Increasing child survival rates in Kenya
Although Kenya's infant mortality rate has been falling for the last few years, 56 in every 1,000 infants still die before they turn one. VSO is working with UNICEF, Deutsche Post World Net and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve survival rates. Field coordinator Simon Mugabi discusses the variety of approaches we're taking.
The project I’m working on
I field-coordinate a partnership aimed at improving child survival and reducing child and maternal mortality. It was launched as pilot project in September 2006. The project is part of Deutsche Post World Net’s commitment to support UNICEF’s work to reduce child and maternal mortality globally. The project implementation is directly through Kenya’s Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and involves community networks.
How the programme works
The major aspect of the project is getting communities involved in the key issues in child–mother survival. We also provide medical equipment and infrastructure of health facilities - vaccine fridges, microscopes, motor cycles, treated mosquitoes nets and so on.
One of the activities is a UNICEF programme called Orphaned Vulnerable Children - Cash Transfer (OVC–CT). It directly contributes to improving child survival by providing money so orphaned children can live in their home environs, obtain their basic needs like food and routine health services, and attend school.
Getting the community involved
Part of my work has been identifying and training community groups in various aspects of organisation management. I’ve worked with five so far.
Co-ordinating short-term volunteering
Part of my other remit has been to develop and coordinate a short-term volunteering programme. Every year, Deutsche Post selects employees from different divisions around the world. They travel to Kwale to volunteer within our projects for 14 days. They identify potential for change, assist health workers in the outreaches, visit families, schools and also provide financial donations to community groups to help them with new business ideas.
In 2008, DPWN short-term volunteers donated sports equipment to Lukore primary school in Kubo Division, and eight sewing machines to Hope for Youth and Children community group, which has currently enrolled 20 people for tailoring and dress-making classes. Another group, Mwereni Elimu Usafi Umoja na Maendeleo (MEUUM), received 12 bicycles and 15 female goats to start small-scale goat rearing.
Getting the message out
Another part of the strategy to improve child survival is ‘Malezi Bora’ (Good nurturing). The project used a road show to increase awareness about routine healthservices for mothers and children under five, expectant mothers, lactating mothers and women of child-bearing age. One youth group was contracted by UNICEF to paint Malezi Bora murals on the walls of 56 health facilities in the districts of Kwale, Kinango and Msambweni. These murals have been an effective method for dissemination of Malezi Bora messages.
Impact
I have now been at my VSO placement for close to two years. According to the Ministry reports for 2007 and 2008, there has been a tremendous improvement in the health indicator trends, including increased rates of child survival and high level of awareness on the best childcare practices among women in the our community. The community groups we’ve worked with have improved their organisation management skills, and are now able to write persuasive funding proposals. Three groups have so far initiated secure livelihood activities.
I feel so great to be a part of projects that are changing the lives of children, young adults and women in Kwale, Kinango and Msambweni districts.
On a professional level, I now have lots of skills and experience. I also speak pretty good Swahili. I’ve learnt about different cultures, networked and have lots of new friends.
