Paediatric care at Itibo Health Centre in Kenya

Overview

The humanitarian aid project Itibo Mission Hospital has been providing care for patients in southwest Kenya for almost 17 years. Since its establishment by Czech paramedic Aleš Bárta, it has been continuously developing and, in addition to medical care, it also helps in educational activities. Preventive and curative care for paediatric patients here is of a very good standard, although conditions are often difficult. The most common diagnoses include infections, ranging from cosmopolitan (respiratory and gastrointestinal infections) to tropical diseases (malaria, typhoid fever). However, non-infectious diseases (asthma, diabetes mellitus and others) are also increasing. The article brings the experience of a Czech doctors with the paediatric care in Itibo, which in some aspects is similar and in others diametrically different from the work of a general practitioner or hospital paediatrician in the Czech Republic.

Keywords:

vaccination – Tropical diseases – Kenya – humanitarian project – Itibo