Following in the footsteps of the legendary Florence Nightingale, nursing students take free health care to a needy and neglected community
Students of AMREF’s Virtual Nursing School (AVNS) held a Health Action Day Camp at the Jam City slum in Athi River on Friday, February 12, 2010.
The event, held at the grounds of the Amrita Children’s Centre in Athi River, is part of the training programme for nurses enrolled at the AVNS, and is geared towards equipping them with skills in community health care, a key component of in their professional practice. The primary purpose of the camp is to help individuals and the community to develop knowledge, skills and motivation to take charge of their own health.
The day’s activities included screening and treatment for diseases, family planning services, cervical cancer screening, immunisation for children under five years and expectant mothers, nutritional counselling, health education and environmental clean-up. Complex cases will be referred to hospital. This day would not be possible without the generous contribution and funding from The Nation Media Group whose staff participated as volunteers for the medical camp.
AMREF’s Virtual School has been training nurses through eLearning, a revolutionary method that uses computer and mobile technology to upgrade the skills of nurses while they are still working. Since its inception in March 2007, AVNS students have emerged the best countrywide in the two state registration and licensing examination that they sat for.
