UK Volunteer Doctor Shares Joys And Trials Of Treating Nairobi Slum Patients At Arrow Hospital

Jackie ONeal July 20, 2009

Dr. John Gilbert, a volunteer from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, has been working with patients at Arrow Hospital www.arrowwebhospital.org in the The Kayole-Soweto community in Nairobi, Kenya, for the last six weeks. He hopes his medical background and skills will help improve the quality of health care for the patients he treats on a daily basis, and bring the hospital new ways of practicing medicine. "Bringing new ideas to the organization may hopefully also improve standards," he said.

The Kayole-Soweto slum region has been vulnerable to disease as a result of being used as an area to discard garbage, hence the spread of disease in the community. Malaria, Typhoid,
Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS- all pose major threats to the livelihood of the community as a whole.

According to World Bank report the incidence of economic poverty is very high in Nairobi’s slums. About 73 percent of the slum dwellers are poor-that is, they fall below the poverty line and live on less than the equivalent of 42 US dollars per adult equivalent per month, excluding rent. The World Bank report further noted the high rate of economic poverty i s accompanied by horrible living conditions and other forms of non-economic poverty.

Despite these conditions, Arrow Hospital recruits volunteer doctors like Dr. John Gilbert to help serve urgent health needs that plague the region. From HIV/AIDS to Malaria and other life-threatening infectious diseases, Arrow Hospital doctors work treat over 200 patients a week. Their mission is to improve pre-natal health care, reduce infant mortality, and to give the public access to quality health care and education.

Dr. John Gilbert was drawn to Arrow Hospital when he realized the hospital is community-based and gives immediate access to persons with who generally have poor health care. " I hope to treat disease, but also stop disease with appropriate counseling and advice. Arrow's ability to provide obstetric and pediatric care offers a good opportunity for me to directly relate to people most at risk," he said.

He describes one of the key frustrations as a volunteer doctor, is the paucity of funds to operate and equip the hospital to the national and international standard. He said it is often difficult for the community to raise the small amount of money charged at the hospital for care.

Typically, according to the World Bank report, slum residents have poor access to gainful employment. About 49 percent of adult have regular or casual jobs and 19 percent work in a household micro-enterprise. Overall, the community struggles with issues related to poverty.

When asked what is unique about his approach to treatment, Dr. Gilbert said he uses injections less frequently than his colleagues. "Using injections less often has created some unrest among the patients, and shows the difference between European and African medicine. But I also try to take a more holistic approach to medicine, and look at the patient as a whole before diagnosis and treatment," he said.

S.J. Bramuel, the hospital administrator and founder, said Arrow Hospital is struggling to meet the World Health Organization's standard, but lacks the proper equipment. He explained the organization urgently needs international partners ready to provide advice and resources.

When asked if he could have anyone in to help out, Dr. Gilbert said guest medical specialists would be beneficial. "Specialists from local hospital centers ready to do a free clinic in their specialty area would be a great help. For example, a surgeon to advise patients and make appropriate referrals, or a respiratory specialist to advise asthma patients," he said.

Dr. Gilbert experiences his share of highs and lows as a volunteer. "A certain patient who was suffering severely from malaria, responded very well to treatment, and was eligible for discharge and in good health the following day. But their have been a few downsides--my inability to pick up Kiswahili has been a hindrance, and having to modify, change treatment, or not order tests due to lack of funds by the patient. Not being able to deliver optimal care due to financial status took some getting used to," he said.

Tags: Jackie O'Neal , Arrow Hospital