To reduce maternal child health mortality

Links:

• Iftin ward

INTRODUCTION

Women Initiative Health and Development (WIHCU) is an indigenous non-profit community-based organization (CBO) that supplies pastoralist communities in Garissa and Tana River Counties to create a healthy community atmosphere. WIHCU supports women in pastoral communities towards prevention and curative services of women, children, old people, and people living with HIV. Likewise, WIHACU formulates a long-term strategy that will enable the pastoralist community to look towards their future by empowering community with the skills to enhance their capacity and knowledge on HIV/AIDS information by creating opportunities for income-generating activities for the youth PLHIVS (People living with HIV/AIDS) and the entire community. WIHCU is registered with the ministry of gender social services and youth. It is also registered with the Medical and Dental Board (MPDB) as a Medical Hospital.WIHCU is engaged in a range of activities, which include health and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, anti-natal care, delivery, post-natal care, family planning and care of PLHIVS.

1.      Vision: WIHCUenvisions delivering quality primary healthcare to pastoral communities by empowering vulnerable communities through implementation of sustainable development projects2.      Mission:  To create lasting solutions for pastoralist community through vulnerable community’s health, sanitation and empowerment, building capacity on prevention and curative services in the targeted community.

WIHC conducted integrated health and behavioral change outreach that is supported by the cost its sharing system and Members monthly contribution. This quarter, April-June, faced a lot of challenges as there were climate change effects, i.e. heavy rainfall and harsh floods. This affected the whole country, with Garissa being one of the most affected counties in Kenya.

Garissa municipality was most affected; the Tana River burst and flooded all villages at the river side. This increased displacement of communities that camped in school compound. This increased vulnerability to our target group:

-          Children of 0 – 5 years

Pregnant and lactating mothers

Women living with HIV

-          Very sick and old age

There were reported cases of outbreaks of diarrheal diseases in most of the IDP camps. Sanitation facility were few compared to huge number of IDPs at the Camps. There was shortage of clean water and essential food items.

This was due to impassable roads and most infrastructures was broken or washed away. No food or medicinal items could be accessed due to lack of roads.

WIHC was able to respond with very little resource and partnered with the sub-county ministry of health, which provided some nutritional commodities to women and children in the IDP camps.

This was very challenging, as our resources were very limited. We were able to attend four IDP camps:

PTC IDP camp

-          Polytechnic IDP camp

-          Hyuga IDP camp

-          NaNep IDP camp

The total number of antenatal mothers visited during the outreach was 13 new visits and 24 revisits.  For immunization, a total of 98 children benefited from the outreach; some were continuing the immunization, and others were first-time immunized. A total of 31 TBAs (traditional birth attendants) reached were sensitized to referring all pregnant mothers to health facilities for delivery. during the outreach, the total number of community reached with anti-FGM was were30

WIHC also had meetings with women of child bearing age at WIHC facility. This was facilitated by WIHC. The focus of this meeting was to discuss and create awareness of the crisis and dangers in the IDP camps concerning protection of their children. There was a lot of child abuse and exploitation among children and young girls during this crisis. The women were asked to be extremely careful, be with their children and report any case of violation to the concerned authority.

The project officer, Mr Abdi, mentioned that there should be No alternative justice if a child has either been defiled or raped. They must face full force of the law. The religion does not allow alternative justice for any sexual or gender-based violence.

Always seek medical attention when one is sexually abused; don’t hide after, go and report to the police. We have to fight this bad habit, AbdiNarrated.

The TBAs were informed about personal hygiene, with special emphasis on hand washing and treating water for drinking by using pure water to avoid diarrhea diseases.

Challenges

Most of the communities in our catchment areas were mostly affected by floods. The household furniture was washed away or soaked in water

Most community living in IDP camps in school compound have very limited toilet facilities compared with the number of IDP living in the camp

outbreak of diarrheal diseases in IDP camps in the absence of adequate funding support to attend to and supplementary medicine.

There was overwhelming demand for curative services in absence of adequate medicine and support

Most children under 5 years old are very sick, as there are no referral services at the government facility. Doctors were on strike

There were cases of child abuse in most IDP camps. Some not reported and documented due to interference

Recommendation

There is need to support WIHC to be able to respond during such crisis times, as we are among the organizations that the county look upon during crisis time

There is need to equip the outreach with enough furniture and medical equipment

There is need to do camp visit and provide forums for the youth out of school on health and the prevention of sexually gender-based violence (SGBV), as this has increased in the villages

There is need to support WIHC in purchasing insecticide mosquito nets to be used by the IDPs in the camp and providing all pregnant mothers coming to the facility as mosquito population has increased

We do appreciate the member’s monthly contribution support, as we were able to respond when crisis or needs arose.

We request funding support in order to reduce maternal and child health. In addition, we appreciate GlobalGiving for vetting us and giving us a platform that increased our visibility