Reduce spread of COVID 19 in Kenyan communities

Project Report | Dec 23, 2022
The End

By Paula Murira | Communications Officer

Proper C19 preventive measures during motor mobile

“As I went into a matatu, an old woman sneezed to my face. I jokingly told her that she would infect me with C-19 as I reminded her of the recommended way to cover up while sneezing.” CORP partner Nelly started, “We talked throughout the journey as she told me how she had been scared of the disease but was lucky that 2 years later, she had not contracted it. We exchanged phone numbers and promised to keep in touch.”

I started feeling sick days later and decided to go to the hospital for a check-up. After consultation with the doctor, they tested me, including the Covid test, which came out positive! I immediately called the old woman to tell her the news, and she told me that she had not been feeling well. I encouraged her to get tested, and her results returned positive too.

As much as I was sharing information with people on protecting themselves, I had forgotten to keep myself safe. Luckily, we both recovered well and continue to tell all community members to continue to be vigilant – C19 is still around!!” Finished CORP Nelly from Ololunga (in the Mara Ecosystem).

CHAT reached a total of 32,583 people with family planning integrated with COVID-19 behaviour change communication (bcc).
CHAT’s grass root partners, the Community Own Resource Persons (CORPs), continue to make and follow up on referrals and continue to distribute face masks, soap, and hand sanitisers.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting us by donating and sharing our project with their family and friends. Thank you to GlobalGiving for providing us with a platform that has enabled us to receive funds to provide much-needed help to desperately poor communities.

COVID-19 is no longer a threat as it was in 2020 when we started this rapid response project. Your kind donations through this period have helped us procure and then distribute Personal Protective Equipment to often remote and hard-to-reach communities who would otherwise be forgotten.

Through our CORP partners, via CHAT’s Backpack Strategy, CHAT have incorporated C-19 into their holistic health & well-being education package. They will still need your support, so please click on the links below to our other 2 projects on GG.

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/saving-kenyas-environment-through-family-planning/

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/reduce-suffering-via-health-care-in-kenya/

Our CORP partners, through the backpack strategy, have provided health education to thousands of people whilst also helping with basic screening and referrals to nearby health facilities. Through the motor mobile, the CHAT nurse has educated, screened and referred patients for testing and further management to hospitals.

CHAT continues to work on the “C19 frontline” by providing information and encouraging everyone to remain vigilant.

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Aug 29, 2022
First-Hand Experience

By Violet Achieng' | Data and M&E Officer

Client putting on mask during Motor Mobile.

“As I had gone for M&E and report collection at the Nanyuki teaching and referral hospital, I could not stop coughing. Since we were in the chest clinic, the personnel kept teasing that it might be TB. They suggested that maybe I should get tested; if anything, the lab is only 100 metres away. I laughed and dismissed their suggestion with an excuse for severe tonsilitis and allergies.” Paula, CHAT’s communications officer narrated.

The sneezes and coughs got worse and more frequent, now becoming a serious matter. The “County TB Team” started talking about visitors to the clinic they had a few weeks earlier. “As usual, there are always different people visiting the health facilities, and this time round 3 individuals from the national TB program had come to check on the activities in the chest clinic.” Nurse Munyua started. “The team lead kept coughing, making the same joke of it being TB. He went to the lab to provide a sample for testing - to prove that he is not stigmatised and is in the front line of fighting TB.”

“After he gave the sample, the lab technician asked to test him for COVID to rule it out before the TB results came out. He was hesitant because he believed he had been protecting himself fully. He hesitantly agreed to it. The test came out C-19 positive, to his dismay! He could not understand how, when or where he caught it “… but for sure needed to get the rest of the team tested and start treatment immediately,” Munyua finished.

“This story sent chills down my spine. I could not imagine having C-19. What if I had passed it on to other people? I thought. I immediately went to the lab too for a test. The test came out negative. It had been a long time since I put on a mask, and completely forgot the hand washing or any C-19 preventive measures. This was my wake-up call to be more careful, especially now that people tend to forget the severity of the disease,” Paula finished.

CHAT reached a total of 31,811 people with family planning integrated withCOVID-19 behaviour change communication (bcc).

CHAT’s grass root partners, the Community Own Resource Persons (CORPs), continue to make and follow up on referrals and continue to distribute face masks, soap, and hand sanitisers.

“Ultimately, the greatest lesson that COVID-19 can teach humanity is that we are all in this together.” Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Screening by Nurse Ann before service provision

Proper handwashing

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May 6, 2022
Remorse.

By Paula Murira | Communications Officer

Correct mask wearing by CORP Ntoijoni

* Not their real names

“When I got a call from school the first thing I thought is - my daughter, *Kendi, had done something wrong.” *Nkirina started. “My mind rushed to all the stories I always hear from parents about how their children are expelled or suspended. On the other hand, I was worried as schools have been shut down due to burning and vandalism. In my absent-mindedness, the phone stopped ringing and I had to call the teacher back.

Her voice was full of concern. She requested that I stay calm as she tells me what was going on. She said that my daughter was in isolation in school since she had signs and symptoms of COVID. They were collecting samples for testing and they would share the results with us later. My heart immediately sank and I could not believe that after two whole years, March 2022 is when she got it! My mind was racing. Was she going to get worse? Will she recover? Will the results be positive or is it bad flu?

Knowing the possibility of her having C-19 meant I could not see her or bring her back home. She would undergo treatment at school and the only way we could communicate was through windows and at a distance. The following morning, the results were shared with us which confirmed the worst. She had it. I knew it had come from the interactions at the matatu (mode of public transport) stage or from other students since they share a lot of the school’s amenities. Being a person who always complained about masks, I realised that I had been a bad example. Had I taken more precautions and followed the guidelines, then my Kendi would have followed them too and prevented this sad ordeal.

I blame myself especially since on closing day as I was picking her up from school, I met CORP Mercy Mwari giving out masks and hand sanitisers to students while emphasizing the importance of following all the protocols. I quickly dismissed her telling Kendi that there isn’t any more C-19 she would just waste our time! Although she got better, I still worry about the long-term side effects that she might get.

Although not rampant as before, C-19 is still there. Many of us have gone back to living a normal life and have forgotten the severity of this disease. Please let us take care of ourselves for our own sake!” She finished.

CHAT reached a total of 31,811 people with integrated family planning & COVID 19 behaviour change communication (bcc). CORPs continue to make and follow up on referrals and distribute face masks, soap, and hand sanitisers.

"When we wear a mask, you'll be saving a life. That life could be your own, or someone who means a lot to you" Ron Baratono

CHAT CORP assisting a mother to put on her mask

Sanitizing as a safety measure against C19

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