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by Keith Lindsey Background to anamed in Kenya I had been to Kenya twice before, in 2002 and 2004. Both times I conducted a week-long seminar with the Kibisom Women’s Group in Rusinga Island. After taking part in the first Rusinga Island seminar, Tamima Omondi had mobilised many people in Kendu Bay, so in 2004 I also led a short three day seminar there with the Onyala Biro Women’s Group. Each of these women’s groups are grass-roots projects. With an absolute minimum of resources but a lot of love, they work with those who, because of AIDS, are now widows and orphans. In 2004 I also conducted a day ”taster” seminar in Nairobi for about 40 people drawn from many different organisations. This group requested that I return to conduct a ”Training the trainer” seminar, so that, in turn, they could train their colleagues, friends and families in Natural Medicine. In all these seminars, Walter Opiyo acted first as my interpreter and then increasingly as co-leader. Others have also been active. For example
Many people ask, ”How do you make contact with so many people in Kenya who are interested in Natural Medicine?” Answer; 1) through personal contacts we make in Nairobi and Germany, 2) contacts via our home-page and 3) individuals and groups that have ordered an artemisia starter kit for use in Kenya. We applied for a grant for our 2005 Kenya programme, but were unsuccessful. I am therefore grateful to those organisations that contributed a fee of 200 Euro each for their representatives to attend the Nairobi seminar, and to the many people who support anamed in Germany with their personal gifts. The total cost (not counting admin costs back home) amounted to 8000 Euro, of which only 2000 was covered by participant fees. I am grateful to Walter Opiyo (Nairobi) and Tamima Omondi (Kendu Bay) for their work of preparation for the seminars, and to our hosts Judith Brown (Nairobi), Mama Fatuma (Kendu Bay) and Esther Odhiambo (Rusinga Island). Seminar number 1: ”Training the Trainer”, Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf) School, Kajiado district, about 20km from Nairobi, 11 to 18 April. The seminar was attended by 40 people from 26 different organisations. The school was an excellent venue. First, a teacher at the school, Rose Ingala, had attended a seminar led by Hans-Martin Hirt in Tanzania. She had been very impressed. Working together with the children of the school, she had already established an excellent garden of medicinal plants, which includes a nursery of artemisia cuttings. Second, the cooks at the school were expert in producing tasty, nutritious meals with a range of vegetables and fruit, and a minimum of meat. Both were important learning experiences. After we overcame the initial dissatisfactions of those who found the sleeping accommodation too primitive, a lively atmosphere of mutual support, learning and criticism developed. I cannot say that I conducted this seminar, more coordinated it. I am grateful to all who took leading roles, in particular Rose Ingala, Walter Opiyo, Tamima Omondi and Rosalia Oyweka and Roger Sharland of REAP. REAP is a very practical Kenyan project that has integrated Natural Medicine into its agricultural and community development work. At the conclusion of the seminar, the participants elected a committee with representatives from each province responsible for developing the Kenyan Network of Natural Medicine Practitioners. Seminar number 2: Onyalo Biro Women’s Group, Kendu Bay, 19-21 April. A 7 hour bus journey took Walter and me across the Rift Valley and through a game park to Kendu Bay, which lies by Lake Victoria in South Nyanza Province. As in 2004, we held a 3 day seminar, this time with 35 participants. We sat in a circle in the garden of the Onyala Biro Womens’ Project. The reports given by those participants who had taken part in last year’s seminar were most impressive - they had established gardens, treated people and taught others. The workshop once again covered the main themes of the anamed seminar handbook. The leadership team comprised Walter, Tamima, Sally Atieno (who had been present in Nairobi) and myself. In fact, because I always needed translation, I led relatively little. The majority of people in Kendu Bay fetch their water for washing and drinking from Lake Victoria. At the time of my visit, this water was very dirty. Our cups of tea tasted more of soil than tea! But the miracle tree moringa did the job! The picture shows Mr Juma enjoying a cup of clear water, after we had clarified the dirty lake water with moringa. The group appointed a committee to coordinate and further develop the work in the Kendu Bay area. Meeting in Homa Bay The Anglican Bishop Charles, and James Mboya, who organised last year’s seminar, met with Tamima, Walter and I. They expressed their thanks, and their desire to hold another seminar soon. Seminar number 3: Kibisom Project, Rusinga Island, 24-26 April. A seminar with a difference! By 6a.m. 40 people had already assembled. Soon after we started at 8a.m., there were 90 people present. Many elderly ladies had been active in a small way, and it was a joy to learn of how active a group of young people had been, led by Emilly Nundu. They make many Natural Medicines, have trained Home Based Care workers and have even provided training at the Divisional Hospital at Sindo. Our seminar concentrated on treating wounds, malaria, eye problems and diarrhoea / worms.The main leadership roles here were filled by Walter, Emilly and Rosalia Oyweka. Visit to Kisumu Rosalia Oyweka of REAP hosted us for a day in Kisumu, Kenya’s second city. We visited a large church, with a health centre in its grounds, the pastor of which has established a garden of medicinal plants for all to see. We then visited a women’s and orphan’s group, and then another very large medicinal garden with the most perfect hedges of soil-improving plants that I have ever seen. Artemisia annua Everywhere people spoke very positively about their experience with artemisia. It had successfully treated many cases of malaria, and had strengthened the immune system of AIDS patients. In rain-starved Rusinga Island, no plants had survived. But one lovely young lady, with a young child on each arm, beamed and said ”I took artemisia and I had twins!” Causes for encouragement 1. I led less and less and 5 Kenyan people led more and more. The 1 man and 4 women, all mentioned above, are competent and enthusiastic facilitators of Natural Medicine seminars. 2. As a result of the Nairobi Seminar, Walter’s role in promoting the work of anamed in Kenya has been strengthened. 3. The concentration of Natural Medicine activity in South Nyanza Province; it includes the commitment of people in Kendu Bay, the energy of the group of young people in Rusinga Island, the desire for more input in Homa Bay and the excellent gardens in Kisumu. 4. The positive experience of many people in using artemisia to treat malaria and AIDS patients, and their determination now to be successful in cultivating it. In Rusinga, the local group of ”Seeds for Africa” will endeavour, even in this hot and dry region, to maintain a nursery of artemisia plants. 5. Links made by Walter with the Minister for Health and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage (responsible for traditional healers). Recommendations for the future 1. Walter and I coordinate a follow-up ”Training the Trainer” seminar in 12-18 months time. 2. Walter supports the network of Natural Medicine Practitioners in Kenya and encourages “Centres of Excellence†in each region. 3. We seek funding for a) the translation of anamed books into local languages. b) the most important anamed books to be printed in Nairobi. c) three anamed seminars, to be led by Kenyan people, in the (desperately poor) South Nyanza Province. 4. We make a proposal to the Kenyan Ministry of Health that they support a nationwide programme of training in Natural Medicine, to be coordinated by anamed. Developments in anamed seminars The seminars continue to be based on the contents of the yellow book, i.e. several common diseases and complaints and several important tropical plants, together with practical sessions in which we make ointments, tinctures, teas, black stones and sometimes soap. Increasingly important are: 1. not only talking about a balanced diet, but ensuring that the catering for the participants is consistent with our teaching, i.e. being mainly vegetarian, plenty vegetables and fruit, no sodas at all and each morning break having a different herbal tea. 2. a major session on how to strengthen the immune system, through diet, lifestyle and specific herbal treatments. This subject is important for everyone, and particularly for AIDS patients. Keith Lindsey June 2005 |
