Four Island Nurses Embarking On Mission Trip To Kenya This Fall

Rachael Connealy has been a travel nurse coming to and from the island since 2013, allowing her to make an impact in a variety of places across the world. This fall, Connealy will travel to Kenya for a mission trip from October 13th through October 26th along with three other island nurses including Carly Engleka, Taylor Gugger, and Shawne Broderick - who have just begun fundraising for the trip.

"It's a two-week trip and we'll be working at a Mission Hospital in Kenya doing labor delivery, helping with mothers, babies, newborns,” Connealy said. “Then we'll be in clinic for a couple days doing vaccines, educational support, and health information. We might be doing some community outreach and some community teaching with things like vaccines. Really just a little bit of whatever they need from us.”

Last year, Connealy was introduced to an organization called the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, a non-profit that provides critical support to infected and affected HIV+ children and their caregivers. She traveled to Zimbabwe last year, where she participated in sustainability projects.

"While I was there, they told me they were going to do a Kenya trip," Connealy said. "They have sent medical supplies and visited the hospital before, but this will be the first trip they're going to take nurses and midwives (to Kenya).”

From there, Connealy pitched the idea to her fellow co-workers at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. While this trip is not affiliated with the hospital in any way, it didn’t take long for Connealy to recruit nurses to tag along with her this fall to Africa.

"I am just in awe of what Rachael does because she's done several of these trips and she knew I was interested, so once this trip came up that was actually looking for nurses and midwives, she asked me if I wanted to join," Broderick said. "And I was like 'Yes' immediately."

"I know a lot of people who have done different medical missions," Gugger said. "I've had aunts and people at different hospitals that I work with, and it always seems like such a great experience and something that I've always wanted to experience. When this opportunity came about, I jumped right on it.”

The hospital the nurses will be working at is called Mother Amadea Mission Hospital, which is located in Mombasa, Kenya. The hospital is a registered non-profit, faith-based health facility owned and managed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The goal of this hospital is to provide accessible and affordable health services to the residents.

The organization also has an outreach mission in the rural villages where they care for orphans affected with HIV/AIDS, as well as widows and vulnerable elders. The hospital operates 24 hours, and it is supported by an adequate number of medical and non-medical staffs to offer the following services:

● Outpatient services and in patients services with Laboratory and Pharmacy services.

● Surgical services for major and minor procedures e.g. circumcision.

● Dental services.

● Ophthalmology (Eye care) services.

● Counseling and nutritional services.

● Mental health services.

● Radiology services.

● E.N.T Services.

● OBS/GYN services.

● Special clinical care for diabetes, hypertension, etc.

● Maternal and Child welfare clinical care.

● Orthopedic services/surgeries.

● Comprehensive care clinic for those infected with HIV.

According to the AFCA, a full list of health services nurses such as Connealy, Engleka, Broderick, and Gugger will be participating in during their two-week trip includes:

● Assisting in major surgeries like c-section, myomectomy, orthopedic, etc.

● Nursing care including assisting in deliveries, bathing newborn babies, administering medications, immunizations, taking vital signs, etc.

● Accompanying doctors during ward round.

● Assessing health conditions at the outpatient department.

● Providing health education.

● Conducting diagnostic procedures in the x-ray, laboratory departments and interpretation.

● Participating in medical clinics in the hospital and community performing general assessments, immunizations, blood donation, treatments, etc.

The AFCA has had a presence in Kenya since 2005. The organization continues to provide medicines to fight opportunistic infections which strike children with compromised immune systems. They also continue to send shipments of donated medical equipment and medical supplies while supporting livestock, agriculture, training, and educational programs in Kenya.

"I'm really excited to see what the childbirth experience is like in a third world country," Broderick said. "And again, just to learn about a different culture and immerse myself into it."

The trip will cost approximately $2,500. The nurses plan to pay for their own flights but will attempt to fundraise money to pay for other expenses that come with the trip such as food, living accommodations and fees to stay in the hospital’s guest house, and in-country transportation.

“I'm excited to just come back, see how different it was, and see how lucky we are here," Engleka said. "I'm really excited for that part of it. I feel like it is going to be super rewarding and give us good perspective."

You can donate and support these four nurses by following this link.

*This trip is not in anyway affiliated with Nantucket Cottage Hospital*