Help protect 1000 health workers in Western Kenya

GLOBAL GIVING REPORT JULY 2020

Help protect 1000 health workers in Western Kenya

Introduction

Safe Water and AIDS Project (SWAP) has been operating in Western Kenya since 2005 with public health programs, research and emergency response. SWAP's mission is to provide innovative solutions for improved health and economic status of communities. SWAP has joined the Ministry of Health COVID 19 rapid response teams to help prevent the spread and mitigate the impact. We have been reaching out to remote public health facilities with hand washing stations, soap, personal protective equipment and hygiene promotion. The area was further affected by flood which made communities more vulnerable and at risk.

The scope of the problem

Healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings lack essential WASH and health care waste services.

• 50% Lack access to piped water
• 33% Lack improved Sanitation
• 39% Lack soap for hand washing
• 39% Lack adequate infectious waste disposal

Without appropriate WASH infrastructure and services, patients, healthcare workers, and communities are at increased risk of disease. For example, if patients or staff drink unsafe water when they are thirsty, or when taking oral medications, they could get sick with a waterborne disease. WASH infrastructure and services are also essential to allow healthcare workers to perform appropriate infection prevention and control practices. For example, both healthcare workers and patients need access to hand hygiene supplies to reduce the risk of spreading infections through unwashed hands. This has become more essential during the current COVID 19 community spread.

In Kenya the first case was reported and confirmed on March 13^th and currently there is community spread with over 14000 cases. Health facilities in rural areas are ill prepared and the health workers at risk. Some health facilities were further challenged due to the massive floods in the region with as a results some health facilities were hard to reach and others were submerged under water with collapsed toilets.

Activities

Distribution of supplies to health facilities

SWAP visited 150 public health facilities in Kisumu County and 27 health facilities in Rarieda, Sub County and distributed hand washing stations, soaps and Personal Protective Equipment. The initial response was done with funding from VoX Impuls, a Dutch Family Foundation, but a top up of supplies was facilitated with funding through GlobalGiving.

The GlobalGiving Fund supported two additional health facilities with the following supplies:   Hand washing station, box of hand washing soap, bleach, waterguard, menstrual bin, waste management bins, waste management liners, heavy duty gloves, surgical gloves, surgical masks and a gown.

The two additional health facilities were Pandipieri Community Center, serving the vulnerable communities in the slums of Kisumu City and St Elizabeth Mission Hospital a busy Hospital in Kisumu East with many outreach programs and good leadership.

Face Masks

Local tailors were trained to make double layer cotton face masks with filter in between. Ten each were distributed to 27 public health facilities in Rarieda Sub County (270) in Siaya County where we had a program on WASH and Waste Management at Health Care Facilities. Ten each were given to 21 public health facility in Nyando Sub County and 22 in Nyakach Sub County in Kisumu County where we had a program evaluating a sanitary platform at health care facilities. The masks were used by Community health volunteers attached to the health facilities and the casuals who are responsible for cleaning. Another 20 masks were provided to Vihiga County where community health volunteers were trained on COVID 19 and provided education to patients at the health facility as well as in the households.

And 20 were given to Rachuonyo Sub County where community health volunteers were as well trained on COVID 19 prevention and were educating parents with young children on the same.

Water Tank for Health Facilities

Omia Diere Health Center in Rarieda Sub County lacked any reliable water source after their water tank got spoiled and could no longer hold any water. They had to use community health volunteers to get water from a far distant borehole which was very difficult and labor intensive. Lack of water also posed a challenged in managing WASH and preventing COVID 19 since increased awareness created more demand for proper hygiene and handwashing. SWAP procured a water tank which was brought from Nairobi and delivered to the site. We further provided materials and mentorship for the base and gutters in order to harvest rainwater. The tank was installed during the first week of July 2020.

A second water tank was ordered for Rambugu Health Facility as well in Rarieda when it was reported during a dissemination meeting SWAP attended that they had similar challenges and were lacking any reliable source of water. This will be delivered to the site. The Health Facility in charge will take care of the installation.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND DONATIONS

• July 2020 report with images (PDF)