Wednesday, June 1, 2011
At 30 years of age, Helekwa Yierat is a lucky man. Coming from the hunger-stricken Turkana community in northwest Kenya, his lined face tells of a hard life, and he looks much older than his 30 years.
Closely examining Helekwa’s body, it tells of a savage incident three years ago. Cattle rustling is rampant in his community, 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 escaped death’s cold hand thanks to the kindness of a missionary who took him to nearby Kijabe Hospital for treatment.
As is so often the case, history repeated itself…
Late in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 31, a call came through to the AMREF Flying Doctors 24 Hour Control Centre requesting for emergency assistance. A nurse from Ileret Dispensary in Turkana was on the other end of the line - an indication that this call would not be to exchange pleasantries, given the type of medical emergencies commonly experienced in this area, but would be an urgent request for 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 Ileret Dispensary’s capacity to deliver.
A man had come to the clinic with abdominal distension, possibly caused by an intestinal obstruction. Intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency caused by obstruction of the bowel and more often than not, a condition that requires 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, June 1, at 0600hrs, rather than celebrating Madaraka Day - 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. After a brief by night nurse Mercy Lekoyiet, they loaded the aircraft and departed from Wilson Airport at 0700hrs.
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. Further examinations also revealed a mass at the epigastrium (upper central region of the abdomen).
The nurse from the dispensary provided AMREF’s crew with additional information and revealed that the patient had not taken any solids for over a month. The patient was quickly connected to various monitors, given IV fluids, oxygen and analgesics. By 1000hrs, the AMREF team was airborne and heading to Wamba Mission Hospital. The hospital continues to graciously accept AMREF’s Charity Evacuation cases.
With poor communication networks in the area, it was impossible for the AMREF crew to relay a detailed medical report and estimated time of arrival (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 Yierat was placed under the care of 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’s status:
“At 30, he has kept a small family, unlike men his age with more than one wife and a host of children. But as the nurse at Ileret explained, the effects of the brutal attack 3 years ago had left him weak and thus unable to fend for a larger family. This would explains the one wife and one child family!”
At 1255hrs, the crew landed at Wilson Airport, another patient safely delivered into expert medical care. Helekwa Yierat was given yet another lease 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 Kenyan’s 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
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