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Home > SIMPact > SIMPacters > Health and Security HEALTH & SECURITY SIM Administration and the SIMPact leadership are concerned about your health and your safety and want your ministry here to be unhindered by illness or problems. We will do what we can to help you, but it is essential that you prepare and take care of yourself as much as you can. Prevention is by far the least painful and least costly care we can give ourselves. More information will be given to you once you arrive in Kenya, but here are some things to update you now. Health During orientation, you will be given instructions on food availability, preparation and storage. Information about what foods are safe to eat outside the home will also be given. You will be able to find a good balanced diet here of most foods to which you are accustomed including a wide range of fruits and vegetables, breads, dairy products (including fresh milk and cheese), meats and so on. Kenya has an excellent agricultural base. The medical services in Nairobi and much of Kenya range from poor to excellent. We will advise and assist if and when you have a medical need that requires intervention. Already, we have worked with some very good Kenyan and expatriate doctors, and we have a nurse that resides at the Rose Ave compound who can give medical advice and referrals. Many SIMPacters based outside of Nairobi will need to be on an anti-malarial prophylaxis while here. Those in Nairobi and points of higher elevation are not required to be on malaria medication at all times but will need to do so if traveling to lower elevation areas. If you are unsure if you need to be on malaria, please contact the SIMPact coordinator. If your doctor is unsure as to what medicine to prescribe, you may wish to contact the SIM Office in your area to see if they have a recommendation. We have doxycycline here that is an effective prophylaxis for most people, otherwise you may wish to bring the medicine with you. BTW, we have very few cases of malaria among our mission family. Be sure that you bring your blood type information and health insurance information with as we put that on your ID cards. Security Security is a primary concern in Kenya. In fact, it is probably the biggest challenge in ministry to balance desired outreaches and involvement with the need for personal safety. This is not to cause undo alarm, but rather awareness and preparation. We take precautions, try to act wisely, and continue to pray for the Lord's protection. Rose Avenue Compound, the main SIM residential compound has high walls, some of them barb-wired, and gates that are manned 24-hours by a guard service including security forces within call on a radio alarm system if necessary. We have also instituted rules that exist solely for your further protection and the assurance of safety. It is required that ALL SIMPacters residing at the compound be back within the gate before 6:00 pm, as darkness falls early and quickly. If someone is going to be late or there is an extenuating circumstance, we have a safe point where they will be met and picked up with a private vehicle. Also, all SIMPacters are required to carry, and have turned on, mobile phones if such a situation should arise. |
