Women and children in this area die from treatable and preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, TB and diarrhoea, combined with malnutrition. Nutritional status research conducted in Kamea women, infants and children in 2015 showed a high prevalence of chronic malnutrition and anaemia, including the moderate status of iodine deficiency. Furthermore, the study found inadequate dietary diversity and food security among the community. Most Kamea women deliver their babies in the “bush” and do not have access to proper antenatal and child health services. Reliable data on maternal and infant mortality rates are lacking. The local hospital is an old mission hospital that had its glory days some 30 years ago. Since then it has been in serious decline and is without a resident doctor. It now functions as a major health clinic with one health extension officer, one registered nurse and eight community health workers. The hospital/clinic has 30 beds and provides daily an outpatient clinic and a regular antenatal clinic and under-five clinic.
The buildings are in disarray; rely on rainwater to meet the drinking and hygiene needs of patients and staff, with one adequate pit toilet and no electricity. The hospital is very poorly resourced. A great challenge is the supply chain of medicines and vaccines; everything has to be ordered through a complicated bureaucratic system and eventually flown in by small plane. There is an absence of Internet and intermittent mobile phone reception. No surprise that the supply chain often breaks down.
Help us to raise funds to build a new hospital to meet the basic health needs of the Kamea.