p er iod t h i s w a s , s h e d i d n ’t un d er-

t he be d she e ts s o tight that h er hands fe lt nu mb . This

She wis h e d M u m w a s a ro u n d

s t a n d , u n t i l s h e l o o k e d d ow n

w a s the thi rd ti me and she

to talk h e r t h ro u g h i t a n d

a n d i n t o t h e bo w l w a s t h e

d i d n ’t unde rstand what was

remind h e r e v e ryt h i n g w o u l d

ro u g h fe a t u re s o f a t i n y

go i ng o n wi th her b ody- af ter

b e okay, j u s t l i k e s h e u s e d

ba re l y fo rm e d h u m a n .

a l l , i t j ust started as a mild

to, b ut s h e w a s g o n e . On e

s t o m ac h ac he , progressing to

day tho u g h , t h e y w o u l d be

cr a mps that we re a b it too

together a g a i n …

muc h and no w th is unb eara b le pai n

she’d barely held her breakfast in her stomach s t il l pou red a n d t h e f ea t u res

h e g ot of h er repea t in g h ow

R a pe in rela ti o ns hi p s ha p -

An d fo r a bri e f s e c o n d s h e

s t il l rem a in ed b l u r r y b ef ore

m u ch h e l ov ed h er.

pen ed a nd unw a nted p reg-

fe l t h e r h e a rt s t o p a n d h er

h er. A n d piece b y piece t h e

bre a t h i n g h i t c h

pict u re b eca m e cl ea rer.

n a n cies o c c urred f ro m unp ro S h e’ d h a d en ou g h , t h a t w a s

t ect ed s ex.

n ot t h e kin d of rel a t ion -

More wis h fu l t h i n k i n g – t h e thing sh e ’d re s o rt e d t o .

S he tri e d all so rts of distr ac-

S h e n ow u n d er s t ood w h y

s h ip s h e w a s w or t h y of . Bu t

s h e’ d b een f eel in g n a u s e-

s h e d id n ’t rea l ize s h e w ou l d

t i o ns: m usi c , sleep , even f ood

She let o u t a w h i m p e r a s

a t ed b y t h e s l ig h t es t s m el l s ,

f a ce con s equ en ces l ike t h is .

Th es e w ere the uns p o ken

- b ut no thi ng help ed.

another w a v e o f p a i n a l m o s t

w h y t h a t m or n in g s h e’ d

H a d n ’t s h e res is t ed s a y in g n o

t r u t h s i n her li f e

S he lo o k e d aro und the dar k

knocked t h e c o n s c i o u s -

b a rel y h el d h er b rea kf a s t

a n d t r y in g t o pu s h h im off ?

roo m he lple ssly, the silence

ness ou t o f h e r. S h e s t u m -

in h er s t om a ch . A n d s h e

of t h e ho use hau nting her.

b led to t h e w a s h ro o m a n d

s ob b ed ev en h a r d er w h en s h e

Bu t h e s a id h e h a d ex per i-

Wo uld she di e li ke this, alone

sat on t h e t o i l e t s e a t . S w e a t

rem em b er h ow s h e w a l ked

en ce a n d kn ew w h en t o s t op.

i n t h e ti ny ho use?

streame d d o w n h e r fa c e ,

a w a y f rom h er b oy f r ien d

and tears , t o o , s h e p re -

t h ree m on t h s a g o w h en h e’ d

Th e t h ou g h t of u s in g prot ec-

S he c o unte d the seconds

sumed fro m t h e s a l t y t a s t e

t a ken it t oo f a r.

t ion t o h er h a d s eem ed l ike

w a i t i ng fo r he r father to

in her mo u t h . T h i s w a s p a i n

ret u r n.

like she ’d n e v e r fe l t be fo re

F l a s h b a cks of t h a t d a y

B u t it was j ust wishf ul think-

she was a l m o s t p o s i t i v e i t

ca u s in g h a v oc in h er m in d a s

i n g, she k ne w v er y well he

would b e t h e e n d o f h e r.

s h e’ d t ol d h im t o s t op b u t

H e’ d s a id h e l ov ed h er a n d

S h e c o u l d n ’t be l i e v e i t. H ow ?

h e h a d y a n ked h er h a ir a n d

w ou l d res pect h er w is h es ,

Wh e n ?

cl os ed h er m ou t h t el l in g h er

b u t h e’ d ju s t g ot t en ca r r ied

s h e w a s u ps et t in g h im .

a w a y h e d id n ’t m ea n h a r m .

S h e’ d f el t v il e a n d d ir t y a s

Bu t w h a t w a s it t h ey s a id ?

w a s sti ll at hi s p r ime dr ink-

con s en t in g t o s ex b u t s h e

i n g s pre e and would only b e

The p ain re c u rre d i n

t um bli ng ho m e ear ly the nex t

doub led s e v e ri t y a n d s h e

mo r n i ng . He r wa tch told her

p ushed w i t h i t , t h e n h e a rd a

S h e l e t o u t d e e p s o bs s t il l

t hat i t was o nly 1 1 :0 0 p m,

loud spl a s h

i n d i s be l i e f bu t t h e bl ood

d id n ’t w a n t t o d o it a t a l l .