WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
"Joining the first programme was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time. We had to go back to basics, we didn't know what to expect and neither did the Kenyan team. We hit the ground running and we have never looked back. From our first programme it has grown and it is beginning to feel established in the communities. We are accepted much more readily and are building close relationships with wider healthcare professionals like dentistry and ophthalmology with the skilled management of camps international."
Jennie Beck, Pioneer Member
We have all been on the Kenya Healthcare Outreach Programme at least once and every year we nurses, healthcare professionals and volunteers give up our annual leave and usually our own savings to go and improve the healthcare and lives of people in Kwale district.
We have all contributed to fundraising for individual projects in the areas we work in, but this year, we wanted to challenge ourselves to fundraise to get as many nurses as possible to the project in 2014!
We are all passionate about the Healthcare Outreach Programme in Kenya. We have all seen with our own eyes the benefits of the programme since it started in 2011. Find out more about the Healthcare Outreach Programme by clicking HERE
In its 4th year, and after the progress and success experienced in 2013... 2014 is set to be the biggest yet!
We have all contributed to fundraising for individual projects in the areas we work in, but this year, we wanted to challenge ourselves to fundraise to get as many nurses as possible to the project in 2014!
We are all passionate about the Healthcare Outreach Programme in Kenya. We have all seen with our own eyes the benefits of the programme since it started in 2011. Find out more about the Healthcare Outreach Programme by clicking HERE
In its 4th year, and after the progress and success experienced in 2013... 2014 is set to be the biggest yet!
A little about us...
Jennie Beck
'Mama Jen' has been a practice nurse for 20 years and currently works for the MoD. She is one of 'The Pioneers', supporting the programme every year since it started. She describes going out of her comfort zone and joining the first Programme as one of the best things she has ever done.
"The programme has given me much more than I give to it, including an amazing set of lifelong friends, both Kenyan and British." Jen has fundraised and supported a range of projects in the area.
This will be Jennie's fourth year.
'Mama Jen' has been a practice nurse for 20 years and currently works for the MoD. She is one of 'The Pioneers', supporting the programme every year since it started. She describes going out of her comfort zone and joining the first Programme as one of the best things she has ever done.
"The programme has given me much more than I give to it, including an amazing set of lifelong friends, both Kenyan and British." Jen has fundraised and supported a range of projects in the area.
This will be Jennie's fourth year.
Emma Edwards
Emma lives in Devon where she has been a practice nurse for the last ten years. She is an experienced nurse who has helped shape the programme. She also has a special interest in travel health. She has a love of flip flops all year round and a love of Africa.
'Mama Em' is one of 'The Pioneers' who has supported the project every year since its conception. She has also fundraised over the last four years for various projects.
This will be Emma's fourth trip to Kwale.
Emma lives in Devon where she has been a practice nurse for the last ten years. She is an experienced nurse who has helped shape the programme. She also has a special interest in travel health. She has a love of flip flops all year round and a love of Africa.
'Mama Em' is one of 'The Pioneers' who has supported the project every year since its conception. She has also fundraised over the last four years for various projects.
This will be Emma's fourth trip to Kwale.
Karen Rudd
'Mama' Karen has been a nurse for over 30 years and now specialises in General Practice, in Travel Health and Travel Health Education.
Having been inspired by Aaron's first trip to the area, she asked if there was a similar project for healthcare professionals that could fit into annual leave. Given the challenge to get 20 nurses to sign up for such a project, Karen posted on the Practise Nursing Forum and had over 50 replies in the first 30 minutes. Since then the programme has grown from strength to strength.
Karen was awarded the 'Camp Kenya Ambassador Award' in 2013 for her hard work recruiting and preparing nurses every year.
This will be Karen's third trip.
'Mama' Karen has been a nurse for over 30 years and now specialises in General Practice, in Travel Health and Travel Health Education.
Having been inspired by Aaron's first trip to the area, she asked if there was a similar project for healthcare professionals that could fit into annual leave. Given the challenge to get 20 nurses to sign up for such a project, Karen posted on the Practise Nursing Forum and had over 50 replies in the first 30 minutes. Since then the programme has grown from strength to strength.
Karen was awarded the 'Camp Kenya Ambassador Award' in 2013 for her hard work recruiting and preparing nurses every year.
This will be Karen's third trip.
Rebecca Monaghan
Becky is an experienced Nurse Practitioner and is currently embarking on a new Public Health Role in the UK.
Becky has worked tirelessly between trips to fundraise and support many young Kenyans to achieve their potential which is why she is known as 'Mama Kenya.'
She was also one of 'The Pioneers' on the original programme and this will be her fourth trip.
Becky is an experienced Nurse Practitioner and is currently embarking on a new Public Health Role in the UK.
Becky has worked tirelessly between trips to fundraise and support many young Kenyans to achieve their potential which is why she is known as 'Mama Kenya.'
She was also one of 'The Pioneers' on the original programme and this will be her fourth trip.
Aaron Rudd
Aaron is a studnet nurse who will be newly qualified by November. He was in fact the spark for the creation of the Healthcare Outreach Programme in the first place!
Aaron visited Muhaka and Tsavo in 2009 for his own expedition involving construction and conservation. Since then, he has been training to become a nurse at the University of Brighton and hopes to join the military at some point after graduating.
This will be Aaron's second time to Kwale, and he is excited to be able to bring more skills and knowledge to help the communities he worked with before.
Aaron is a studnet nurse who will be newly qualified by November. He was in fact the spark for the creation of the Healthcare Outreach Programme in the first place!
Aaron visited Muhaka and Tsavo in 2009 for his own expedition involving construction and conservation. Since then, he has been training to become a nurse at the University of Brighton and hopes to join the military at some point after graduating.
This will be Aaron's second time to Kwale, and he is excited to be able to bring more skills and knowledge to help the communities he worked with before.
Elaine Plotnek
Elaine is a very experienced nurse with a back ground in Primary Care and has worked as a Community Matron in Recent Years.
She has always been a champion of educating HCAs and more junior nurses and will use her natural supportive teaching skills with UK and Kenyan volunteers again this year.
This will be Elaine’s 2nd trip.
Elaine is a very experienced nurse with a back ground in Primary Care and has worked as a Community Matron in Recent Years.
She has always been a champion of educating HCAs and more junior nurses and will use her natural supportive teaching skills with UK and Kenyan volunteers again this year.
This will be Elaine’s 2nd trip.
Karen Parnell
Karen (KP) is an experienced Practice Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber, currently training to be a Nurse Practitioner. She is also a specialist in Diabetes, Family Planning and Sexual Health.
She worked with Karen Rudd for over 10 years in the past and was eventually persuaded to join the Outreach team in Kenya in 2012.
This will be KPs 2nd tour and her skills will be put to full use once more.
Karen (KP) is an experienced Practice Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber, currently training to be a Nurse Practitioner. She is also a specialist in Diabetes, Family Planning and Sexual Health.
She worked with Karen Rudd for over 10 years in the past and was eventually persuaded to join the Outreach team in Kenya in 2012.
This will be KPs 2nd tour and her skills will be put to full use once more.
Ellie Rudd
Ellie works for the charity Tender, a youth arts company working to educate young people regarding healthy relationships and domestic abuse.
Although Ellie is not a healthcare professional, she coordinates clinic logistics with others in the support team ensuring that every area of service is covered. She then entertains the children after they have recieved treatment with games and songs.
This will be Ellie's Third time to Kwale.
Ellie works for the charity Tender, a youth arts company working to educate young people regarding healthy relationships and domestic abuse.
Although Ellie is not a healthcare professional, she coordinates clinic logistics with others in the support team ensuring that every area of service is covered. She then entertains the children after they have recieved treatment with games and songs.
This will be Ellie's Third time to Kwale.
Jan Robertson
Jan Robertson is the most experienced nurse of us all with a wide breadth of knowledge gained in secondary care and primary care.
Although now retired from daily practice, she is an invaluable support to more inexperienced nurses and peers and is passionate about jigger eradication and NTDs in general.
Jan was also one of 'The Pioneers' of the programme and this will be her fourth year participating.
Jan Robertson is the most experienced nurse of us all with a wide breadth of knowledge gained in secondary care and primary care.
Although now retired from daily practice, she is an invaluable support to more inexperienced nurses and peers and is passionate about jigger eradication and NTDs in general.
Jan was also one of 'The Pioneers' of the programme and this will be her fourth year participating.