Kenya according to www.kenya-informationguide.com is a country rich in wildlife, culture, history, beauty, and is full of welcoming people. In terms of geography the diversity is truly awe inspiring i.e mountain peaks with snow caps, extensive forests, and vast wide open plains.

When I think about Kenya 2 things come to mind, the first - the long distance athletes who have dominated the major athletic competitions over the years, and the second - the Maasai.

Apart from Kenya producing great long distance athletes and being a popular tourist location, it is also a country where there are deep levels of poverty, and not so good health care services for majority of the 42 million inhabitants of the country.

The healthcare system in Narok County (home to the Maasai, and 8 hrs drive from Nairobi) is still developing, and in certain areas the resources to provide basic care are either insufficient or completely unavailable, and where available it comes at a relatively high cost. The key health challenges affecting the people in the county are : Hypertension, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, a lack of screening for pregnant women, and a lack of formal screening for cervical and breast cancer. More information on Narok County can be found here www.narok.go.ke .

To this end through my church (Jesus House) I have the privilege to join Action in Focus, a charity with operations in Kenya to deliver free medical care in one of the local communities in the county between 23rd February and 3rd March 2018. I will be one of the support staff in a team consisting of 11 clinicians, 10 support staff and 2 students. The team will carry out screening for pregnant women, testing for diabetes and hypertension, de-worming of children, and cervical and breast cancer screening.

Action in Focus believe that sincere practical love for our neighbours is a fundamental component of resolving the complex issues faced by all societies in the world. Based on this belief they operate by getting involved in the provision of care as best as they can with integrity, transparency, and a respect of the local culture, customs, and religions of the community they serve. Information on Action in Focus can be found through this link www.action-in-focus.org.

The motivation to go and serve as a helper within the healthcare team is driven first of all by being follower of Jesus, who through His life expressed love practically to the less privileged, and the second being an African who grew up in an environment where I didnt have access to the level of health care options (our awesome NHS,  and private care) I have today.

As the trip is a sponsored one, I would love for you to be part of it by helping me raise the £1,200 I require to cover the cost of my ticket, accommodation, and expenses (paying for medication, basic amenities and etc) that provide direct benefit to the people I would be meeting. No amount is too small, as according to Tesco "every little helps" :-). Thanks for taking the time to read this story, God bless you as you help me help my brothers and sisters in the Narok County.