MAF pilot Daniel Loewen-Rudgers provided transportation to a team of medical doctors from AIC CURE International children’s Hospital Kijabe for a 2-day free mobile clinic in remote areas of Lodwar and Lokichar in northern Kenya.
Salome, a mother of an eight-year-old boy named Given Sikuku, radiates joy despite the numerous health challenges her son faces. She is also a teacher at a local school in Lodwar.
Given's journey has been marked by several surgeries on his back and feet since his birth in 2015. His conditions include scoliosis, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and club feet, which necessitate the use of crutches to walk. His dream is to be a pilot one day.
Given now walks with crutches… it is my wish to see Given support himself and walk like other children.
Over time, Given's health has been challenging, and months ago he had a chronic wound on his right foot and an ulcer, but he has now healed, and his feet now show no signs of wounds. However, the scoliosis in his spine persists, causing him fatigue and affecting his posture when he is seated.
Prior to the introduction of the CURE mobile clinics using MAF flights to the region, Salome endured extensive long hours of travel on the road from Lodwar to Kijabe, towards Kenya’s capital, a journey of approximately twelve hours or more each way all in the pursuit of her son’s treatment. Her dedication knows no bounds, despite financial constraints that occasionally led to missed appointments.
Thanks to MAF's support in transporting doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists to these areas, children who are suffering can receive specialized care and treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
She says, “I am happy for the start of the CURE mobile clinics which have significantly reduced travel costs by bringing medical doctors’ closer home. Now, attending clinics is no longer a financial burden, and it also allows for consistent care and monitoring of Given's progress.”
Salome's initial doubts about Given's ability to walk have been dispelled.
She says, “Thanks to the assistance of doctors at Kijabe, Given now walks with crutches… it is my wish to see Given support himself and walk like other children.”
Having witnessed her son’s progress, Salome extends her support to the members of her community urging families with children living with similar challenges to come forward and get them help. She acknowledges the existing stigma surrounding disabilities in the community, a mindset she hopes to change through education.
Gratitude fills Salome's heart as she expresses prayers for the medical professionals who tirelessly serve their community.
She says, “We pray for the doctors for God to give them wisdom, courage, and good health so that they can continue supporting us.”
During the Lodwar clinic, Given was fitted with supportive footwear, with plans in motion for him to visit a neurosurgeon at Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH), which specializes in spina bifida and hydrocephalus. This stands as a testament to Salome's unwavering commitment to her son's care and well-being.
Dr Joseph Theuri, an orthopaedic surgeon with CURE present at the clinic and one who examined Given said that he was set to see a neurosurgeon (BKKH), where they will carry out two X-rays of his spine to assess the alignment and condition of the spine from both front to back providing essential information to tailor the next steps of treatment according to his specific needs.
Faith Susan, Country Director of MAF Kenya, emphasised the vital role of MAF flights in transporting medical teams to remote areas.
She says, “CURE is dedicated to caring for children with orthopaedic disabilities or illnesses in remote locations where access to healthcare is limited.
“Thanks to MAF's support in transporting doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists to these areas, children who are suffering can receive specialized care and treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them. This collaboration ensures that these vulnerable children receive the critical assistance they urgently need.”
Daniel Kimeu, Mobile Clinic and Outreach Officer at CURE, expressed his appreciation for the partnership with MAF.