Kenya: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project
1,365 Patients Treated in Central Turkana: Q2 2018
September 01, 2018
Dr. Dominic Ongaki and Joel Lochor
Summary of Activities
Within this reporting period (April to June 2018), we successfully carried out a total of 36 integrated outreach activities in the selected sites. These were made possible with support from RMF and the MOH.
Essential health services provided in Central Turkana:
- 879 (628 children and 251 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 1,365 (774 children and 591 adults) were treated for general ailments.
- 588 received deworming services.
- 81 children were fully immunized.
- 160 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 578 (423 children and 155 pregnant and lactating mothers) received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 2,204 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.

Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Nutritional Services
Support and Supplementation
During this three-month period, 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 879 children and pregnant and lactating mothers (PLM) benefited from nutritional support. A total of 578 clients received Vitamin A supplementation. Among them, 423 were children and 155 were pregnant and lactating mothers.

Prevention
HEALTH EDUCATION
Health promotion and education play primary roles in disease prevention and pave the way for better healthcare within the community. During this reporting period, the community was 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 2,204 individuals with such messages during this reporting period.

Antenatal Services
Protecting Women and Babies
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 160 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 in important in improving the health seeking behaviors of pregnant women.

Immunization
PROTECTING CHILDREN
The project has also enabled communities in remote areas to access vaccination as a way of improving the immunity of our children. During this reporting period, we have been able to fully immunize 81 children. Additionally, other children have benefited from various immunization antigens like OPV3, Penta 1, Penta 3, and Measles 3.

Deworming Services
ESSENTIAL CARE
A total of 588 clients received deworming services.

General Treatment
Health Care
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 1,365 clients, of which 774 were children and 591 were adults.

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
Central Turkana Total
- 879 (628 children and 251 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 1,365 (774 children and 591 adults) were treated for general ailments.
- 588 received deworming services.
- 81 children were fully immunized.
- 160 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 578 (423 children and 155 pregnant and lactating mothers) received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 2,204 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.

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