GlobalGiving.org: Support Child & Family Wellness shops in Kenya

CFW wins quality assurance award!

Greg Starbird — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:49:29 GMT

Rosemary Nguku--CFW franchisee--2011-09

Three representatives of CFW were pleased to attend the "first global social franchising conference" in Mombasa, Kenya, November 9-11, 2011. At the conference, Sir Richard Feachem presented CFW with an award: "In commendation of excellence in quality assurance standards, systems and documentation."

We are so pleased to receive this award, which reflects our commitment to maintaining high quality standards throughout the CFW network. By controlling quality throughout each CFW clinic and throughout the supply chain feeding each CFW clinic, we are fulfilling the CFW brand promise. Patients are treated with dignity, healthcare is effective, and lives are saved.

Josephine Mburu, CFW's acting country manager in Kenya, comments, "It's because of the franchisees' hard work and cooperation that CFW has won this award. The award specifically recognizes the role of CFW field staff in ensuring standards are maintained, as well as the innovative, periodic peer-to-peer reviews that CFW franchisees use to encourage each other to maintain standards."

Congratulations to all CFW staff and franchisees for their excellent work which has led to this prestigious award!

Why access matters: a story from Kaanwa village

Greg Starbird — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:08:43 GMT

Photo of CFW clinic in Kaanwa village

During the launch of a new CFW clinic on June 30, 2011, our staff and new franchisee came face to face with the great need for health education and health care services in Kaanwa village, where the new CFW clinic is located. A young mother came to the CFW clinic carrying her baby, followed by the baby’s father. The baby (Sally) was eight days old and painfully thin, small, and looked so fragile she might break. The CFW nurse attended to the baby immediately but before she started to take the vital signs, the baby labored to draw air…her last breath.

From the history given by the mother, the baby was prematurely born and the delivery had happened at home. The local traditional birth attendant has helped the mother to give birth but the mother did not go for a review at the nearest health facility (a district hospital approximately 10km away). The young mother had not attended antenatal checkups, neither had she taken the baby to any health care provider.

Other villagers informed us that in Kaanwa, cases similar to this baby’s are not uncommon. Young mothers are not giving birth in the hospital and even when the child is very sick, they still do not go to hospital. Seeking of health care services is so delayed that in many cases nothing can be done to reverse the damage. Apart from the new CFW clinic, there are no other reliable health care providers in the area. A nearby church set up a clinic, but due to poor clinic management and frequent stock outs of essential drugs, the church clinic is frequently closed.

As part of this update, we've included a photo of the launch of the new CFW clinic in Kaanwa. Also, if you'd like to know where Kaanwa is located, please type the following GPS coordinates into Google Maps: -00.32172, 037.72026. Kaanwa is an example of a typical context in which CFW clinics are serving patients and saving lives by making basic healthcare accessible and affordable. Please consider contributing to CFW's ongoing effort.

CFW franchisee profile: Pharis Mureithi Ngaruri (includes GPS coordinates!)

Greg Starbird — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:59:34 GMT

CFW patient buying mosquito net

In this project report we present a profile of CFW franchisee Pharis Mureithi Ngaruri, as compiled by Caroline Nganga, a journalist who worked with CFW in 2010.

We've uploaded a photo of Pharis selling a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net to a CFW patient. In 2010, the CFW network in Kenya distributed over 11,000 mosquito nets. Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets can effectively prevent malaria for several years without being retreated with insecticide.

Pharis has been a CFW franchisee for 10 years! We are proud of his efforts to prevent disease and have uploaded the GPS coordinates of his CFW outlet (-00.42158, 037.25883) in case you are interested in using Google Maps to see where he is operating.

Pharis keeps his CFW outlet open 7 days per week, from 9 am to 6 pm. He also holds monthly outreach programs where he gives health talks on sanitation, malaria, water treatment and other common diseases in the area. When we asked about the impact of the outreach, Pharis said, “Information is vital and people know that and they really appreciate it. I go everywhere, like schools, welfare groups and even door to door because there could be a patient who doesn’t want to go for the outreach so I go to them. And most people will buy the products that I am selling, like mosquito nets or water guard or PUR. So it is helping because diseases like malaria and worm infections have really reduced.”

Pharis is a well known personality in the village of Kwaeliud in Kirinyaga district for two main reasons: his evangelism ministry and his work as an active community health worker in Kwaeliud where he is a CFW franchisee. Pharis told us how he got started in healthcare:

“I used to be a casual laborer before I started evangelism which I have been doing for over 30 years. I came to be a community health worker after attending various trainings with the Christian Community Services while still in church Ministry. I then took up healthcare as a career,” he said.

At 70 years of age, Pharis has had 10 children and several grandchildren. With 20 years offering healthcare services, and 10 with CFW, Pharis shifted from evangelism to health because, “In my evangelism, I was very involved with people who had many health problems so when Christian Community Services was giving trainings, I always attended. I then worked with government as a community health worker. A few years later, I attended a number of CFW trainings and then in 2001 I decided to open a CFW outlet that so I can be closer to people in my own community.”

Many thanks to Pharis for his continuing outstanding work on behalf of CFW!

How a retired nurse made a name for herself

Greg Starbird — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:26:13 GMT

Marietta outside her CFW clinic

Here is a story written by Caroline Nganga about a CFW nurse in Kenya:

What comes after retirement? This is a question many people nearing their retirement years grapple with as the years draw nearer. However, for one retired Karurumo Rural Health Centre nurse, Marietta Wanja, starting a clinic of her own was a dream she had wanted to accomplish even after retirement. Marietta, a mother of 5 and with a last born who is currently sitting for his national Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, has had over 30 years in the profession and is now living her dream by managing Karurumo CFW clinic in Karurumo Town, Embu East District.

Marietta had this to say on how she started the clinic: “I have always loved nursing because I love serving people and just giving them assistance when they need it. So after retirement, I wanted to continue with the same but now under my own clinic. I then sent an application to be a partner for a franchised clinic after I was advised by a friend and when it went through, I looked for a location, got it and did some renovations then opened the clinic.”

Marietta’s CFW clinic is normally opened everyday from 9 am – 6 pm and is located in a town where the main source of income is food crop and horticultural farming. Her clinic, which mostly provides curative and preventative Care, health promotion, outreach programs and rapid diagnostic services, is among 6 healthcare providers in the town. As for staying ahead of competition, Marietta says, “My plan is to always assure that I give quality services to my patients all the time. That is my best weapon to dealing with the competition. And also my outreach programs have helped because they have given me and my clinic recognition in the community.”

Marietta normally goes for monthly outreach programs to schools within the area to give health talks on issues like prevention of malaria and waterborne diseases. During these outreaches, Marietta addresses mothers and children alike and usually sells an average of 30 mosquito nets on these occasions.

Testimony from a CFW patient about malaria treatment

Greg Starbird — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:16:29 GMT

Sarah Njeri (left), w/ CFW community health worker

Here is a report compiled by our new communications intern in Kenya:

"Sarah Njeri Mburu has been a regular client of Mithini CFW shop in Makuyu, Muranga South District of Kenya for a few years now. Recently, her last born daughter of 12 months was diagnosed with the malaria but is at the moment recovering at home. During an interview conducted on 7^th October, 2010, with the 38 year old mother of three, Sarah says, “I came today to finish payment of my daughter’s treatment that was issued two days ago.”

When asked about her daughter’s recovery, Sarah says “She is doing much better, I am glad for the drugs that I bought here because they are very good. I have never been disappointed with them.” “I also like the services because they are good and affordable. I took the medication on credit and because of my good relationship with the community health worker in the shop; I am able to pay when I have the money.”

Sarah says that this is the first time that anyone in her family has been diagnosed with malaria because she always ensures that everyone in the house sleeps under a treated net .She is therefore not sure how her daughter caught the disease.

However, Sarah adds , “ I am very grateful to Mithini CFW shop because it is very accessible to me since I live 20 meters away. I also appreciate the outreach programs because they are very educative, through which I have learnt about clearing bushes and draining stagnant water which are some of the other ways of attracting mosquitoes. I have also learnt about treating water with PUR, which I buy at the shop.”

Sarah, who has in the past brought her children to Mithini CFW shop for other ailments like amoeba and respiratory tract infections, says that it has been a while since anyone in her family has been sick. This she attributes to applying the knowledge she acquires in the outreach programs held fortnightly in the women group meetings in her local church."

CFW outreach event to prevent HIV and water-borne disease

Greg Starbird — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:20:02 GMT

CFW--HIV Prevention

This summer, I and our new VP of Development (Jefferson Lee) attended a CFW outreach event in Central Kenya. At the event, a CFW franchisee stood before a women’s tree-growing group and presented information on preventing HIV and waterborne disease. The women received this information gratefully and were very hospitable to us. At the end of the event, they gave us (the visitors) two dozen ears of corn and a large stem of bananas, as tokens of their hospitality. It was a privilege to meet these Kenyan women and to be present while CFW’s preventive messages were being so warmly received. This sort of education is inexpensive and yet is part of the way CFW saves lives in Africa; last year CFW franchisees reached over 190,000 people through outreach activities like this. I’ve uploaded two photos of this event.

CFW--preventing waterborne disease

2009 Statistics Released!

Greg Starbird — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:18:11 GMT

CFW summary statistics--2009

CFW's 2009 statistics from Kenya have been released. We are pleased to report that the CFW network served over 500,000 people in 2009 through in-store sales and outreach activities. We've uploaded a chart of summary statistics so that you can see the effect that CFW is having in fighting prevalent diseases such as malaria in Kenya. More detailed statistics are available on our website; we've included a link below.

Links:

Click here for detailed 2009 statistics

Postcard from April: I ran a 10k to Count Malaria Out and finished dead last!

Marc Maxson — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:09:42 GMT

CFWshops co-sponsored a 10k race in Nairobi to mark World Malaria Day on April 24, 2010. The worldwide theme was “Count Malaria Out.” The sponsors aimed to fund and distribute 200,000 mosquito nets in Kenya. Since CFWshops has set up 80 health store franchises in Kenya, it is well-positioned to get many bednets out to people through a variety of means. Chris Blattman (Yale) has a pretty good summary of the debate around the various free vs pay strategies that work best to get everyone sleeping under a bednet (http://chrisblattman.com/2008/03/17/the-best-bednets-in-life-are-free/) if you are curious.

I arrived at Nyayo stadium early Saturday morning. About 100 Kenyans were already there decked out in race jerseys and white sneakers. Everyone was young and buff. I heard the howl of an airhorn and dashed off to the start line, where racers were already huddled.

I should have known something was amiss. I looked over the shoulder of the person on my right. He was poised to start his race watch. Same for the guy on my left. A few in front were down in a three-point stance. “You guys in a hurry?” I asked. One looked me over and smirked. “Don’t try to keep up with us. If you try, you won’t finish.” “Nonsense. I run a 10k every week.” A few others looked back at me and said nothing. I wondered what they were thinking. What I was thinking for just a fleeting moment was how cool it would be to win a race in Kenya as the sole white guy against 100 Kenyans. An image for the next Dos Equis commercial popped in my head. I imagined the Dos Equis mystery man running in slow motion with the voice over, “I once beat the Kenyans when I raced… In Kenya!”

The gun fired and everyone jumped into action. 100 Kenyan boys and girls sprinted away from the start line and ten seconds later, I found myself all alone in the back even though I was running at full speed – for a muzungo. One minute later, all I could see where the backs of heads. Not even out of the stadium yet, and I was panting.

I thought about the Haiku I'd posted a day earlier on Facebook: “Running a 10K, will altitude do me in, or Nairobi smog?”

Neither. The competition did, it turned out.

Still within sight of the stadium, the last girl I had any chance of catching sped ahead and was just a tiny blip on the horizon. I estimate she - the 2nd slowest racer - was doing 7 minute miles.

Five minutes into the race, even the back-of-the-pack ambulance gave up on me and drove ahead. I was totally alone. I wanted to laugh, but I was too out of breath.

Climbing the first hill, construction workers egged me on. “Stay strong!” was a common mantra, although there were a few jibes of “Come man, start running!” here and there.

By the fifteenth minute things actually got worse. People started lapping me as if I was standing still and the race staff pointing the way just shook their heads. “Poor guy."

I managed to finish with a respectable 10k time of 52 minutes. Everyone else finished in under 40 minutes! This marked a first for me – being dead last. It was a fun, humiliating experience I will always cherish.

Afterward, I realized that the involvement of two former Olympic gold medalists (Tom Ngugi and Charles Asati Mumesu) as organizers probably had a little to do with why all the runners were so fast. Both run training clubs for future Olympic runners and sent their lads and lasses to the race. Charles introduced himself to me after and we chatted a bit. He was quite interested in getting his training facility listed on GlobalGiving and planned to talk to Spencer Ochieng (CFWshops director) about it. I got him to sign my race bib and write his phone number so we can stay in touch. That’s one bib I’ll save!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ngugi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Asati http://chrisblattman.com/2008/03/17/the-best-bednets-in-life-are-free/

HealthStore featured in Franchise Times

Greg Starbird — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:38:43 GMT

We are pleased that the January 2010 issue of Franchise Times features our CFW network in Kenya. The title of the article is "How Social-Sector Franchising Can Work" and it is well worth reading. Click the link below to read the article for free.

Links:

Click here for Franchise Times article

HealthStore featured on stage at Clinton Global Initiative!

Greg Starbird — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:29:00 GMT

We are delighted that our commitment to expand our CFW network of medical clinics in sub-Saharan Africa will be featured on stage at the Clinton Global Initiative’s Fifth Annual Meeting this Friday in NYC. Our commitment was selected from a larger pool of member commitments as an exemplary approach to addressing a specific global challenge and will be announced with two other commitments related to finance and health.

Hot Dish Advertising has generously designed a handout summarizing our expansion commitment. I've uploaded the handout to this site; let us know what you think!

Attachments:

HealthStore Handout--2009-09 (PDF)

Postcard from Support Child & Family Wellness shops in Kenya

Leah Ambwaya and Gerry Kweya — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:35:38 GMT

Leah Ambwaya and Gerry Kweya visited this project as part of a GlobalGiving evaluation. Leah said:

We were able visit Dorah Nyanja a Public health nurse who runs a clinic in the slums of kibera.She louded the support she has recieved from CFW in terms of training,grants pertitioning of her facility, fixtures and fitting and the soft loan for drugs.

Ms Nyanja was dearly indedbted to the organisation for supporting her after resigning for her employment in a public hospital.She attests to the fact that the brand name CFW was instrumental in her facility surviving the vicious post election violence that hit Kibera so hard,her facility was not burned down.She says she put into action some of the skills she had recieved during the tarinings offered by CFW on empoweirng communities and building a rapport with them,appreciating them and connecting with them to survive during this difficult time,despite the fact that she was not from the tribe the pre dominantly reside in Kibera and were subject to eviction and burning down the businesses.

As we sat there talking to her she proudly shared her business records with us for scruitiny,she went ahead to pull out a cheque book and issue one to CFW for her loan repayment.She couldnt hide the fact that she is surely empowered.CFW had also recommended her to get a bigger loan from a banking institution which she waas proudly granted.We asked her,"If you had a choice could you change your business location from kibera?",she exclaimed "I cant dare,I have built strong relationship with this community the effects of post election violence have made me stronger and the technical support I recieve from CFW have made me to soldier on".

Gerry said:

When we went to Kisumu we were priviledged to meet the franchaisees from the town in one of their monthly meetings,the participants were very enthuastic in having us in there proceedings.

A few minutes of listening to their discussions,we heard some of the challenges faced which included serving the very poor in the community.These people are expected to pay some little money for the services provided.In a nutshell,some of them just cant."We are serving the most under priveledged members of the community.All they know when they see the brand name CFW is a miracle at their doorsteps".Says Veronica Anyango of Maisha Bora CFW clinic."what do you do is such instances?" we posed "As much as you want to do charity,you also need your business to thrive and to sustain yourself"."I am gratefull to be part of the CFW network since I have been trained on endurance and communication,the skills obtained in psycho-social support help me to understand this people and reason with them as to why the should not be used to free things.A small contribution from the clients gives them a sence of pride and self esteem.I keep on reminding them this everytime they walk into my clinic and when I visit some of them during my outreach visits."

After Anyango made this the statement we provoked her further to substantiate her statement,and what she added was that communities need to be empowered with information so that they may realise the ernoumous potentials they have around them which can be translated into financial resources.She gave examples of kitchen gardens,formation of compost and farm manures by recycling garbage etc.I thought this was quite interesting to be flagged out as an outcome of an outcome in a project cycle.

In order to reduce dependancy among communities,I think listening to some of the recommendations from this franchaisees is critical for purposes of contuinity,community ownership and self reliance.

From my observation Anyango believes further community engagement using CFW networks is the sure way of creating sustainability.As much as she didnt understand where the support she has recieved comes from,part of which is through global giving,she was more than sure that somebody somewhere has brought her this far in her business and service to the community.

As we drove through mandate slums in Kisumu, the CFW clinic was outstandingly poised next to vegetable kiosks with a bee hive of activities. Women and men selling all types of ware, children roaming around. Mt. Everest CFW clinic was the name on the walls. We opted to walk in and introduce ourselves to the gentleman who was seated behind the counter. Apparently he was the husband to the Francisee Ezinah Inyange. He says, “I don’t think I can explain anything, my wife owns the clinic and am just sitting in for her.” So we inquire on her whereabouts, and he tells us that she is attending a meeting with the other franchisees at Riat on Kisumu / Busia road.

To our surprise, he even went ahead to call her on his mobile phone and inform her of our presence at the clinic. ‘This is a clinic, everyone who walks in is our guest’ says Mr. Inyanje, “my wife is a nurse, she is the professional and for now she is out for a meeting, I can only sell things like paraceatamols”. He then gave us directions to the venue of the meeting place. As we walked around, we met a bodaboda cyclist and inquired from him if there was any hospital in the vicinity, “the CFW hospital?” he asked, it is just ahead, walk on” , he said. Right ahead of us we could see the clinic well branded.

There was a group of women and one man, they were all nurses, and they were having their monthly cluster meeting. We sought to talk to Ezinah.

“CFW has been very helpful, they have stood by me, my shop was looted during the post election violence, we were left with nothing, but they helped me restock my clinic, times are tough yes, but they offer a shoulder to lean on.” Says Edina. She says that she has learned to move on because she owes her service to the community. She wondered if CFW could think about an insurance fund to cater for any such disasters that might affect the franchisee clinics or shops.

CFW has kept us updated on any emerging issues in the medical sector; they facilitate us to bring services closer to the people. I wish to be fully involved in the immunization of children, but have the challenge of having coolers for the vaccines. KEPI provides coolers that can be used in areas without electricity, however, for me, I am lucky to have electricity supply; therefore a fridge would be an ideal gift for Ezinah.

Do you know who supports your work? “No, but whoever it is, am truly grateful” she says.

She appealed for the cost of the drugs to be reviewed, “the cost is high that I have to struggle to survive in business. We have just received the revised price list and that is what we are discussing here today, the prices have shot up so drastically, I trust that CFW will do something about this new prices” she concludes.

Some of the other francisees we met included, Eunice Omollo - riat clinic, Merab Ojal –Kapolo clinic, Jeniffer Mary Oliech- mamboleo clinic, Wilson Rajula-Ragegni clinic, Symprose Anayngo-maisha bora clinic, Janet Kamar-Fahelma clinic.

Leah and Gerry said that they would tell their friends this project is "incredible: You need to see this!"

GlobalGiving is committed to incorporating many viewpoints on our 600+ projects. We feel that more information,especially from eyewitnesses helps donors like you continue to support organizations doing great work in the community.

Attachments:

New Country Manager Successfully Recruited

Greg Starbird — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:03:27 GMT

Photo

We are pleased to announce that Spencer Ochieng, a qualified pharmacist with an MBA from the American University of Kenya, joined us as Country Manager in Kenya in January 2009. Spencer brings years of experience and training in management, marketing, and sales to our Kenya operation and is providing the inspirational leadership to drive the business forward. Click on the link below to see a photo of Spencer.

15 New CFWclinics Open For Business!

Greg Starbird — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:07:33 GMT

A New CFWclinic in Kenya--Open December 17, 2008

In Fall 2008, 15 new CFWclinics were opened in Kenya, bringing the total in Kenya to 82 outlets! Congratulations to the 15 new CFW franchisees who have successfully completed CFW training and are now open for business serving their communities with lifesaving healthcare. I've uploaded a photo of one of the new outlets--click the phrase below to view it.

Second PBS Documentary on CFWshops

Greg Starbird — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:44:20 GMT

The NOW television program on PBS aired an 18-minute documentary on the CFWshops network in August 2008, a follow-up to their Emmy-award-winning documentary of May 2007.

Watch it for free using the link below.

Links:

August 2008 PBS Documentary

PBS Documentary on CFWshops

Greg Starbird — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:03:27 GMT

The NOW television program on PBS aired a 25-minute documentary on the CFWshops network in May 2007 which subsequently won the Emmy award for best business documentary of 2007.

Watch it for free using the link below.

And tune in on Friday August 22, 2008 as NOW on PBS broadcasts an update on the CFWshops network.

Links:

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/321/index.html

CFWshops Update and Newsletter

Gina Malloy — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:41:10 GMT

CFWshops closed out 2006 having served over 470,000 people, bringing the total served since inception to over 1 million! Recently, PBS featured CFWshops in Kenya on their NOW show. Follow the link below to see the 20 minute video. Also, take a moment and read the June issue of our newsletter to see how far we've come in our mission to provide essential medicines to the rural poor of Kenya.

Links:

PBS Features CFWshops in Kenya!

Attachments:

CFW Kenya in 2006

Liza Kimbo — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:43:44 GMT

As of the end of September, CFW Kenya has served 337,476 patients in 2006, maintaining the amazing success rate of 2005. Since inception, CFW Kenya has served over 950,000 patients!

We continue to transform pharmacies to clinics that are staffed by nurses, providing a greater array of diagnosis and treatment. As of September 2006, we have 41 CFW clinics and 24 CFW shops.

The main diseases that we treat are respiratory infections, malaria and intestinal worms. With the success and efficiency of our micro-franchise model, we have kept the average treatment cost well below one dollar at $.65.

Click below to see pictures and read a clinic spotlight!

Attachments:

CFW Kenya in 2006 (PDF)

Credence's Story

Acumen Fund — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Attachments:

Acumen Story.doc (DOC)