Goodness & Mercy

Long haul flights are not a pleasant prospect, but when circumstances so arrange it, an otherwise tiresome and stressful journey can be greatly changed into something of an enjoyable event. Just before I returned home at the end of April I was stricken with a severe infection which left me virtually bedridden for over a week. I was unable to travel, even for necessary clinic needs. As the time approached however for me to return home, I knew I had to make the journey, whether I felt up to it or not.

I telephoned the travel agent in Nairobi and enquired about seating availability. I told her I had enough travel points for an upgrade if I could get a seat on the Friday night flight to Amsterdam. She informed me that the Friday night flight did not look promising for an upgrade and suggested I go for Saturday morning. A ticket was purchased and I enquired at the airport lounge about an upgrade. I was given one to my great relief and looked forward to a restful flight in the comfort of a first class seat. There was only one seat available and I had got it and I was thankful to the Lord for his goodness and mercy.

But another pleasant surprise awaited me; my fellow traveller in the next seat was none other than the Honourable David Musila, (above) MP for Mwingi South, leader of the L.D.P. one of the main parties in the new Coalition Government, and Deputy Speaker Kenya National Assembly. We knew each other from his previous visit to Curran Clinic. Needless to say we had several hours of interesting conversation. We have a clinic in each Mwingi Constituency, Curran Clinic in Mwingi North, represented by the Honourable Kalonzo Musyoka, minister of Tourism, while Mulinde Clinic is in Mwingi South, constituency of Hon. David Musila.

While taking no part in anything political, and taking care to maintain our neutrality in all matters of a political nature, our clinics nevertheless enjoy the status of being a focal point for various dignitaries and among our visitors in the past were the Australian High Commissioner and his wife, Mr and Mrs Paul Comfort. Having been at both our Clinics, Mr Musila commented very favourably on the dedication of our nursing staff in continuing to serve the community in these interior posts, and we took the opportunity our journey gave us to set a date for the annual Mulinde Clinic Opening Anniversary, for which he promised to come as our special guest July 17th 2004. Visitors such as Mr Musila and Mr Musyoka are a great encouragement to the local community and our staff are given a morale boost by a tour of their workplace by such well known and important figures in Kenya's corridors of power.

For my part I am pleased that these men feel free to call, and I count it a privilege to have our work amongst Kenya's poor recognised appreciated and supported by the Presidents Men.