Lake Atitlan
Guatemala

General Description

A group of approximately 30 participants consisting of volunteer students from Colorado and Utah, USA, Rocky Vista University campuses, along with Licensed Healthcare Providers and Community Volunteers will represent the Hands for Health Foundation and RVUCOM traveling to Kenya. Once again, we will be providing primary health care to people living in Kajiado County, near the town of Kimana, just north of the Tanzania border and Mt. Kilimanjaro. This will be the 8th trip since 2014. Everyone participating pays their own way, and the Hands for Health fee includes room and board, ground transport in Kenya, all medications and supplies, all government and Park fees, Preceptor licensing fees, translator fees, etc.

The trip is sponsored by the Hands for Health Foundation in Colorado, in conjunction with Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. This Medical Outreach event is credited as a M3/4 Clinical Elective International Externship at RVUCOM. The trip is coordinated and directed by RVU Professor, Hands for Health Foundation President and Vice President of Kilimanjaro Mission Hospital, Camille Bentley DO, MPH, FACOFP. Dr. Cherie Glazner will serve as the daily on-site Medical Director, and RVU Faculty Dr. Mark Wardle, the daily onsite Logistics and Student Director.

The outreach portion of this trip will arrive to Nairobi Kenya for the night of Jan 7th and return home to the United States on Jan 31st, in time for the students to switch over to another externship. They will spend their days in Kenya involved in a variety of activities, culminating in providing health care to many who are not able to leave their homes and villages. Any additional time spent traveling before or after these dates will be independent of the trip.

We are guests of Kilimanjaro Mission Hospital, which just opened its doors in March of 2021. This hospital was the dream of Dr. Scott Smith (KMH President) and Heidi Smith, RN who have traveled to this area in the past and seeing the need for health care to the Maasai peoples living there. With the opening of KMH, all the volunteers of this trip will be able to spend some time working with the staff of the hospital as one of their activities.

Samantha Shackleton, President of the local Entepesi Foundation, is the local health care worker that establishes and sets up the actual daily work sites for us. The main focus of this trip is for the volunteers to work out in the field, providing health care to those too far away, or who cannot travel to the hospital. We also hope to provide vaccines and continue with deworming of the children in the area.

While Nairobi, participants may have some free time to visit one of the nearby animal orphanages or visit the KASURI Bead Faculty. There will be a set time for MANDATORY orientation meetings of both the students and HCPs while there as well. After departure from Nairobi on Feb 9th the group will be stopping for final provisions for the approximate 20 day stay at Kibo Slopes Cottages, and the approx. 5 hours road trip by bus from Nairobi. Everyone will have one additional day to further acclimate to the 11-hour change in time from Colorado to Kenya. Kibo Slopes cottages is our home during our stay in Kenya, with a full breakfast and dinner daily during our stay. The hotel workers take great care of us, as they find out quickly that they are also a part of our team.

The first full day (January 10th) is MANDATORY for all participants and is devoted to a work and cultural orientation, meet and greet with the local volunteers that would be with us for the next 3 weeks. In the afternoon, all the meds and supplies are to be organized and packed for the workdays. This will take the full day as it has been proven to be very beneficial in establishing protocols, student and preceptor expectations, interpreter roles etc. for the workdays. If necessary, additional protocols will be in place if there are any illness threatening pandemics occurring at the time of the trip. These protocols will be announced prior to departure.

The group will work for 13 days, traveling to 13 different villages. We are expected to provide care for approximately 1600 patients, not including those cared for while at the hospital. Travel times by bus will vary from 60 minutes to 1.5 hours each way.

Most sites will not have any electricity, running water or bathrooms. Conditions are quite austere, working by sunlight. Days may be very hot, in the low 90’s, and dusty. Everyone will be expected to carry their own food and water and to set up tents to work in. We will provide a well-stocked pharmacy and lab from site to site daily. We plan to have portable Ultrasound and EKG this year each day. Students will be provided tables to perform OMM on their patients. Students will take care of their own patients from beginning to the end. Students will be asked to rotate through the nursing/lab and pharmacy areas daily. A schedule will be set up the first day, so everyone knows when and where they are expected to be, in advance. We will also employ approximately 20 local people, mostly health care workers, to act as interpreters for the group and cover the cost of their lunch and bus transportation. Almost every day in the bush involves a set up and breakdown of tents, which usually could be accomplished in less than 30 minutes due to the great cooperation of ALL the volunteers. 98% of the patients are Maasai, living in and around Amboseli National Park, so most traveling on work days allows for some safari time.

While demonstrating professionalism, respect and enthusiasm, students can practice and hone the following skills:

Taking an appropriate History and performing a Physical Exam
Excellent Patient rapport and Cultural sensitivity
Ability to work with a translator
Ability to work as part of a team
Performance of OPP
Perform minor procedures such as: wound care, injections, I and D abscesses, debride burns
Prescribe and deliver culturally appropriate medications
Formal Presentation of each and every case
Discussion of differentials, assessment and plans with their preceptors
Maintain and complete a log of the patients and procedures

At the end of the month, Most members of the group will venture to Ole Tukai Safari Lodge in Amboselli National Park. Here they will rest for 2-3 days, before leaving for home. This part of the trip is very expensive and therefor Optional, as this 5 Star hotel caters to the wealthier clients traveling in Kenya. There is also a fee for staying in the park, in addition to the hotel costs. However, it is a well needed break from the everyday work that has been completed, and a great opportunity to go on safari in the park to see all the animals. Highly recommended if you wish to experience a true Kenyan Safari.

Other aspects of the trip including Housekeeping, Campaigns and Research Opportunities:

Travel Files

RVUCOM will maintain a travel file on all participants. The contents may vary between students and Community Providers and volunteers.

Info will be provided

Beans for Bomas” Campaign (Ongoing every year)

Community Volunteer Keven Meyer from the Hands for Health Foundation and our transport coordinator Anthony Mwaura usually head up a project of buying, bagging and providing maize and beans to the families living in the Bomas. Adequate Food supply is always an issue in this area. IF you are interested in learning more about this or donating for the food, contact Dr. Bentley directly.

Feminine Hygiene Products Supply 2023 Campaign

RVUCOM M3 students, Students TBD working with Christine Njihia in Kenya plan to bring FHPs for the girls in need living in this area. If you are interested in learning more about this or to donate, contact Dr. Bentley directly.

Monthly Prep ZOOM Meetings

Everyone participating in this trip will be expected to attend the monthly prep meetings which will provide further insight on what to expect on this trip. The first date to meet is tentatively scheduled for

Tuesday, July 17th at 7 PM MT. You will receive a ZOOM invite to join the meeting.

Research Opportunities

Anyone wishing to perform an IRB Approved research activity while in Kenya needs to provide all the necessary information and approvals for that research by November 30, 2023 to the trip Director Dr. Bentley and have full permission of all 23 Trip Directors to perform the research while there.

Supplies and Meds

This year the group will arrive with supply bags containing a scale, tape measures, automatic BP cuffs and thermometers, as well as a good supply of masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer and some OTC meds, not easily attainable in the area we will be working in. Everyone participating will be expected to carry one supply bag to Kenya.

ESTIMATED Trip Cost

Estimated at about $4800 for the entire month, inclusive of the optional stay at Ole Tukai. Multiple options will be made available as well as a payment plan and the refund policy stated.

Additional Foreseen Costs

All Round trip Flights to and from the US, souvenirs, lunch snacks and beverages (other than Water) are not included.

A Travel VISA, at a cost of $55.00, which must be obtained via the web and Purchased within 30 days of arrival in Kenya. The website for this will be provided at the correct time to purchase.
Cost of required vaccines if not already received: Hep A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus booster less than 5 Years and anything else the CDC determines is necessary prior to our departure. May or may not be covered by your Medical Insurance
Cost of Med evacuation Insurance (Est $50)
Cost of required Malaria Prophylaxis (ranges from $50- $300, depending on type received and length of time needed)
Physicians only: Required to get a temporary Kenyan Medical License to work there, at a cost of $200 each. These will be applied for as early as possible before arriving in Nairobi. The link for the paperwork will be provided.
Those traveling to Ole Tukai Safari Lodge at the end of the trip for a few days: Additional Cost estimated at approx. $1500. This includes room and full board, Park Fees, Cost of bus and driver for transport to and from the Park, to Nairobi upon Checkout, and 4 animal safari tours while in Amboselli.

Final Notes

There is a group size limited by the hotel beds and bus seats available for this trip. Therefore there are only 18 student slots for the entire trip and up to 10 Community Volunteers for the remaining slots, at any one time. Dr Bentley will set up a first come first serve list for everyone, then a wait list will follow.

If you are still interested and planning on being a member of this KENYA 2024 Team:

Please contact Dr. Bentley as soon as possible. More info will be provided early July, and be sure to make the first meeting on July 17th, to review everything to get this team moving ahead!!!

Kenya Medical Outreach and Clinical Externship 2024