I was working in Kibera which is the largest slum in Africa - it's 2.5 square kilometers in size and is home to an estimated 1 MILLION people of all ages. The majority of the people who live there have lived and will live there their entire lives. Some never actually leaving the village their entire lives. Kibera and its population is visible from many parts of Nairobi yet invisible to most as it's hard to know where to begin.
There is very little electricity and access to running water is extremely limited. Raw sewage and rotting garbage cover almost many surfaces. Dwellings measure about 10ft square and are home to 3-6 people. They are clustered together and 3 ft alleys snake between the tin covered mud huts. It is like a complicated maze that has no real beginning or end. Although there has been no formal assessment, it is estimated that 20% of the population is HIV+. It is for lack of a better word, chaotic. Yet amongst the chaos there is order and even a strong sense of community. It is a complete paradox - everywhere you go there are tangible feelings of desperation and sadness yet an even stronger sense of hope. All of the people I worked with in Kibera were dealing with the latter stages of AIDS and many also had TB and Hep. They were in deplorable circumstances yet they were hopeful and full of faith. I was part of a team that delivered food (beans, flour and fat) to HIV+ clients and their families and assessed their conditions. It was extremely trying because most of these people needed emergency medical care which was WAY beyond our abilities. They are in desperate need of medically trained volunteers - I can't even begin to describe some of the issues these people are living with invisible to the Kenyan government.
Although the Kenyan gov't provides ARV and TB meds free, it is a great challenge to actually locate a clinic that has them in stock. On top of that, the clinics will only dispense them to the actual patient. Getting to the clinic is almost impossible as most of the patients are bed ridden. You can imagine the situation for someone who is able to get themselves to the clinic only to be told that there are not enough meds in stock to give them. It truly is at best a trying (more like desperate) situation, yet these amazing people persist. If I ever doubted the abilities of faith and the resilience of the human spirit, I do not now. I loved the work I was doing and feel sad that I had to leave but know that there are many others who will continue advocating and fighting the good fight. I think I may have to get Bill Gates and Bono on the phone - Kibera desperately needs some of that money you are so successfully raising!!
Although the Kenyan gov't provides ARV and TB meds free, it is a great challenge to actually locate a clinic that has them in stock. On top of that, the clinics will only dispense them to the actual patient. Getting to the clinic is almost impossible as most of the patients are bed ridden. You can imagine the situation for someone who is able to get themselves to the clinic only to be told that there are not enough meds in stock to give them. It truly is at best a trying (more like desperate) situation, yet these amazing people persist. If I ever doubted the abilities of faith and the resilience of the human spirit, I do not now. I loved the work I was doing and feel sad that I had to leave but know that there are many others who will continue advocating and fighting the good fight. I think I may have to get Bill Gates and Bono on the phone - Kibera desperately needs some of that money you are so successfully raising!!
