Charity Evacuation Case Study
June 2011
Charity Evacuation Case Study
Ileret – Wamba, Kenya, Wednesday 1st June 2011
At 30years of age, Helekwa Yierat isa lucky man. Coming from the hunger-stricken Turkana community in northwest Kenya, his lined face and withered body tell of a hard life, and he looks years older than his actual age.
Closely examining Helekwa’s body, it tells of a savage incident three years ago. In his community cattle rustling is rampant, with many people risking life and limb to steal cattle. Three years ago, Helekwa narrowly escaped with his life when he was shot several times in the stomach and left for dead. He narrowly escaped death thanks to the kindness of a missionary who took him to nearby Kijabe Hospital for medical treatment and care.
As is so often the case, history repeated itself…
Late on Tuesday 31st May, a call came through to the AMREF Flying Doctors 24 Hour Control Centre requesting emergency assistance. A nurse from Ileret Dispensary was on the other end of the line- an indication that this call would not be to exchange pleasantries, but given the types of medical emergencies commonly experienced in this area, would be a clinician requesting urgent help. The nurse from Ileret Dispensary outlined the condition of the patient and it was clear that urgent and immediate care was required, beyond that of the Ileret Dispensary’s capacity to deliver.
A man had presented at the clinic with abdominal distension, possibly caused by intestinal obstruction. Intestinal obstruction is a medical emergencycaused by obstruction of the bowel and more often than not, a condition requiring surgery. The man was emaciated, dehydrated and very weak- he would not survive a torturous road transfer to the nearest hospital,over 300km away. His name - Helekwa Yierat.
In Nairobi, quick consultations between AMREF’s Controller, Coordinator and Medical Director resulted in approval to proceed with a Charity Evacuation.However, with Wilson Airport only operational by day and the call from Ileret coming too late in the afternoon, the rescue was delayed and take off was planned for early the next morning.
On Wednesday 1st June at 0600hrs, rather than celebrating Moi Day and self-rule in Kenya, AMREF’s Captain James Ngati, Dr. Holly Gettings and Flight Nurse Kizito Osundwa prepared for a life saving mission to Ileret. Briefed by night nurse Mercy Lekoyiet, they loaded the aircraft and at 0700hrs departedWilson Airport in Nairobi.
Touching down on the dusty airstrip in Ileret at 0930hrs, the team was met by a battered Land Rover with Helekwa Yierat in the back seat. A quick visual assessment and it was clear that the patient required expert medical and surgical treatment. Helekwa, despite putting on a brave face, was distressed, in severe pain, dehydrated, weak and barely audible when speaking. Further examinations also revealed a mass at the epigastrium.
The nurse from the Dispensary provided AMREF’s crew with additional information and revealed that the patient had not taken solids for over a month. The patient was quickly connected to various monitors, administered IV fluids, oxygen and analgesics. By 1000hrs the AMREF team was airborne and heading to Wamba. Wamba Mission Hospital continues to accept graciously AMREF’s Charity Evacuation cases, and this was another example of such a case.
With poor communication networks in the area, it was impossible for the AMREF crew to relay a detailed medical report and ETA back to the AMREF Control Centre in Nairobi. However, the Control Centre was carefully tracking the movements of the AMREF aircraft via satellite and in constant communication with the hospital in Wamba about the ETA of the aircraft.
At 1135hrs the AMREF aircraft touched down in Wamba and was met by the Sister in charge and her team. After a quick handover at the airstrip, Helekwa Yieratwas placed in the care of the Wamba Hospital staff who had a surgical team waiting to treat the suffering patient.
On the journey back to Nairobi, Flight Nurse Kizito reflected on the patient:
“At 30, he seemed to have tried to ‘embrace modernisation’ by keeping a small family, unlike men his age with more than 1 wife with a host of children. But as the nurse would explain, the effects of the brutal attack 3 years ago had left him weak and thus unable to fend for a larger family- this explains the 1 wife and 1 child!”
At 1255hrs, the crew landed back at Wilson Airport, another patient safely delivered into expert medical care. Helekwa Yierat was given yet another chance at life!
“Not only are we proud of what we have achieved on this day, but we are glad that we joined the country in celebrating 48 years of achievement as a nation in a very special way- we literally injected more life into a Kenyans day!”- Kizito Osundwa.
Flight Nurse:Kizito Osundwa
Flight Physician:Dr. Holly Gettings
Captain:Capt. James Ngati
Aircraft:5Y – FDC
TOTAL COST:US$ 6,480
------
About the Turkana
- The Turkana are a tribe based in northwest Kenya. They refer to themselves as Ngi Turkana. The Eastern Nilotic language of the Turkana is called Turkana or Ng’aturk(w)ana.
- The Turkana people are believed to be of Nilotic origin- from North Africa and across the Red Sea. The Turkana are predominantly nomadic pastoralists.
- According to the 2009 census, the Turkana number close to one million, or 2.5% of the Kenyan population. This information is unreliable at best due to the difficulty in counting the population- many believe there are far fewer than officially cited.
- Fighting between the Turkana and the Daasanach or Merille people (from southern Ethiopia) is common. Fighting stems from local conflicts, but also reflects broader inter-ethnic conflict resulting from food scarcity, persistent drought, and the lifestyle alterations that borders have forced upon nomadic groups. The frequency of conflicts puts pressure on and creates tensions between states, in this case Kenya and Ethiopia.
1