Catholic sisters bring free medical care to Kenya slum, uncover hidden illnesses

NAIROBI, Kenya — Residents in an impoverished informal settlement called “Bangladesh” in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa turned up in large numbers for a two-day medical camp July 18–19 organized by Mother Amadea Mission Hospital .

Many were seeking treatment for ailments that had gone untreated for years.

During the two-day medical screening, run by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Archdiocese of Mombasa (SSJ), many previously undiagnosed and unmanaged cases of noncommunicable diseases — particularly hypertension — along with numerous skin diseases and suspected cases of cancer requiring further evaluation were identified.

Although thousands turned up for assistance, the resources available could only support 1,140 individuals. Those that could not be assisted at the camp were given appointments for free medical services at the sister-run hospital in Mikindani.

In an interview on July 22 with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, Sister Veronica Wanjiru, the administrator of Mother Amadea Mission Hospital, said the medical camp is one in an array of community support activities the sisters are engaged in and that it is tied to the…