Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Saying Goodbye to Amanda Brookes




Amanda Brookes left Kenya for the UK this week. Here are some pictures from her with the Arrow Web Hospital staff being presented with a certificate of appreciation after a month of volunteer work. We will miss you Amanda! Thank you for all you did for us!


Visiting Lake Nakuru




Volunteers at Arrow Web Hospital also have the opportunity to travel and experience other parts of Kenya. These are pictures of Amanda's visit to Lake Nakuru.


Amanda Meets the Children of Kayole-Soweto





The children of Kayole-Soweto were excited to have another new person to play with following the departure of Dr. John Gilbert. Here are some pictures of the children outside the hospital playing with Arrow Web Hospital volunteer Amanda Brookes from the UK.



Volunteering at Arrow Web Hospital



Arrow Web Hospital staff said fairwell to our second internationally based medical volunteer this week, but before Amanda Brookes departed for the UK, she agreed to answer some questions about her volunteer experience over the past month. If you are a medical professional interested in volunteering with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Amanda, we thank you for your work and appreciate the kindness that you demonstrated to the people of Kayole-Soweto and your willingness to share your experience with others.

1. What is your name of your organization or group that assigned you to volunteer at Arrow Web Hospital?

I did not organize this through a organization or group, but myself. I found the website through searching the internet and emailed the hospital directly.

2. What are you trying to achieve by donating your time to Arrow Web Hospital?

I wanted to gain experience of how healthcare works in a different country, to practice my medicine, and to feel that I am helping people in the community.

3. Why is this important to you and the community of Kayole-Soweto?

It is important for me to feel that I am contributing to the community here, and to improve my medicine. I know that the children in Kayole Soweto have enjoyed playing with me outside the hospital, and I hope that I have made a contribution to the treatment of some of the adults that have visited the hospital too!

4. How long have you been volunteering for Arrow Web Hospital?

A month. I would have liked to stay for longer though!

5. What was the motivating factor that led you to Arrow Web Hospital?

I wanted to be part of a large hospital which was making a positive contribution to the community, where I could meet lots of patients, and see lots of different diseases and procedures. When I came to look around Arrow, I found that it fulfilled all these criteria, and also that there was a really friendly atmosphere in the hospital, so I immediately felt at home there.

6. Tell us something about a key person/founder behind your decision to enter the medical field?

My father had a brain tumour when I was young, and consequently I spent a lot of time in hospitals and caring for him for 3 years. I think this is when I became interested in medicine, when I noticed how important the doctors and nurses that treated him were, both to him and to us.

7. Is there anything unique to how you are doing things? What’s your approach?

I don’t know if there is anything unique about how I am doing things. My approach is to try to be friendly with the patient and build a good relationship with them, and keep them as informed as possible.

8. Describe any highs and or lows your experience personally or the organization as a whole in day to day encounters with patient?

Personally, I often found it hard to communicate with the patients because problems with the language. I would have liked to have known more Swahilli, and not have had to rely on English. Also, as I still have 3 years of medicine left before I qualify, I have sometimes felt that I did not know enough medicine to be able to contribute to treating the patients as much as I would have liked. However, this also contributes to my high – I had never seen anyone deliver a baby before, and it was very satisfying to see a mother give birth for the first time!

9. Tell us a key frustration working in your field?

How the patients wait until they are very ill to visit the doctor, because they fear the cost of the treatment, and how they often struggle to get the money they need for the drugs, despite them being extremely cheap.

10. How can you advice other volunteers who want to give they time to volunteer at Arrow Web Hospital?

I would advise them to definitely do it! They should contact the hospital directly to try and arrange the dates of the placement. The hospital has been very helpful towards me in helping with accommodation, transport, and even assisting me to arrange trips to other parts of Kenya, so there is no need to go through an agency.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

A visitor from Sweden

Tom Liber, from the company Cellavision, based on Sweden, has been in Kenya for the past 3 weeks. He came across Arrow Web Hospital via a Google search and contacted Bramuel to come for a visit. Tom is in Kenya doing work in the area of blood hematology, specifically in relation to Malaria.

Tom was able to facilitate assistance for Arrow Web Hospital from Baby DM, another company based in Sweden. Bramuel was recently contacted and informed that a donation in support of the hospital was on the way. Arrow Web Hospital is extremely grateful for this kind donation and the international support they have received in the last several months.

A Good-Bye Party for Dr. John Gilbert



After 6 weeks of volunteering side-by-side the Arrow Web Hospital medical staff, Dr. John Gilbert is heading home to the UK.

Dr. John Gilbert now holds the distinction of being Arrow Web Hospital's very first internationally based medical volunteer. We are truly grateful for his dedication, care and the empathy he demonstrated toward the people of Kayole-Soweto during his time at the hospital.

Dr. Gilbert was honored with a small party hosted by the Arrow Web Hospital staff and presented with a plaque in appreciation of his hard work. We will miss him and welcome him back to Arrow Web Hospital at any time!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Welcome Amanda Brookes from Imperial College in London!!




Amanda Brookes, a second year medical student from Imperial College in London, has arrived in Kenya and was welcomed by the Arrow Web Hospital staff on Friday, 7/31/09, to begin a 4-week medical elective.

Bramuel and the rest of the hospital staff are very excited to be able to welcome a new medical professional for an extended visit to work side by side the Arrow Web medical team. Amanda is the 2nd internationally based medical volunteer to visit the hospital.

We look forward to providing updates on Amanda's work with the hospital throughout the next month.