Over three days, David Uttley and I travelled with the BethanyKids mobile clinic team from Kijabe to Narok, Kisii, and Kaplong. These clinics primarily serve to catch early progression of spina bifida and hydrocephalus and provide on-site analysis of children with these conditions. Patients are then referred to the nearest hospital with an in-house neurosurgeon for surgery and additional treatment. The mobile clinic team targets rural areas so in many cases, AIC Kijabe Hospital is the closest option. For some, Kijabe is still several hours away meaning that many families are unable to afford the travel cost that will grant their child access to life-changing surgery.
To relieve families of this burden, BethanyKids visits patients’ homes to conduct evaluations, provides food for their families, and pays for the surgery in full.
Below is a collection of images showcasing the incredible work that the BethanyKids mobile clinic team performs nearly every week.