Resilience and Care: My Journey with ACCIH in the Heart of Rural Kenya

During my global internship with ACCIH, I had the opportunity to participate in two community outreach events that had a lasting impact on me. One was with Action Against Hunger in the Silale community, and the other was with the Kenyan Red Cross in Kamrio. These experiences, held in rural Kenya amongst the Pakot people, offered me a firsthand view into the immense public health challenges these communities face and the resilience with which they navigate them. Even before arriving in Silale, I learned about the public resource difficulties individuals face on a daily basis. On our way to the community, we stopped at a local water source, which I learned was used for everything: bathing, laundry, and drinking water for people and livestock. Experiencing the hardships and realities they face helped shape my view during the rest of the outreach and the communities we met.

The outreaches themselves focused on providing Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services, including nutrition screenings, vaccinations, and health education. I had the honor of working directly with families by taking children's weights and measuring their mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Wrapping the colored MUAC bands around the thin arms of malnourished children was a powerful moment, one that brought the public health crisis into sharp focus. Despite the language barriers, which required communicating first from English to Swahili and then to Pakot, I was still able to connect with families through gestures, touch, and smiles. These moments, though brief, reminded me that care goes beyond words and that simply being present and offering kindness can build trust. 

That connection made me care even more deeply about the work we were doing and drove me to be curious to understand the root causes of what we were seeing. I asked local health workers about what these families typically ate, and I learned that Ugali, a maize-based dish, often made up most or all of their meals. While filling, it lacks the essential nutrients that growing children need, causing protein deficiencies and other signs of malnutrition to occur, which were obvious to see. To help address these gaps, we distributed USAID-provided nutrition packets designed to supplement the children’s diets and mitigate the worst effects of malnutrition. However, it was sad to learn that these outreach efforts may be scaled back or completely stopped due to the defunding of USAID. 

In response, health education played a key role in our efforts. I was particularly moved by the creative ways educators adapted their messaging to meet local realities. Many families in the Pakot communities are cattle herders, so the health educators addressed this directly, encouraging families to view milk not just as a commodity but as a vital source of nutrition for their young children. It was a culturally relevant and cost-effective way to address nutrition gaps using resources they already had access to. Additionally, the educators emphasized the importance of kitchen gardens. Instead of relying on costly trips into town to purchase food, families were urged to take ownership of their health by cultivating food at home. The conversations focused on sustainability and empowerment, helping families see that even small changes could lead to long-term improvements in their children’s health and overall well-being. Witnessing this type of community-centered education demonstrated to me the impact of public health work when it respects local culture and builds on existing strengths.

Another crucial part of the outreaches was vaccination. We were able to provide children with routine vaccines, many of which they may otherwise never have received due to the inaccessibility of health services in these remote areas. Witnessing this reminded me just how many barriers exist to preventive care. Distance, lack of transportation, and limited healthcare infrastructure often mean that life-saving interventions, such as vaccines, remain inaccessible to the most vulnerable. It struck me how something so routine in other parts of the world, like a child receiving immunizations, can be a monumental event in places where health systems are stretched thin. In addition to vaccinating children, the outreaches also offered essential prenatal care for pregnant women. This included basic health assessments and education about safe pregnancy practices. Providing care at this stage of life has a powerful ripple effect, not just for the mother’s health, but for the baby’s future as well. Being part of this effort reminded me of the value of maternal and child health programs and the importance of continuing to deliver these services directly to the communities that need them most.

I’m incredibly grateful to ACCIH, Action Against Hunger, the Kenyan Red Cross, and most importantly, the Silale and Kamrio communities, for allowing me to learn, serve, and grow alongside them. This internship was a life-changing experience that reinforced my commitment to global health. It provided me with a clearer understanding of what community-centered care entails and inspired me to apply these lessons in all aspects of my life.