We were due to spend 15 days in Kenya - in both the slums of Nairobi and in the remote area of Pokot, near Uganda. The mission was originally intended as reconnaissance, but had become a full operational schedule due to the clamour for our services.

Care Highway is a small, versatile, Europe-based organisation run by Christopher Morrison, an experienced humanitarian. He first approached me in 2004 and it was just the opportunity I had been waiting for. I had reservations about how useful I could be as an osteopath compared to a doctor or dentist. However, Chris convinced me of the dire need for osteopathy in developing countries as a cheap, reliable and effective way of reducing pain; we need only our hands, a light-weight bench and an adventurous spirit.

After leaving Nairobi for the main part of the mission we headed to the deep tribal lands of Pokot.

These marginalised lands have no roads, running water or electricity and provide only the most basic sustenance to maintain human life. I found myself in a barren landscape, surrounded by slender, statuesque Africans in tribal dress.