When: July 27 - Aug 11, 2012
Who: Primary care physicians. general dentists, oral surgeons, hygienists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapist, logistic personnel (general helpers) and a pastor or two.
Status: Accepting Applications
Special Travel Announcement: Unless you are instructed by GHO or your team leader, do not book your own travel. Please email ghotravel@cmda.org prior to the ticket purchase if you want to use frequent flyer miles and/or want your number added to the ticket.
Project Fee: $1,950 plus International Airfare and $15 per hour for up to 14 hours CME/CDE (if applicable) Click here for more information on CME/CDE
Team Leader: Phil Aday, DDS
To read Dr. Aday's bio Click Here
Trip Details: Are you ready for a medical adventure with a distinctly Christian twist? Come join the 2012 GHO Kenya team. The team needs primary care physicians, general dentists, oral surgeons, hygienists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapist, logistic personnel (general helpers) and a pastor or two.
The team will fly directly to the African continent bypassing the several hour transfer/layover in Europe. The long distance Boeing 777 can transit the Atlantic and fly directly to Africa! Just a "short" 13-14 hour flight, but it really does cut the travel time by several hours.
The team will provide medical and dental care as a draw for people to hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During our time in Kenya we will see upwards of 2000 patients. What a joy to be able to offer them not only needed medical and dental care but introduce them to the Great Physician who can impact their lives for eternity! The first week we will minister in the rural town of Namanga in the Rift valley bordering Tanzania with majestic views of Mt. Kilamanjaro.
After the first week of ministry we will spend the weekend in Masai Mara where we will participate in a wonderful safari with photo opportunities on par with National Geographic.
Our second week of ministry will be in the slum of Dandora on the outskirts of Nairobi. We will be located in a school run by the Kenya Children's Fund. The students will be on break and we will utilize their classrooms as our treatment areas. During our second week we will be staying in the Presbyterian Guest House located in the heart of Nairobi. Our breakfast and dinner will be provided at the guest house. From a previous visit I can personally attest to the wonderful cuisine served up at this guest house. If you are not careful you will return from this mission trip having gained a few pounds.
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Country Information: Kenya is located on the equator in East Africa, just south of the Horn of Africa that juts out into the Indian Ocean. Kenya’s population of more than 30 million has suffered greatly in the past few years due to epidemics of malaria, cholera and AIDS and to a devastating East African drought that caused mass starvation across Kenya. As a result, over half of Kenya’s population is under the age of 15 years. Moreover, less than a quarter of Kenya’s land is arable. The inability of the land to support Kenya’s growing population is forcing people into cities in search of employment.
Nairobi is a modern city of more than 3 million people. Like the rest of the Africa, Nairobi is a place of contrasts. There are wealthy people in Nairobi, but they represent a very small percent of the population. Two out of three people in Nairobi live in slum areas. Most of those coming into the cities have limited education and vocational skills, and are only marginally employable, so they end up in slums like Dandora.
Dandora is situated about fifteen kilometers from the Nairobi City center in the Eastlands area. Eastlands comprise some of the most poverty stricken areas of Nairobi. Families live in homes made of sticks and mud, with no windows, water, electricity or sanitation. The roofs of the better homes are made of tin from flattened cans. Others are made of cardboard or sheets of dirty plastic. Six to eight people live in a room the size of an average American dining room. There is usually only one bed. Children sleep on gunny sacks on the ground. There is no money for proper nutrition or health care. Many children are forced to work long hours at hard, even dangerous jobs to help provide food for their families. The average daily income for a head of household can be anywhere from 20 to 50 Kenyan shillings…or in dollar terms, 15 to 35 cents per day.
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Other social issues affecting Kenyan society today include escalating crime and disease, including HIV/AIDS, which continues to ravage the country’s population, with the latter claiming more than 700 lives everyday. Additional issues include drugs and substance abuse, increasing numbers of street families and orphaned children, and rising numbers of elderly who are also unable to provide for themselves. These issues are compounded by the near breakdown of governmental services and community structures.
Vaccination Information: Wondering what immunizations you’ll need for the mission trip? Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control website.
To apply for this trip, Click Here.
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