Kenya: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project
1,750 Received Vitamin A Supplementation: Q3 2018
November 01, 2018
Dr. Dominic Ongaki, Dr. Jacob Nakuleu, and Dr. David Moru
Summary of Activities
During this reporting period (July, August, and September 2018), we successfully carried out a total of 63 integrated outreach activities at the selected sites. These were made possible with support from RMF and the MOH.
Essential health services provided in the different regions:
Central Turkana
- 903 (651 children and 252 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 1,385 patients were treated for general ailments.
- 585 received deworming services.
- 86 children were fully immunized.
- 155 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 579 received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 2,205 were reached with public health messages through health education outreaches.
North Turkana
- 1,292 (1,011 children and 281 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 1,667 patients were treated for general ailments.
- 1,869 received deworming services.
- 412 children were fully immunized.
- 350 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 1,171 received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 1,509 were reached with public health messages through health education outreaches.
East Turkana
- 764 children were seen, of whom 401 received immunizations, and 363 were treated for general ailments.
- 141 clients were given family planning (FP) services.
- 46 children were found to be malnourished, of which 14 had severe malnutrition and 32 had moderate malnutrition.
- 951 were reached with public health messages through health education outreaches.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Nutritional Services
TREATING MALNOURISHMENT
During the two-month reporting period of February and March, 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 2,241 children and pregnant and lactating mothers (PLM) benefited from nutritional support. Kerio division is still the main area of focus, as many clients screened were in the severely malnourished category. Our teams are also monitoring the severe cases at Kerio Health Centre and recording any improvements. Other cases are also being managed at various health facilities conducting these outreach activities. A total of 1,750 people received Vitamin A supplementation.
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 3,415 clients.
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 505 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 a reduction in maternal mortality rates.
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 899 children. As a sub-county, we have noted a remarkable improvement in FIC achievements. 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 2,454 clients received deworming services. This is a boost in our performance, given that in the previous quarter as a sub-county we had performed dismally in this indicator. With our continued partnership, we anticipate tremendous improvements as we reach more people in remote areas.
Prevention
HEALTH EDUCATION
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 4,665 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
Numbers
Served
Direct Beneficiaries
REPORTING PERIOD TOTAL
- 2,241 (1,708 children and 533 pregnant and lactating mothers) received nutrition services.
- 3,415 were treated for general ailments.
- 2,454 people received deworming services.
- 899 children were fully immunized.
- 505 pregnant mothers received antenatal services.
- 1,750 received Vitamin A supplementation.
- 141 women received family planning services.
- 4,665 people received public health messages through health education outreaches.
More Reports on: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project Archive
Country Page: Kenya
Initiative Page: Lodwar Clinic and Turkana Drought Relief and Mobile Medical Outreach Project