15th September, 2011
The people that time forgot
In the midst of glaring heat and fast winds, the AMREF Naanam dispensary stands with its doors open to the Nanaam community of Turkana. Comprised of an examination room, pharmacy and a delivery room, the Nanaam dispensary is the only one within 50 kilometres.
The facility has only one nurse who is assisted by an attendant and is the first referral point for a population of 3,000 people, when the migration has taken place and 7,000 people when they come back from the search for pastures.
There hasn’t been proper rainfall in this region for four years as a result of severe environmental degradation and climate change.
Due to the chronic lack of water, diarrhoea and malnutrition related ailments are common. The drugs at the dispensary are stocked by AMREF and sold at a nominal fee.
The community relies heavily on food rations from the government consisting of a maize, beans and oil ranging from 2 – 10 kgs depending on the size of the family. However these supplies are insufficient and far between so in the interim the Turkana survive on wild berries which have to be boiled for 24 hours before they are palatable.
The fate of these people hangs in the balance. On the one hand the government cannot assume a laissez-faire position while the Turkana continue to suffer. On the other hand there needs to be a shift in the way the population of Turkana lead their lives. But are the Turkana ready for change? Are they ready to adopt a sedentary lifestyle albeit gradually to facilitate farming activities?
Read more about the situation in Turkana and AMREF's work in other part of Kenya.