A.I.C. Litein
Hospital
Kenya, Africa
Origin Story & Hospital Summary:
A.I.C. Litein Hospital, located in the South Rift region of Kenya, was established in 1924 by missionaries Andrew Malta Andersen and his wife Vivian Etta Andersen, under the auspices of the Africa Inland Mission (AIM). Initially starting with a school, dispensary, and girl's home, the hospital has evolved significantly over the decades. It was turned over to the Africa Inland Church (AIC) in 1971 following nationalization efforts in Kenya. The hospital has since grown to serve a catchment population of approximately 800,000 people across six counties, Today, A.I.C. Litein Hospital is a 220-bed facility, including a 10-bed casualty unit. The hospital offers comprehensive medical services including general surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, maternity care, and internal medicine. It also operates a Medical and Clinical Officers’ Internship Centre and serves as a training site for nursing students from various universities and colleges across Kenya. The hospital performs about 180 operations per month, with a significant portion being minor surgeries, including cataract surgery. It also conducts knee and hip replacements.
Technology & Capacity:
A.I.C. Litein Hospital is equipped with essential medical technology, including a functional X-ray department, laboratory, and pharmacy. The hospital provides both outpatient and inpatient services, seeing approximately 500 patients daily and admitting around 600 patients each month. Bed occupancy is consistently over 80 percent. The hospital also has a robust family medicine residency program accredited by the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) and the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS).
Church and Governance:
The hospital is managed by the Africa Inland Church (AIC) in collaboration with African Inland Mission (AIM). The governance model emphasizes the integration of medical care with spiritual and community support, in line with its mission to provide holistic healthcare services. The hospital operates under a nonprofit model, aiming to provide affordable, sustainable, and quality healthcare.
Training Opportunities:
A.I.C. Litein Hospital offers extensive training programs, including family medicine residency and internships for medical and clinical officers. The hospital serves as a training ground for nursing students and hosts family medicine residents who rotate through the facility. These programs provide a robust educational environment, preparing healthcare professionals for service in Kenya and beyond.
Medical and Support Staff Needs:
Family Medicine
General Surgery
Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Nurse Practitioners
Anesthesia Providers
Language:
Swahili and English are the official languages of Kenya, with local languages such as Kipsigis also spoken in the region. All medical staff are fluent in English, and medical records are maintained in English. Translation services are available for patients speaking local dialects.
Housing & Food:
Short-term medical personnel are housed in a 10-bed guesthouse on the hospital compound. The guesthouse offers basic amenities including electricity, running water, and cooking facilities. Meals can be provided at the guesthouse for an additional cost, with options to purchase meals from the hospital cafeteria. Volunteers may also opt to cook their own meals using gas provided for a small fee.
Travel:
Visitors typically fly into Nairobi and then drive approximately 5-6 hours to Litein. The hospital is situated about 270 kilometers from Nairobi and 40 kilometers from the Kericho County headquarters. The logistics team at the hospital assists with travel arrangements to ensure a smooth journey.
Time Difference:
+7 hours daylight saving time; +8 hours Eastern Standard Time.
People and Local Religion:
The population served by A.I.C. Litein Hospital includes the Kalenjin ethnolinguistic group, predominantly the Kipsigis people, with other groups present in minority. The region is primarily Christian (Protestant and Catholic), with smaller communities practicing animism, spirit worship, Islam, and Hinduism.
Climate:
Litein has a temperate climate with two rainy seasons from March to June and October to December. The region experiences cooler temperatures from June to August and warmer, drier weather from December to March. The area can become quite muddy during the rainy seasons.
Unique Challenges:
Common health issues treated at the hospital include infectious diseases, trauma, chronic respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and surgical emergencies. The hospital also addresses community health challenges such as maternal and child health, tuberculosis, and HIV care.
Evangelism Opportunities:
A.I.C. Litein Hospital integrates medical care with spiritual outreach, ensuring that every patient hears the gospel. The hospital hosts both long-term and short-term medical mission trips, offering opportunities for volunteers to engage in medical service and evangelism, supporting the hospital’s mission of providing holistic healthcare.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit A.I.C. Litein Hospital.