Mission Aviation Fellowship transported a team to Lodwar to carry out medical checkups on young children suffering from disabilities and physical conditions.
Story by Hillim Gitonga
Samuel Ekai, a 5-year-old boy from northern Kenya’s Turkana County, was born with club feet.
Thankfully for Samuel, his condition hasn’t stopped him from going to school. However, in areas like Lodwar, children born with disabilities often face stigma and are at times hidden at home, rarely interacting with the community.
Joseph Moru, Samuel’s father said, ‘‘It was my first time hearing about CURE, and we decided to bring Samuel so that he can be checked and hopefully treated.”
CURE is an organisation providing life-changing surgery and Christ-centered care to children worldwide living with treatable disabilities. They partnered with Missions of Hope and MAF to conduct a one-day mobile clinic in Lodwar, where a total of 80 patients were seen. The activities of the day included screening, physiotherapy and spiritual ministry. Most of the cases that were being treated included bowed legs, clubfoot, cleft lip, knock knees and untreated trauma.
Alice Akuuta’s son, Ratian Lokusi, a 6-month-old baby, was born with a swollen hump above his nose.
‘‘I heard about CURE from a friend and decided to visit the mobile clinic today,” Alice said. “I hope that the doctors can examine Ratian and be able to remove the hump from his face.”
This mobile clinic was not just about treating the sick. CURE also provided spiritual ministry, led by Linzer Nyadimo, the chaplain from the CURE spiritual team. A total of 61 people met with the team and heard about the Good News.
‘‘Most of the people living in the remote areas often go to church but don’t have a personal relationship with God,” said Linzer, who is based in Kijabe. “I usually have a one-to-one talk with them and encourage them to have a relationship with God.”
For a community like this, seeing so many people come to faith brought a quiet kind of joy. It was a reminder that God was at work in ways that lifted hearts and renewed hope.
Joost de Wit was the MAF pilot who flew the team to Lodwar and back.
It is always amazing to fly out here and see what the team does. A trip that would take almost a day by road took us only 2 hours and when we got here, the team started seeing patients.
Although no surgeries were conducted, screening meant that cases like Samuel’s could be properly referred to CURE’s main hospital in Kijabe. Patients with minor cases were invited for a follow-up consultation when the team returns next year.
The doctors worked without a single break until the last patient was seen, a testament to their dedication.
The busy day ended on a hopeful note, showing how the partnership between MAF and CURE continues to open doors for children to get the care they need.
