We were also able to hold our quarterly Medical Camp here with doctors from the United States and this one was a special one! While our medical program sees more than 260 patients a Month there are still very many things we find ourselves limited in. The biggest hospital in Kenya, the one that offers the most affordable care to the most people, Kenyatta National Hospital only has 12 neurologists in its entire employ.
This is not however an unsurprising trend though unfortunately according to The Ministry of Health Survey of 2020 there are roughly 13,376 registered doctors meaning there are about 26 physicians for every 100,000 people. This is a country of 53 million people as opposed to the United States who has a population that is nearly 6 times as large at 338 million but a ratio of roughly 1 doctor to every 300 people. The right to health is enshrined in our constitution and guarantees that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. That is where we step in here at Ubuntu with our medical camps. To ensure that they are indeed getting the highest standard of care even if it's not what they would conventionally be able to afford.
While many who visit Kenya Marvel at how affordable health care can be even at world class institutions it is from a mindset of an American cost of living. The average Kenyan according to TIFA, whether in the formal sector (normal office jobs) or the informal sector(selling crops from your garden) earn roughly 22,000 thousand a month or 160 dollars a month. That means the average Kenyan earns just 6 dollars a day. That means you are always one medical expense away from abject poverty. This hits our patients even harder as they are Neuropatients meaning that the check ups are constant and the buying if medicine is constant meaning a huge financial burden for a family.
In collaboration with Pediatrix we were able to bring several doctors from the United States and possibly the highlight was Dr. Keough who completed her sixth mission trip in June when their team of volunteers, which also included two pediatricians and an electroencephalogram (EEG) technician, saw more than 300 patients in four days. For those who do not know what that is, an EEG is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp.
This can greatly increase the detectability of certain neuro conditions as well as help with the management of others. This was amazing for us here at Ubuntu because we were able to offer something people would often have to travel over 70 miles just to access and at an exorbitant rate. Travel also brings quite the hassle as we find that Epilepsy in the Neuro condition that is most prevalent in Kenya and the most common cause of Epilepsy is Cerebral Palsy which makes parents traveling with children suffering CP extremely difficult. This is due to the fact that our public transportation system has no accommodation whatsoever for the differently abled.
So it was our immense pleasure to offer affordable world class treatment in our patients' back door, and for that we are extremely grateful to our Heal Kenya Doctors for helping organize this medical camp with Pediatrix Doctors. Last but certainly not least you, our amazing donors for enabling us to offer such a service. Thanks to you and your contributions many many families do not have to choose between healthcare and food, thank you!!
