Kenya: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project

1,319 People Receive Nutrition Services: Q1 2018

May 01, 2018

Dr. Dominic Ongaki, Emma Kiriungi, and Veronica Ereng

Summary of Activities

Within this reporting period (January to March 2018), we successfully carried out a total of 36 integrated outreach activities at the selected sites. These were made possible with support from RMF and the MOH.

Essential health services provided:

  • 1,319 (937 children and 382 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
  • 1,663 (859 children and 804 adults) were treated for general ailments.
  • 613 received deworming services.
  • 73 children were fully immunized.
  • 192 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
  • 594 (451 children and 143 pregnant and lactating mothers) received Vitamin A supplementation.
  • 2,510 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.
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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AF Kenya LCTDR Q1 2018 4

Nutritional Services

Relieving Malnourishment

During this three-month period, many women and children benefited from the outreaches through nutrition services and Vitamin A supplementation. Using MUAC (mid-upper arm circumference), clients were categorized as having normal nutritional status or being severely or moderately malnourished. A total of 1,319 children and pregnant and lactating mothers (PLM) benefited from nutritional support. A total of 594 clients received Vitamin A supplementation. Among them, 451 were children and 143 were pregnant and lactating mothers.

AF Kenya LCTDR Q1 2018 1

Immunization Activities

Safeguarding Children

The project has also enabled communities in remote areas to access vaccination as a way of improving the immunity of their children. During this reporting period, we have been able to fully immunize 73 children. Additionally, other children have benefited from various immunization antigens like OPV3, Penta 1, Penta 3, and Measles 3.

AF Kenya LCTDR Q1 2018 7

Antenatal Services

Assisting Women

In the effort to promote quality services for pregnant women, reduce maternal mortality rates, and improve pregnancy outcomes, outreaches to disadvantaged communities play a key role. During this reporting period, we managed to provide antenatal services to 192 pregnant women. Many women received a tetanus toxoid vaccination, IFAS, and Vitamin A supplementation. This is an indicator that we are closely monitoring, especially 4th ANC coverage, with the goal of improving skilled deliveries performance and eventually reducing maternal mortality rates. Health education has also been important in improving the health seeking behaviors of pregnant women.

AF Kenya LCTDR Q1 2018 6

General Treatment

Promoting Health

One of the key activities within this project is management of minor illnesses and other conditions affecting the target population. The county government has been supportive in terms of providing essential drugs to enable us to offer treatment for conditions like malaria, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin conditions, and eye infections. This has contributed to a reduction in mortality caused by these conditions. During this reporting period, we were able to offer treatment to 1,663 clients, of which 859 were children and 804 were adults.

AF Kenya LCTDR Q1 2018 3

Deworming Services

ESSENTIAL CARE

A total of 613 clients received deworming services.

AF Kenya LCTDR Q1 2018 2

Prevention

Health Education

Health promotion and education play primary roles in disease prevention and pave the way for better healthcare within the community. We have achieved milestones in the performance of different indicators by laying a stable foundation in this sector. During each outreach activity, our dedicated staff begins by giving health talks to the target population. During this reporting period, communities were educated on a number of topics, including MNH, immunization, public and environmental health, and HIV and other STIs. All talks are aimed at curbing the spread of health-related conditions by putting in place adequate control measures to mitigate these. We managed to reach a total of 2,510 individuals with such messages during this reporting period.

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Background

& Objectives

Background

After responding to a September 7th, 2009 NY Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman, which highlighted the life threatening impact of the drought in Northern Kenya, Real Medicine Foundation coordinated a supply chain for water and food aid, and medical support to the region. We were able to provide a 4-week supply of food and water to 4,500 persons in severely drought affected regions of Turkana, Kenya where it had not rained in 4 years.

Objectives

  • Provide Medicines and Medical supplies to meet the needs of the targeted population
  • Increase Mobile/Outreach Clinics in the remote villages
  • Provide Medical Services at the Health Facility in Lodwar Town:
  • Supporting the physical/medical needs of the targeted population
  • Home visiting
  • Referrals of patients needing advanced care to tertiary care hospital, and HIV and TB government clinics
  • Teaching about and providing nutritious food
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More

Photos

Click to enlarge

Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

Direct Beneficiaries

REPORTING PERIOD TOTAL

  • 1,319 (937 children and 382 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
  • 1,663 (859 children and 804 adults) were treated for general ailments.
  • 613 received deworming services.
  • 73 children were fully immunized.
  • 192 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
  • 594 (451 children and 143 pregnant and lactating mothers) received Vitamin A supplementation.
  • 2,510 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.