IDP: Internally Displaced People
You may remember the post election violence of 2007. The whole world was surprised when tribalism reared its ugly head in Kenya- one of the most stable countries of Sub Sarahan Africa. It was a bloody period and many people were chased from their homes, their stuff burned, and family members beaten or killed. So what happend next? Well, they formed IDP camps and live there still today. We visited one near Kijabe Hospital today, and played with the kids. Great time. In a discussion with a friend in Peru, we decided that poverty is more about disparity than lack of resources. It is true here today. For some reason, in a country as rich as Kenya, these people have been living in tents for over 2 years now. The kids are dirty, runny noses, no shoes, with big bellies indicative of intestinal parasites and ring worm and other fungal infections. But we had a lot of fun and made friends. I hope to go back to the IDP camp and screen for TB, time and resources allowing. One of the camp leaders said this has not been done before and a lot of people suffer from cough.
I wish you could all see just how incredibly beautiful it is in Kijabe. This picture is a view from the walk down to the IDP camp. There are flowers everywhere, I don't think the picture really does it justice. Kijabe hospital is about 8,000 ft up, and the mountain side is just covered with vegetation, flowers, and all kinds of colorful birds. It is the winter time here, so when I can I try to warm up with hot tea and to sit next to the fire in the living room. Nights are especially cold, I were a lot of layers to bed!
