Kakuma Refugee Camp Holistic Support

This month, a delegation of US doctors travelled to Kakuma Refugee Camp with IsraAID, to take part in our ongoing medical program in the camp. The delegation was led by two California-based pediatricians & instructors from Stanford University School of Medicine, who were joined by Israeli colleagues.

Kakuma’s two hospitals and six clinics, operated by the International Rescue Committee and Kakuma Mission Hospital, serve an estimated 300,000 people from both refugee and host communities. Kakuma Refugee Camp is home to more than 185,000 refugees from countries across the region, including South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in addition to a host community from the Turkana ethnic group. Nearly 60% of Kakuma’s refugee population is under the age of 18.

The visiting physicians treated patients in the refugee camp’s hospitals and clinics. Together, the medical facilities are staffed permanently by a maximum of six doctors, all general practitioners, at any one time. The US doctors also delivered training sessions in pediatrics for Kakuma’s medical staff. Improving the capability of the camp’s medical staff to treat specialized cases is vital to ensuring that lifesaving care can reach both refugee and Turkana communities.

Major health issues affecting Kakuma’s residents vary, and have recently included malaria, lung infections, tuberculosis, HIV, malnutrition and cholera. By providing up-to-date training in pediatrics, the visiting physicians helped make a real difference to the long-term prospects of Kakuma’s children.

Sabrina, one of the visiting pediatricians, said:

“Above all, I hope that the refugees of Kakuma, as well as the staff caring for them, will feel that the world cares about them.”

Mercy, a doctor at the IRC General Hospital in Kakuma, said:

"We're so happy to have you here. It's so helpful for me, it's so hard to do rounds alone every day. This has given me much a morale boost. It's so challenging here. I so appreciate having a sounding board. It's amazing to sit with other doctors, who are specialists, and make a patient plan."

Thank you for your support! More updates from Kakuma to follow …

Links:

• Coverage of the mission in Israel21C