“Jambo” in Swahili means “hello” and the most common greeting one will hear when traveling to the rolling savannahs of Southwest Kenya.
“Jambo!” yelled the children as they enthusiastically chased after us on the dusty roads. “Jambo!” waved the natives in their brightly colored shukas walking home with a herd of cows or goats. I smiled and responded “Jambo!” not yet realizing that just one word had the power to change me as a person and a physician assistant.
The Baraka (Swahili for “blessing”) Health Clinic serves and provides healthcare to the most vulnerable segments of this rural region of Kenya. I experienced life-changing and rewarding events as a medical volunteer at this facility—learning that no matter the extent or depth of your clinical career, you can make a difference in the lives of people around the world.
One most unforgettable patient was a teenage-appearing woman who walked 5 hours by foot to the clinic. Having delivered a baby girl that morning, she traveled that great distance seeking postpartum care and immunizations for her newborn. As a mother myself, I was overwhelmed to see the sacrifice she had made and the determination to receive medical attention. It was difficult to imagine that she had walked that far after giving birth. I felt such a great sense of empathy and an immediate bonding with this young woman and her situation made me better appreciate my own. I shared some of my mothering experiences that had us both laughing.
I also came away with a greater appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. One afternoon our group screened school children for diseases. Since many were quite young and small in stature, I knelt so I could be at their level. Despite their thread-bare clothes and bare feet covered with dirt, their bright smiles were beautiful and they melted my heart. I experienced great compassion and was honored to serve such humble and beautiful children.
Ultimately, this trip allowed me to love and better understand a culture I had never previously experienced. The native physicians, their pride, and the enthusiasm they expressed for their mission inspired me. They love the people they serve and they love their work.
Consider traveling on a humanitarian service trip to experience first-hand the power of “Jambo.”
Keri Holyoak resides in Millcreek, Utah with her husband and three curious children. Together they explore the roads less traveled. Since 2005 she has worked with Dr. Joseph Jensen MD and Kirk Stephens PA-C at the Dermatology Center of Salt Lake.