DOCTORS OF AFRICA / MEDECINS D’AFRIQUE is an international health NGO born in Congo Brazzaville in 1993, more focusing on the promotion of primary health with a special attention to maternal and child health. We have been much operating mostly in French speaking countries such as Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Kinshasa, Gabon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Guinea, France and in Japan. Kenya is the first English speaking country where we are planning also to bring our contribution in health related issues as well as in the social development of Africa and in particular to the Kenya population.

On October 11th, MDA Kenya visited Bignet Primary School in Nairobi for a medical check-up. The object of the program was to improve the health of students to help improve school performance by preventing diseases that may have an impact on education of students, taking care of common diseases and trauma in schools, and to also improve the nutritional status of students. Dewormers were given to each child.

MEDICAL CHECK-UP
The medical check up sought to undertake the following areas:
Routine medical test : (Measurement: weight, height, weight/height ratio, Pubertal maturation, Examination of the mouth and teeth, Ostoscopy and hearing, General review/ examination)
Psychological test, focus on the study of Thought and Language, The nature of sleep, Functional autonomy, Cognitive and intellectual sphere, Temperament and character

ADA AWARENESS
As the parents got through with the medical check up, they were ushered into a room where MDA staff was given basic information about alcohol and drugs abuse, and how they can prevent abuse among their puberty developing children.

NUTRITION ASSESSMENT
The idea was to prevent common illnesses because diseases in children are rarely detected early due to lack of family doctors. They are usually diagnosed when they have worsened and need a medical attention.
This can be attributed mostly due to ignorance by care givers about the health of their children in term of monitoring and continuous evaluation by a medical doctor.
MDA aims to change the situation in Kenya by carrying out school medical events where awareness is given for regular health surveillance to schools.
A total of 24 children were examined:
- 15 were found to be underweight
- 3 cases were overweight
- 1 case was obese
- Only 5 had a good nutritional state

CHALLENGES
MDA Kenya made use of qualified personnel including doctors, nurses, nutritionists and psychologists. Due to the costs factor of purchasing medicines and other logistics, a cost sharing approach was used, where parent contribution was at Kshs 300 per child. This supported in facilitating the event through re-imbursements and refreshments. The head teacher of Bignet made some comments: the organisation should plan to reduce or scrape the charges since this is a low income region and such events are usually free. Should there be any charges, do it per household and not per child. Examine the children freely but charge for drugs. Do not only examine children but adults too since they are also vulnerable to common illnesses. The MDA team was well appreciated by the school board.