A vaccine administration plan developed by NKCH staff is saving lives over 8,000 miles away in Africa. Informatics/LMS Education Specialist Julius Saisi, MSN, MBA, RN, Nursing Professional Development, is from Kenya and visited in September and October to facilitate the country’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
Before the pandemic, Julius traveled to Kenya twice a year to see his 85-year-old mother, Ruth Saisi. Once COVID-19 hit, he didn’t see his mother for two years. “That was the longest we’ve been apart. I was lucky to get the vaccine early, but I kept thinking about my mother, who couldn’t get vaccinated,” Julius said.
Julius has an open dialogue with healthcare professionals in Kenya. During the pandemic, they wanted to learn about vaccination efforts in this country. Julius turned to his director Jenni Reno, MSN, NPD-BC, CMSRN, who shared best practices and processes learned through the NKCH vaccination clinic and the local “Operation Safe – Vaccinating Our Community, Together” clinic.
Operation Safe vaccinated over 97,000 Missourians in three months. Jenni willingly shared the vaccination clinic plan. The comprehensive plan covered the steps and materials to set up a clinic regardless of the country.
“A challenge we faced in Kenya was using vaccine donated by other countries before it expired,” Julius explained. “The plan gave us the mechanism to quickly get shots in arms.” In just three days, staff and volunteers vaccinated 2,000 Kenyans, including Julius’s mom. “My mom felt so isolated, afraid and alone during the pandemic. With the vaccine, she feels like she’s getting a second life.
Now, she thinks she can live to 101, like her dad,” Julius smiled. Julius expects the model will spread to other areas of Kenya. “I am so excited to give back to my community with the knowledge this hospital gave me,” Julius said.
