Background: The health system of Kenya provides as 1st step theCommunity Unit(CU), first aid points spread over the territory, run byvolunteers, but as partial payment. 2°step the Dispensaries andHealth Center run by qualified nurses to a first triage. Hospital care isdivided in Government of Kenya Hospital, who provide obstetric, pri-mary care services and laboratory analysis, and District Hospitals inwhich converge specializations.Methods:We bring the experience of the CU, at the Takaye Primaryschool (Malindi-Ken) run by PolePoleOnlus. Working at the clinical,Kenyan nurses and, for a few months, Italian physicians (internists inmost cases). Access to clinic is for students and teachers(about 2000students from3 to18 years). Such a structure responds to urgent health needs, support is provided for wounds, minor trauma, counsel-ing and health education for students, teachers and parents.Conclusions:Integration between local staff and Italian physicians al-lows mutual training, with passage of new knowledge and the approach-ing to culture, essential to establish a relationship of trust and respect between doctor and patient/tribal-culture. Good knowledge of English isn’t enough for communication because most of the population speak only local dialect. Shortages of resources and health care system paidpartially, introduce pertinence criteria of diagnostic and therapeuticchoice, often neglected in Italy, like tight control of health spending. Inthis situation it is even more necessary for the physician to rely on clin-ical reasoning and not the simple diagnostic tools:
W. Capeci, E.A.M. (2013). Importance of internal medicine training in management of a first aid point in developing countries:our experience in Kenya. Pagepress [10.4081/itjm.2013.s2].
Importance of internal medicine training in management of a first aid point in developing countries:our experience in Kenya
L. FalsettiWriting – Review & Editing
;
2013
Abstract
Background: The health system of Kenya provides as 1st step theCommunity Unit(CU), first aid points spread over the territory, run byvolunteers, but as partial payment. 2°step the Dispensaries andHealth Center run by qualified nurses to a first triage. Hospital care isdivided in Government of Kenya Hospital, who provide obstetric, pri-mary care services and laboratory analysis, and District Hospitals inwhich converge specializations.Methods:We bring the experience of the CU, at the Takaye Primaryschool (Malindi-Ken) run by PolePoleOnlus. Working at the clinical,Kenyan nurses and, for a few months, Italian physicians (internists inmost cases). Access to clinic is for students and teachers(about 2000students from3 to18 years). Such a structure responds to urgent health needs, support is provided for wounds, minor trauma, counsel-ing and health education for students, teachers and parents.Conclusions:Integration between local staff and Italian physicians al-lows mutual training, with passage of new knowledge and the approach-ing to culture, essential to establish a relationship of trust and respect between doctor and patient/tribal-culture. Good knowledge of English isn’t enough for communication because most of the population speak only local dialect. Shortages of resources and health care system paidpartially, introduce pertinence criteria of diagnostic and therapeuticchoice, often neglected in Italy, like tight control of health spending. Inthis situation it is even more necessary for the physician to rely on clin-ical reasoning and not the simple diagnostic tools:I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
