Christiana Care supports medical mission to Kenya

A team including more than 60 Christiana Care employees in November went to the African nation of Kenya on a two-week medical mission to serve a population where medical care is scarce.

Led by Christiana Care internist Reynold Agard, M.D., a member of Premiere Physicians, P.A., the team operated a hospital in Kissii County in Kenya, providing care for people whose health problems included hernias, abnormal blood pressure, high cholesterol and vision problems.

“So many of our Christiana Care employees are committed to serving others,” Dr. Agard said. “When we see our neighbors who are in need, we want them to know that there are hands to help them. As Americans, we are fortunate that we can do this.”

During their stay, the volunteers treated about 2,500 patients. They performed 20 surgeries — largely to treat thyroid and hernia problems — and distributed nearly 3,000 pairs of glasses.

“Our teams worked tirelessly, from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., and we were able to teach many of the Kenyans about blood pressure management and diabetes management,” Dr. Agard said. “The people were very appreciative and very receptive. They would try to give us whatever little they had as gifts.”

Christiana Care Health System donated more than $10,000 in medicine and supplies to support the trip. At a special send-off event in the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, a Kenyan choir sang in Swahili. Gov. Jack Markell and Kenyan Ambassador to the United States Jean Kamau provided messages of gratitude.

“It is humbling to see how many of you have come together to take this trip,” Gov. Markell said. “I am so inspired by what you do.”

“On behalf of the Kenyan government and the Kenyan people, I want to take this opportunity to thank you,” Ambassador Kamau said.

Dr. Agard has spearheaded several trips to developing nations to help people, largely through his role as medical director of Hands International, a nonprofit established to channel the knowledge, skills and resources of dedicated servant-leaders toward human health and development to underserved parts of the world.

The Christiana Care team included physicians, surgeons, psychologists, nurses, technologists and others.

“Many of our employees are dedicated to helping to alleviate suffering far from our home and, as an organization, we are committed to supporting these humanitarian efforts — that’s The Christiana Care Way,” said Ray Seigfried, senior vice president of administration at Christiana Care.