Kenya

We partner with Organic Health Response to work with Community Health Workers (CHWs) in 3 rural villages on Mfangano Island, located in Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. We work out of the Ekialo Kiona Center, which  serves as a base for the CHWs to hold trainings, have weekly meetings, and maintain a library of health education resources from the Hesparian Foundation and other sources. The problems faced by these communities can appear grave, with HIV/AIDS prevalence estimated between 25 – 30% and ubiquitous schistosomiasis, malaria, typhoid, and other illnesses. But there are many highly motivated groups of community members coming together at the Ekialo Center to address these issues. Our current focus is on helping the CHWs identify and develop solutions to the most urgent health and social problems in their communities. This includes resource mapping, development of curricula for regular classes on health topics to be taught by the CHWs, and working with the Ministry of Health to supplement their existing training. Currently, the CHWs are working on a clean water health education campaign in anticipation of the coming rainy season.