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
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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
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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
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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 .