Students of Medicine on a Mission to Kenya












            ******************************************************************************************

            *
            ******************************************************************************************


            Earlier this year, already the third group of students of the Charles University 1st Facul
            headed out to do their internships in Itibo, Kenya, accompanied by Dr. Jarmila Klieščiková
            Faculty of Medicine's Department of Tropical Medicine, and Dr. Šárka Karlová, a stomatolog

            In the course of the five-week stay, the students examined walk-in patients and took part 
            procedures, as well as prenatal and postnatal care.


            The project was co-founded by the Department of Tropical Medicine and the humanitarian org
            First students came to Kenya last year, this year's participants were Tomáš Mrvka, Petra B

            Gálová, Tomáš Dědič a Michal Beneš.

            A small health centre in Southwest Kenya was built and funded by ADRA and allowed students

            physicians to get work experience. Due to spatial limitations, only five students can part
            “There is a huge demand, and therefore we prefer more experienced students, who can alread
            own and do not need constant observation. Another requirement is taking a course in tropic

            so that they have some idea of what they can encounter in Kenya”, says Jarmila Klieščiková
            available to students of all faculties of medicine in Prague, not only the 1st Faculty of 


            Planning the journey
            Part of the costs is funded by the Charles University's mobility fund, about half of it ha
            by students themselves, because there are no projects supporting this kind of activity, du

            that most funding support programmes only apply in EU countries. Before leaving for Kenya,
            administered the required vaccination, including yellow fever, typhoid fever or hepatitis.
            they use antimalarics.


            24/7 Service
            The Itiba health centre services about 100,000 locals and also offers vaccination. “Patien

            fee as well as the price of the drugs. The fees and prices are, however, lower than in hos
            Dr. František Stejskal from the Department of Tropical Medicine, who participated in the p
            of internships. In the center, a nurse, a medical officer and two lab technicians are avai

            Elizabeth also works as a midwife. Childbirths were among the most vivid experiences. Duri
            healthy children and one baby girl with cleft spinal cord were delivered.


            Students rotated on four different posts. One was assisting the Czech physician or stomato
            in a lab or in the walk-in room and the other two worked at the surgery room, where they t
            ranging from burns to acute abdominal pains. No way was this a holiday. The students had t

            work almost  24/7. Walk-in hours depended on the local religious traditions. “A catholic w
            church on Sunday and to see the doctor on Saturday, an adventist would do it the other way
            Stejskal says. Most days, the waiting room would only be full after workers were done with

            the field. “Tuesdays are reserved for prevention among young children and Thursdays serve 
            a pregnancy advice hours” notes Dr.  Klieščiková. Unfortunately, only a minority of future
            the centre.

            Safety first
            During the whole stay, the interns had to adhere to strict hygienic directions and ensure 
            “Each patient is treated as potentially HIV positive”, Petra Bolehovská explains. Students

            that any contact with needle, for example, has to be reported and post exposure prophylact
            applied. HIV is still a great taboo in the region and is not even discussed among relative
            had to be delivered confidentially, so that the information does not spread among the comm


            As a reward for a job well done, the students went on a two-day trip to a local national p


            Tomáš Dědič, Petra Bolehovská, MUDr. Jarmila Klieščiková a Tomáš Mrvka (left to right) sha
            experiences from Kenya


            Why did you decide to participate in the health care project in Kenya?

            Tomáš Mrvka, 5th year


            I have been interested in missions to developing countries for a while now and I found it 
            experience this kind of work while studying. To find out what it's like and whether it wou

            me. I was proved right. As soon as I get some experience after graduating, I want to head 
            Petra Bolehovská, 5th year
            I am interested in tropical medicine in general. I have always dreamed of going to Africa.

            want to join a Médecins Sans Fronti?res mission.

            Tomáš Dědič, 6th year


            I wanted to find out for myself, what working for a humanitarian organization is like. We 
            opportunity to work on unusual diagnoses. I'd also like to go somewhere with Médecins Sans

            because I believe it is something that matters.
            (Lucie Kettnerová)


            Translation: Jaroslav Švelch