On the 7th of December 2023, Ubuntu Through Health alumni member Mia Crous had the enormous privilege of visiting the Ruben Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Ubuntu Through Health has been supporting the Ruben Centre’s malnutrition intervention program for over a decade, enabling babies and children of the Mukuru slum to have access to free, holistic treatment for acute malnutrition. Mothers, babies and infants are recruited to the Maternal and Child Health Clinic through a combination of referral from the on-site birthing service, community engagement, word of mouth, and active case-finding in the community. This clinic is free of charge, enabling even the poorest families to access this vital service.
On the morning of Mia’s visit, there was a very busy clinic underway which she got to see in action. Babies and infants were immunised, had their weight and height measured and plotted against growth charts, MUACs measured, feeding difficulties discussed, deworming and/or vitamin A supplementation given in line with age and weight guidelines, and follow-up arranged. Any child with faltering growth or measurements indicative of severe acute malnutrition were immediately provided with nutritional supplementation in the form of ‘plumpy nut’ on a dose per kilogram basis and admitted to the malnutrition intervention program for investigation of underlying causes, referral to other services, and ongoing treatment and follow up.
During her visit, Mia was also introduced to the multiple health services at the Ruben Centre by the dedicated health professionals of each service, including the occupational therapy team, the medical clinic, TB/HIV services, birthing unit, dental service, and laboratory. All these services work in tandem with one another to provide integrated care, making the Ruben Centre a true ‘one-stop-shop’ for its patients. This proves invaluable for children in the malnutrition intervention program, as it improves their diagnosis, management and follow up.
Whilst the malnutrition intervention program has been highly successful, recent increases in the cost of living have resulted in more mothers being unable to feed their children. This has resulted in an increase in admissions to the malnutrition intervention program, with a spike in cases over the months of October and November as noted in the meticulously kept records that were shown to Mia. It is therefore clear that Ubuntu Through Health’s ongoing support will be vital to ensure that child nutrition and health is maintained in the face of these pressures.
In addition to its malnutrition intervention program and health services, the Ruben Centre has an on-site school providing education for 3500 students, a radio station, and various social and economic empowerment programs. Mia had the privilege of meeting with The Ruben Centre’s founder, Brother Frank O’Shea, who spoke passionately about each of the programs that are running and is constantly looking for ways to improve the centre and provide the best possible service to the people of Mukuru. It was agreed that the Ruben Centre is truly an oasis within Mukuru.
A final point to illustrate just how unique the Ruben Centre is – Mia recalls the conversation she had with her local taxi driver on her way back from the Ruben Centre. He had never been to the Mukuru slum before, and he noted that not many taxi drivers would even agree to drive there due to the perception that it is a dangerous and hopeless place. However, after seeing the Ruben Centre and hearing about the work that is being done there he was dumbfounded, stating “Wow. I would have never dreamed that such a beautiful place could exist in Mukuru. The school and health centre buildings are better than many others in Nairobi. It feels like a safe haven. This is important work, and it is very good that you in Australia are supporting this. You should be proud”.
Mia did leave the Ruben Centre feeling proud to be part of an organisation that is supporting such an amazing project. It is clear that the funds raised by Ubuntu Through Health have been instrumental in allowing the malnutrition intervention program to continue, and that our ongoing efforts are needed now more than ever to ensure that the children of Mukuru have the best chance to have a healthy start to their lives. Let’s take every opportunity to keep making a difference in 2024!
Written by: Mia Crous