Jessica Uno is winner of the World Briefing: Telling the Malaria Contest co-sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation and Malaria No More. Her winning essay earned her a trip to cover the MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference in Kenya and report back on the latest in the global effort to end malaria.

Today we got outside the city for a memorable road trip into rural Kenya. Our destination: Mwea Mission Hospital, 2 hours north of Nairobi, to learn about the role of African health clinics in fighting malaria. A colorful cast accompanied Rachel and I, including an Oxford scholar writing a book on the history of British malariologists, a well-known Belgian photographer, an Italian from Novartis, and Jane, our knowledgeable guide for the day who serves as the Malaria Coordinator for CFW Shops, a sustainable health care organization.

I thought I would fall asleep on the two hour ride, but as soon as we left the city limits, the skyscrapers gave way to tropical green hills, with fields of beans, coffee, maize, and rice paddies rolling by. The lush landscape was dotted by people walking or riding bikes on the dirt paths lining the freeways, some with heavy baskets on their backs. Road construction was a constant sight, with mounds of bright red dirt forming on either side of the existing road. Buildings got sparser and appeared increasingly run-down. Eventually we hit areas lined with crowded markets. Vendor stands selling items ranging from fresh mango to wood-carved bed frames, and shoes consisted of either blankets on the ground or small booths composed of tree branches and straw roofs. We began seeing more donkey-pulled carts and fewer cars. As the road became muddier, lined with rice paddies, we were grateful that we were in a four-wheel drive.

Jessica’s trip to Kenya was supported by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation and Malaria No More.

Tags: Guest Post, Jessica Uno, Mwea mission hospital, World Briefing

Tags: Guest Post, Jessica Uno, Mwea mission hospital, World Briefing
Categories:Jessica Uno: World Briefing Report