Our time spent in Nairobi was extremely successful (and the accommodations comfortable), so we were sad to leave. However, we left to Nakuru on the Mololine nice and early. The ride was uneventful other than the occasional baboon or flamingo sighting and a nice overlook of the Rift Valley. We had just enough time to put our stuff down at our new hotel before we had to leave to the Health Promotion Center and meet with the program leader, Dr. Muthotho. The center deals with many general health issues facing the Kenyan population, including food and vitamin supplements, herpes, and clean water. Along with several other local physicians, the doctor has developed many new medications and treatments, including a cure for herpes using a local plant.
Because many of the doctor’s patients are HIV positive, he focuses much of his work on related medical issues, such as proper diet and water purification in order to make sure the ARVs work to their full potential. While he uses many different water purification products, he explained to use the limitations of several of his products, including ones that effected the taste of the water and the sediments remaining in the water. The Pur packets addressed this issues and have since become the product of choice among his patients. We got the opportunity to interview a few of the patients, as well as see another Pur demonstration firsthand. We made plans to meet again with the doctor the next day on some of his home visits and returned back to the hotel.
-Mike