Kenya: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project
132 Integrated Outreaches Completed: February to December 2017
March 01, 2018
Dr. Dominic Ongaki and Emma Kiriungi
Summary of Activities
Within this reporting period (February to December 2017), we successfully carried out a total of 132 integrated outreach activities at the selected sites. These were made possible with support from RMF and the MOH.
Essential health services provided:
- 7,579 (5,317 children and 2,262 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 5,193 (2,513 children and 2,680 adults) were treated for general ailments.
- 2,278 received deworming services.
- 500 children were fully immunized.
- 764 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 2,112 received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 8,198 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Nutritional Services
Treating Malnourishment
During this reporting period (February–December 2017), many women and children have 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 7,579 children and pregnant and lactating mothers (PLM) benefited from nutritional support. Severely malnourished cases are also being managed at various health facilities which are conducting these outreach activities. A total of 2,112 clients received Vitamin A supplementation, among whom 1,581 were children and 531 were pregnant and lactating mothers.
Immunization Activities
Protecting 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 500 children. Additionally, other children have benefited from various immunization antigens like OPV3, Penta 1, Penta 3, and Measles 3.
Antenatal Services
Helping 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 764 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.
General Treatment
Improving 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 5,193 clients, of which 2,513 were children and 2,680 were adults.
Deworming Services
Essential Care
A total of 2,278 clients received deworming services.
Prevention
Health Promotion and Education
During each outreach activity, our dedicated staff begins by giving health talks to the target population. This empowers the community with quality knowledge on how to protect themselves from a number of health-related conditions. 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 8,198 individuals with such messages during this reporting period.
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
More
Photos
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Numbers
Served
Direct Beneficiaries
Reporting Period Total
- 7,579 (5,317 children and 2,262 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 5,193 (2,513 children and 2,680 adults) were treated for general ailments.
- 2,278 received deworming services.
- 500 children were fully immunized.
- 764 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 2,112 received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 8,198 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.
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