Most of the time, we have been ignoring the home grounds, thinking they are near the hospital and that patients can access the facility anytime, but we were wrong. We saw about 150 patients today.
James Orodi, Clinical Officer.
It has been an early Valentine’s to the residents of Baringo county who came to Eldama Ravine sub-county to partake in the Meet and Treat Outreach program by Mercy Mission Hospital Eldama Ravine.
The program took place at the Eldama Ravine Show Ground on February 9, 2023, the month of love.
It hosted a very rare group of people who were already camped at the site as early as 7 am to have their clean bill of health from the hospital.
The members of the public were only required to pay a paltry KSh 100.
Mercy Mission Hospital, which Scholar Media Africa had highlighted recently, is located in Eldama Ravine Town opposite Mercy Girls High School.
It is a private medical facility that has since given medical services to thousands of people from Baringo county and beyond.
Mercy Mission Hospital has been in operation for over 50 years since its inception by the Sisters of Mercy.
The facility is trusted by patients from all walks of life and enjoys the trust it has always embraced through its faith-based mission, vision, and values.
Mercy Hospital, as most locals refer to it, started its service to meet and treat the locals who had all sorts of medical needs, attending to them free of charge.
They also acquired advice from the medical experts.
On taking their weight, the nutritionist advised them on what to do regarding what they were eating and its affordability.
The doctor’s queue was the next one, and depending on the patient’s issue, the doctor would refer some to the laboratory or the dentist, who was also around with his medical tools.
The Mercy Mission ambulance served as a pharmacy and injection room, allowing each patient their privacy, just like in the hospital facility.
Mercy Mission Hospital, under the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, and with Fr. Francis Mugo as its Administrator has for ages been embraced by the community for such initiatives that have had residents with no hope depending on when the following outreach would be.
The number of female patients was higher than that of male patients, and the number of lactating mothers was also higher than those with young children.
Although it was a school day, many parents prioritized the Meet and Treat at 100 Kenyan shillings over having their children needing treatment go to school that day.
Most of them streamed in in the afternoon and had their kids treated.
Some passersby who inquired about what the Meet and Treat Outreach was all about also called their partners or relatives to alert them about it.
Others sought the 100 Kenyan shillings and got treated.
“The situation is really worrying,” says Sister Pauline Mumbua, who was at the registration desk.
“Some of the patients have really serious issues but cannot afford the one hundred shillings we are asking for, so we have had to serve some in kind for their sake and also for the sake of the young ones they are carrying.
This shows the level of poverty that also contributes to chronic illnesses; I’m glad we came here today to serve and help the community,” she added.
The Dental tent had a long queue with patients ranging from young children under 15 years to older women and a few men.
The most heart-wrecking situations were when the doctor could not proceed with treatment until some patients’ sugar levels were checked because they appeared to be suffering from malnutrition and could not be subjected to some crucial testing until they were stable.
A woman narrated to The Scholar about when they woke up and how far they had trekked to be in the queue, alerting us about a woman she had left limping but on her way to the Meet and Treat Outreach.
The Meet and Treat Outreach has exposed the dilapidated state of the living standards of Baringo residents.
The gap between the haves and have-nots is way wider, and the latter are suffering, and so are their offspring.
Malnutrition is real in the region.
While some have opted to take the booze to keep their worries off for the day, their lactating spouses suffer with the burden of providing for and keeping the children healthy.
Though the situation was not way too bad, some middle and the elite also showed up to embrace the campaign and were glad the Mercy Mission Hospital was doing it.
They stated the need to have as many programs as possible funded in order to be completely free and reach even more people and elevate the health poverty in our society.
The Mercy Mission Hospital staff took time to have their breaks swiftly, with some doctors coming voluntarily to the field to lend a helping hand to their colleagues.
The exercise ended late in the evening as the organizers had to add more time to ensure everyone was served.
Towards the tail end of the exercise, when many manual laborers came seeking treatment, with some saying they had about the Meet and Treat Outreach but could not get time off work.
According to the Clinical Officer in charge of the Meet and Treat Outreach by Mercy Mission Hospital, James Orodi, “… this has been a successful outreach.
Most of the time, we have been ignoring the home ground, thinking they are near the hospital and that patients can access the facility anytime, but we were wrong. We saw about 150 patients today.”
CO Orodi, who served the patients with Dr. Singoei all through the day, added that “I saw issues ranging from general Mild illnesses to more complicated issues and had to refer some to the hospital, and the process will be continued by use of their NHIF cards.
Dental extractions were about 30.
Equally, several of the patients are suffering from malnutrition, and especially some are underweight while some are overweight.”
The hospital also treated respiratory issues, including pneumonia and common cold.
The Hospital looks forward to having a Meet and Treat Outreach every month in different areas to ensure there is no assumption of good health while the people suffer.
The next Meet and Treat Outreach is scheduled to happen in `Kampi ya Moto` at the Mogotio-Eldama Ravine Junction, with more details to be communicated later.
The Hospital has said that it has also taken key points from the just concluded exercise and is looking forward to making the exercise smooth in the future.
In that spirit, Mercy Mission Hospital has also organized at the climax of all these scheduled outreaches in the facility.
It will be known as an `In reach` where all the facility’s clients will have a health day at the facility, tour, and have all their inquiries put to rest.
This is slotted for the end of the year, two days shy of Christmas, that is, December 23, 2023.
By keeping society fit and in check, the facility has its medical programming in line to ensure patients with terminal illnesses are up and healthy.
This includes Diabetes Day, every last Friday of the month, where all patients meet and encourage each other on their diet and newly acquired lifestyles.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Why Mercy Mission Hospital is Baringo’s most-trusted healthcare facility
The Mercy Mission Hospital, which is a level 4 hospital, uses all types of Medical Insurance cards, including Linda Mama for expectant women and NHIF.
Mercy has been equipped to handle all kinds of emergencies and medical complications, with its referrals only being made to Moi Teaching and Referal Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret and Provincial General Hospital (PGH) in Nakuru, in accordance with the Ministry of Health Directives.
