Journey to Rusinga

In 2006, as a third year medical student, I spent two amazing months in Kenya, on Lake Victoria. I have been blessed with the opportunity to return to this beautiful region for another month. I will be spending the majority of my time on the Rusinga Island, with an organization called KAGENO. I will also be "boating" over to a neighboring island, Mfangano (where I spent the majority of my previous trip) to work on Kageno's newest project.

In 2006, my trip was filled with emotional dichotomy. I went with Operation Crossroads Africa, an organization who sends students all over Africa for two months each summer to work with various projects. Our project involved health care and education in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya. This organization is well run, organized and planned an eye-opening adventure for the nine of us. However, the days spent in Lake Victoria often ended in frustration. Our daily mobile clinics to various Lake Victorian islands were worth while, however, it was difficult to leave. Knowing that when we departed in our little boat the island would be left without basic health care was quite frustrating, to say the least. However, what could we do?

The Island lacks the basic resources that we take for granted in the USA (electricity, PLUMBING, clean water, shelter, health care, parents, etc), nonetheless it is the most beautiful place I have ever been (and that's saying a lot, since I lived on a private beach in St Maarten for 2 years).

We came across an organization, Kageno, that was operating on a neighboring island, Rusinga. The organization had utilized local resources, enforced sustainable development, and created a community center that the local community could call their own. They worked with the community to build latrines for the island, plant trees, create a community center, bring clean water to the community, and provide health care to the surrounding communities. Over the past three years, Kageno has grown and I look forward to witnessing the improvements first hand. The clinic is now staffed with a medical professional, a VCT HIV counseling and testing center is located on the premise, and they started a school and library for local youths, many of whom were orphaned by the HIV epidemic. With sustainable development, education, proper sanitation, and health care, Kageno built a lasting community that is prepared to face the future.

Our time will be spent working on a Women's Preventative Health Initiative. We plan on hosting educational seminars, wellness clinics and working with the HIV testing center located at the Kageno site in Rusinga and Mfangano. Women of the region are particularily affected by the HIV epidemic. We will utilize resources Kageno has established to combat poverty in the area.  By focusing on the education of diseases affecting the region (HIV, parasitic diseases, malaria, typhoid), we hope to make a sustainable impact.

I depart on December 28, and will be on Rusinga Island just in time to ring in 2K10, with some Tusker Lager, fireside down by Lake Victoria.  Along with these treats, I will be watching the hippos run past, while the fishermen set out under the moonlight, guided by lanterns for a fishing run!  A colleague and good friend, Anjali Marwaha, will be accompanying me as well.

This journey is a bit of a homecoming for me. I made so many friends on my previous trip, that I look forward to many reunions. During my previous journey, some close friends and colleagues had kept a photo journal blog of our experiences. This blog inspired me to make my own. If you have the chance, please visit their blog, Operation Alma Ata, the link is located in the right hand column of my blog. You will also find a link to Kageno's website.