PASTORALIST FOUNDATION FOR LIFE

 

 

 

                                                       SOLOLO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS

 

Pastoralist society in Kenya are people who are caught in a never ending struggle for survival with unsafe water, too little food, little education and no voice or power in national decision making. They are people who are denied liberation. This holds them back from a full human life, which is about transforming the society and building a new future with a new society.

A needy assessment survey carried out by Pastoralist Foundation for Life on health and development on pastoralism in Sololo District focused on:

 

- Pastoralist food security system and development needs

- Reproductive health needs in pastoralism

- Pastoralist water system and development needs

- Interaction between HIV/AIDS and pastoralist food security system

 

A - Pastoralist Food Security System and Development Needs

Livestock Production System form the backbone pastoralist food security system. Diseases, drought and cattle rustling seriously affect Livestock Production System. Livestock losses due to drought creates households economic damage and poverty, facilitating pastoralist dropout from pastoralist lifestyle to street dwellers in satellite centres and major towns in Kenya.

Drought crisis resulting from rainfall shortage break down families and triggers pastoralist labour mobility to major towns to search for jobs as a drought coping strategy and self-restocking mechanism. In the process of struggling to meet basic needs in major towns, the pastoralists acquire sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. They fallback after the drought is over and facilitate the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the rangelands.

Fragile security situation leading to proliferation of small fire arms. These fire arms are used for cattle rustling to facilitate self-restocking after drought or diseases outbreaks causing massive livestock losses and households poverty. Limited markets for livestock and their products make pastoralist economic base very fragile and unstable.

Pastoralists have limited knowledge on utilization of natural resources potential, e.g. land, water sources, wildlife for eco-tourism, sand, gravels, vegetation for commercial purpose e.g. timber. These resources are exploited by the few rich people who claim to be assisting pastoralist to solve their problems.

High pastoralist rural-urban migration during drought, cattle rustling and tribal conflicts create poverty and development of slums in satellite centres, street children are becoming a major problem to most pastoralist shopping centres. This is also accompanied by young girls prostitution to  ???

??? household food insecurity regardless of seasons, facilitating brewing of changaa in villages.

This builds up a culture of alcoholism in villages and waste of economic resources due to negligence of livestock rearing.

Heavy relief food delivery during drought spells with prolonged distribution of relief food creates dependency syndrome in society reducing the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination.

Childhood malnutrition is prevalent among the pastoralist during drought and famine, when there is a serious shortage of animal milk.

Lack of essential nutrients leads to immunodeficiency of the general population during drought and famine, triggering outbreak of pneumonia, diarrhoeal and communicable diseases.

Lack of supplementing facilities to pastoral system e.g. slaughter houses, meat and milk processing plants.

Little awareness on basic principles of pastoral land use system by decision makers.

Lack of pastoralist voice in decision making and policy formulation.

Agro-pastoralism is possible in some areas, but majority of pastoralists do not practice crop farming because they live in arid and semi arid areas.

Pastoralists purchase food stuff in shopping centres during food shortages i.e. drought and famine. These food stuffs are sold at high prices and pastoralists are exploited in the process.

Sale of firewood and charcoal burning to generate household income is common. This destroys the vegetation and creates desertification in arid lands. Destruction of vegetation facilitates soil erosion with loss of soil fertility, resulting into poor crop production. Loss of vegetation cover due to overgrazing and charcoal burning causes floods with destruction of community physical assets and human life.

Harsh climatic condition in arid and semi-arid lands inhibit crop production in large scale.

Pastoralists consume milk and raw blood from domestic animals. They acquire zooinotic diseases e.g. bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis.

 

 

B - Reproductive Health Needs in Pastoralism

Male domination in Reproductive Health decision making is central in pastoralism. Husbands decide for delivery facility and antenatal attendance. Male also decide how the family resources are used for reproductive health needs of the mother and the family. Home deliveries are most prevalent than health facility deliveries among the pastoralists. These deliveries are conducted by unskilled traditional birth attendants under unhygienic conditions, predisposing to puerperal and neonatal sepsis.

Limited accessibility of family planning services in pastoralist communities leading to large family sizes. High risk pregnancies are also prevalent due to lack of family planning information and services.

Early child marriages - this subjects young girls to obstetric complications during delivery because their reproductive system is immature to withstand the physiological stress of pregnancy and labour. Obstructed labour becomes prevalent in young women and vesico-vaginal or recto-vaginal fistulae complication are very distressing experiences to young women and this subjects them to divorce.

Negative socio-cultural belief of the pastoralist community on reproductive health services.

Perception of children as a sign of wealth in pastoralist society. Women are seen as producers of children. This subjects them to multi-parity and high risk obstetric categories. High risk obstetric category causes maternal mortality.

Lack of ownership of economic resources for women hindering the ability to meet cost for reproduction health care services.

Discrimination of girl-child in education with future negative impact in adult life decision making.

Poor delivery health services and systems in pastoralist community, limiting utilization of reproductive health services.

Pastoralists lack knowledge on existence of reproductive health services.

Female genital mutilation practices. This is complicated with haemorrhage, sepsis, scaring, obstructed labour and vesico-vaginal fistulae.

Migratory lifestyle of pastoralists limiting accessibility and delivery of reproductive health services.

Wife inheritage, a risk in transmission of HIV/AIDS in the society.

Polygamy, a risk factor in HIV/AIDS pandemic

 

C - Pastoralist Water System and Development Needs

Pastoralist Water System is communally owned. Pastoralists entirely rely on natural water sources and individually developed by a clan or a recognized individual. Water system is managed by elder who direct the community on the usage of water and protection of water sources from misuse or destruction by other clans or tribes grazing within the same area.

A system of elders schedule the use of water point during water scarcity. They plan together with those herding livestock when a particular clan should get water from the main community water point.

Pastoralists belief that water is a natural and God given resource which should be shared communally without segregation or exchange of livestock or money i.e. principle of African Socialism.

Availability of water is important in the life of pastoralists, because it determines their settlements, ceremonial activities and utilization of pasture from the rangelands. Water points in pastoralism lifestyle can be a source of human and animals conflict as well as human to human conflict with loss of life and property.

Pastoralists main water points include hand dug wells, earth dams, surface run off, natural springs and natural sand dams in river beds. These water sources are subject to contamination from organic wastes and disease producing organisms, making diarrhoeal diseases as the most prevalent morbidity in pastoralists’ areas. Pastoralists do not belief on boiling of water since they belief that water cannot transmit diseases.

Water points in most pastoralist communities occupied areas are not well developed or completely not developed at all. They are still in their crude form and under utilized for community development.

Water services in pastoralist occupied districts are inadequately delivered, limiting socio-economic development of the community.

Water supply is poorly developed in pastoralist occupied rangelands. Pastoralists are almost always mobile in search for water and pasture, facilitation transmission of communicable diseases in humans and livestock.

Most water development projects established in pastoralist areas are not people centred and lack community involvement. People lack sense of ownership of projects resulting into non-sustainability of projects and persisting community water needs.

Most water points surrounding areas are overgrazed by livestock resulting in damage of the eco-system. Human activities e.g. settlements are concentrated around permanent water points, resulting in destruction of the physical environment e.g. vegetation and depletion of natural resources.

Human consumption of contaminated water results into their suffering from waterborne diseases e.g. cholera, typhoid and amoebic dysentery .

Stagnant water from surface runoff dams, are a favourable media for breeding of mosquito larvae.

Malaria is usually a threat to pastoralist community during rain seasons. Pastoralists do not know that water is a media for breeding of mosquito, instead they are happy because of plenty of surface water for their livestock.

During drought pastoralists move long distances with their livestock to get water for use. This causes human and livestock stress. Livestock stress during droughts is more due to search for water and pasture from the distanced rangelands. This causes animals muscle wasting and poor milk production for human consumption.

Pastoralists at times conflict with wild animals over water points and if they are damaged on the process they are not compensated by the ministry or department concerned with wildlife, because pastoralists see it as a natural phenomenon. They are not aware of their rights in relation to conflicts with wildlife.

 

D - Interaction between HIV/AIDS and Pastoralist Food Security System

HIV/AIDS and Pastoralist Food Security System i.e. livestock production system interact and produce human suffering and mortality in pastoralism. These interactions include:

- Loss of livestock biomass as a result of drought and diseases

- Malnutrition of all family members

- Household fragmentation due to migration

- Breakdown in pastoralist food security system

- Livestock diseases

- Increases vulnerability to HIV acquisition/transmission through migration/selling sex for food

- Decrease pastoralist family ability to purchase food

- Increases care burden within pastoralist family especially among women and girls

- Decreases pastoralist life expectancy and child survival

- Increases school drop-outs especially for the pastoralist girl-child

- Creates grandparents/children headed households/orphans

- Diverts family members from livestock rearing to care for the sick relatives

- Loss of land rights through non-use

- Strips pastoralist community assets - human, social, financial and physical

- Lead to loss of appetite and nutrient mal-absorption

- Exacerbates existing social inequities, especially those of gender, sexuality and race

- Pastoralist household fragmentation and intra-family discrimination/exclusion

- Declining livestock rearing can force members of pastoralist households to look for work in cities  and this rural-urban migration can further drive the epidemic

- Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS form a deadly alliance-under nutrition increases the susceptibility to opportunistic infections and consequently worsen the severity of HIV associated conditions

- Increases incidences of opportunistic infections within the families and pastoralist communities e.g. tuberculosis.

 

Needs assessment study also tried to find out marginalised minority groups in pastoralism and the challenges they face in the community in meeting their health and development needs. This is shown in Table I below:

 

Table I: Marginalised Minority Groups in Pastoralists and challenges they face meeting their health and development needs

 

  

 

Marginalised Minority Group

Health and Development challenges faced

1

Unmarried Pregnant Girls

- communal rejection and isolation

 

 

- lack of resources for meeting basic needs

 

 

- possibility of promiscuity

 

 

- no marriage for life from their community members

 

 

- victims of poverty

 

 

- risk of acquiring STD/HIV/AIDS

 

 

- unmet reproductive health needs

 

 

- lack of money to pay health care services

 

 

- migration to towns outside their community

2

Divorced Women

- no rights to inherit resources and wealth

 

 

- poverty

 

 

- social rejection

 

 

- possibility of promiscuity

 

 

- lack of money to pay for basic needs

 

 

- unmet reproductive health needs

 

 

- migration to towns outside their communities

 

 

- psycho social stress in relating to other members of the community

 

 

- risk of acquiring STD/HIV/AIDS due to multiple sexual partners

 

 

- difficulty in bringing up children as a single parent in resource poor setting

 

 

 

Marginalised Minority Group

Health and Development challenges faced

3

Disabled Persons

- not able to meet their basic needs e.g. blind and physically challenged

 

 

- lack of employment

 

 

- lack of special programmes or services to meet the needs of disabled persons

 

 

- no representation of the disabled persons in decision making forum in the District

 

 

- difficulty in meeting their health needs e.g. hygiene, accessibility to essential medicines

4

Orphans

- lack of essential basic needs

 

 

- lack of parental love and care in upbringing

 

 

- risk of acquiring diseases of poor sanitation e.g. diarrhoeal diseases

 

 

- poor housing conditions

 

 

- lack of basic education

 

 

- food shortages, especially during drought and famine, leading to malnutrition

 

 

- lack of psycho social stimulation as a result of parenting care

5

Elderly

- diseases of aging, rheumatism, joint stiffness, hypertension, heart problems, urine retention, cancers

 

 

- malnutrition due to loss of teeth for chewing hard food stuffs

 

 

- accidents from falls due to loss of sight

 

 

- not able to meet personal hygiene

 

 

- poverty

 

 

- not able to meet basic needs

 

 

- not able to pay for health care bills

6

Broken Families due to Deaths

- difficulty in meeting family basic needs e.g. food, health care, education, shelter

 

 

- poverty at households, leading to malnutrition

 

 

- inadequate parental love and care for the children

 

 

- psychological trauma of the family members

7

People living with HIV/AIDS

- risk of frequent attack of opportunistic infections

 

 

- lack of adequate nutrition during drought and famine

 

 

- risk of contracting communicable diseases e.g. tuberculosis and other co-infections e.g. malaria

 

 

- periodic shortages of ARV’s and opportunistic diseases medications

 

 

- community discrimination and stigmatisation

 

 

- loss of jobs for the employed resulting in poverty

 

 

- family finances directed to pay medical bills instead of using for family development

 

 

- self-denial of being infected by HIV/AIDS, leading to delay in seeking for treatment and this drive the epidemic in the community

 

 

Marginalised Minority Group

Health and Development challenges faced

8

Female Headed Families

- due to lack of wealth inheritance for women, poverty of households results

 

 

- this is associated with diseases of poverty e.g. tuberculosis and malnutrition

 

 

- poor housing with transmission of air-borne diseases

 

 

- lack of essential basic needs e.g. food, water, health care and shelter

 

 

- family unit become relief dependent

 

 

- lack of basic education for the siblings

 

 

- no voice in decision making in the community

 

 

- at risk of STD/HIV/AIDS as a result of multiple sexual partners

9

Pregnant and lactating mothers

- anaemia related to iron and folic deficiency, threatening the life of the mother and foetus

 

 

- at risk of pregnancy and delivery related complications e.g. APH, PPH and sepsis

 

 

- poor transportation systems in pastoral areas to facilitate referrals in cases of emergencies

 

 

- maternal malnutrition in times of household food deficits e.g. in drought and famine, leading to foetal intrauterine malnutrition

 

 

- malaria in pregnancy threatening maternal and foetal well-being

 

 

- at risk of transmitting HIV/AIDS to newborn/infants during pregnancy and breastfeeding

 

 

- lack of financial resources to meet health needs

 

 

- poverty in pastoralism limiting accessibility to quality health care services

 

 

- reduced immunity in pregnancy predisposing to communicable diseases e.g. TB and malaria

 

 

- increased physiological demands in pregnancy and lactation causing nutritional deficiency disorders

10

Children under 5 years

- biological pathogens and their vectors/reservoirs e.g. micro-organisms in human excreta, disease vector e.g. mosquitoes, houseflies, rats and airborne pathogens

 

 

- inadequate quantity of natural resources e.g. food, water

 

 

- physical hazards - within the house e.g. domestic injuries and outside e.g. flooding

 

 

- poor services and security

 

 

- poor immunisation services

 

 

Source: Sololo Mission Hospital - Enhancing Community Participation in Health Services Programme Baseline Survey - March 2009

 

 

 

 

 

The Needs Assessment Baseline Survey also revealed disease priorities by communities visited as shown in the Table II below:

 

Table II: The Most Common Diseases by Community Priorities

 

 

Community

Community Disease Priorities

1

Waye Godha

1. Malaria

 

 

2. Joint Pains

 

 

3. Skin Infections

 

 

4. Diarrhoea

 

 

5. Worm and Parasites

2

Mado-Adhi

1. Diarrhoea

 

 

2. Malaria

 

 

3. Acute respiratory infections

 

 

4. Joint pains

 

 

5. Eye infections

3

Dadach-Elele

1. Malaria

 

 

2. Diarrhoea

 

 

3. Acute respiratory infections

 

 

4. Joint pains

 

 

5. Skin infections

4

Rawana

1. Malaria

 

 

2. Diarrhoea

 

 

3. Eye infections

 

 

4. Ear infections

 

 

5. Common cold

 

Source: Sololo Mission Hospital Enhancing Community Participation in Health Services Programme Baseline Survey, March 2009.

 

Malaria and diarrhoea are the two top causes of morbidity as ranked by the communities. These diseases are environmental and sanitation related morbidities.

Endemic diseases in the general population assessment was also done and the community prioritised the following diseases

 

- Anaemia

- Tuberculosis

- Sexually transmitted infections (STI)

- Skin infections

- Eye infections

- HIV/AIDS

- Diarrhoea

 

Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis are endemic diseases in the communities visited. These are global target diseases, because of their morbidity and mortality burdens to the poor developing countries communities. Facility based health care services are the services available to the community, but community based services are non-existence.

 

THE NATIONAL HEALTH DOCUMENTS

 

These documents should be used as technical reference documents by the programme staff and can be used in community based trainings.

These documents are:

- National guidelines for Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT)

- National Health Sector Strategic Plan II, 2005 - 2010

- National AIDS Strategic Plan, 2005 - 2010

- National Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Malaria

- National Guidelines for HIV Testing and Counselling in Kenya, May 2008

- National Guidelines for Quality Obstetrics and Prenatal Care

- National Tuberculosis and HIV Collaborative Activities Guidelines

- National Guidelines on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)

- WHO Guidelines on the use of insecticide - treated mosquito nets for the prevention and control of   

   malaria in Africa

The above documents were referenced during the development of the project proposal and they form key component in directing project implementation.

 

A) National Guidelines for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT)

HIV infection in infants are most often the result of Mother-to-Child transmission during pregnancy, labour and delivery or breastfeeding. Comprehensive prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission (PMTCT) programmes, integrated into Maternal-Child Health Programmes, can significantly reduce the number of infants who are HIV infected and promote better health to mothers and families.

Implementing PMTCT programmes is a key part of the government strategy to reduce Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

 

B) National Health Sector Strategic Plan II (2005 - 2010)

The National Health Sector Strategic Plan II preparation mainly borrowed from the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (1999 - 2004) and Health Policy Framework of 1994.

The key strategy for service delivery will be decentralization of health services to the districts where the implementation of the essential health packages will be carried out through the Ministry of Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation and through increased participation of the private sector, NGOs, CBOs and communities. The delivery of the essential packages will be at the District, Health Centre, Dispensary, Village and Household level.

 

C) The Kenya National AIDS Strategic Plan (2005 - 2010)

This document form the basis of all HIV prevention and car programmes, including HIV testing and counselling prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, blood transfusion safety, quality assurance for voluntary, counselling and testing and diagnostic testing and counselling.

 

D) National Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Malaria

Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, especially in young children and pregnant women. 20 % of deaths in children under 5 years is due to malaria. The Ministry of Health have prioritised malaria control and developed the National Malaria Strategy (NMS) 2001 - 2010 and National Health Sector Strategic Plan II (2005 - 2010) laying emphasis on scaling up implementation of effective intervention.

One of the key strategic interventions of the National Malaria Strategy is to provide prompt and effective treatment of malaria.

The Global Malaria Control Strategy (GMCS) advocates four technical measures (WHO guidelines)

- to provide early diagnosis and prompt treatment

- to plan and implement selective and sustainable preventive measures, including vector control

- to detect early, contain or prevent epidemics

- to strengthen local capacities in basic and applied research to permit and promote the regular assessment of a country’s malaria situation, in particular the ecological, social and economic determinants of the disease.

 

E) National Guidelines for HIV Testing and Counselling in Kenya, May 2008

HIV testing and counselling is the main entry point to HIV prevention, care, support and treatment services. It is also central to all HIV programmes nation wide. The guideline aims at increasing efforts of the Kenya government with support from various partners to increase knowledge of HIV, zero-status among all Kenyan citizens.

This is towards achieving “Universal Access” to the HIV testing and counselling services through the scale-up of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC). It is in order to reach “Universal Access” goal of 80% of Kenyans knowing their HIV status by the year 2010.

The national guidelines for HIV testing and counselling in Kenya introduced new approaches to HIV testing and counselling that will reduce the number of missed opportunities for providing HIV testing and counselling services.

These approaches are:

- door to door testing of HIV

- self - testing

- HIV testing in work place, clients and patients home

- couples and family testing

- outreach HIV testing and counselling e.g. use of vehicle with private counselling rooms, tents as counselling rooms and using pre-existing community facilities e.g. church, school or market building

- use of camel or bicycle mobile outreach mechanism

- moonlight voluntary testing and counselling

- infant and child HIV diagnosis

- national HIV testing campaigns

 

F) National Tuberculosis and HIV Collaborative Activities Guidelines

This guideline specify major factors responsible for large tuberculosis disease burden in Kenya as poverty, socio-economic deprivation and concurrent HIV pandemic.

In order to address the new challenges posed by the tuberculosis epidemic in the face of the HIV epidemic and socio-economic deprivation the Ministry of Health through the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Programme (NLTP) identified the following areas for increased support:

- decentralisation of tuberculosis control services down to the community level to increase access to these services

- stronger collaboration between TB and HIV control programmes in order to promote delivery of integrated TB/HIV services

- private - public partnership to increase the number of private providers integrated into the TB service provider network and a sustained public education campaign coupled with health care worker training and support to promote early care seeking and adherence to treatment at community level and better TB case management by health care providers

- community based DOTS (CB-DOTS) and public-private mix for DOTS

- advocacy, communication and social mobilization strategy aimed at influencing communities to seek care early when TB symptoms occur and to remain on treatment until this is completed when treatment is initiated

G) National Guidelines for Quality Obstetrics and Prenatal Care

This guideline emphasize that integrated reproductive health as the best approach in reducing the burden of morbidity among women and children. The guidelines focuses on:

- focused antenatal care (FANC) e.g.

   ° Malaria in pregnancy

   ° Prevention of mother to child transmission

   ° Tuberculosis

- FANC is the platform on which integration of Malaria, TB and PMTCT Services are being addressed

- skilled birth attendant during delivery

- community, action, partnership and male involvement

- prevention of post partum haemorrhage. This guideline focuses on reducing maternal mortality in Kenya

 

H) National Guidelines on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)

IMCI is a global strategy developed by World Health Organisation’s Division of child health and development and UNICEF and adapted by the Division of Child Health, Ministry of Health, Kenya. This strategy aims at reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries eg. Kenya. IMCI guidelines focuses on the four main symptoms:

- cough or difficult breathing

- diarrhoea

- fever

- ear problem

Other childhood conditions addressed by the guideline are:

- malnutrition and anaemia

- symptomatic HIV infection

- child’s immunization and vitamin A status

IMCI is a key strategy in meeting millennium development, goal of reducing childhood mortality. Non of the above national health documents is in line with pastoralists’ health needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY OF PASTORALIST FOUNDATION FOR LIFE MOBILE DISPENSARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROJECT

Mobile Dispensary Health Care Services Project started in form of outreach curative care services on 22nd May, 2003. This was to improve the Health Status and Standards of Living of Pastoralists communities. This programme was targeting mobile pastoralists in the remote interior of Moyale District.

The outreach curative care services programme initiative was through the efforts of Doctor Pino Bollini, who felt that mobile pastoralist health care services are unmet. The aim of the programme was to make health services accessible to mobile pastoralist, since health service delivery is centralised at the district head quarters and satellite centres.

The programme was receiving funding from Collaboration of Medical Doctors - Italy (CCM) through the leadership of Doctor Pino Bollini as the key representative of the organisation. The programme was implemented by local staff.

The programme funding cycle ended in December 2009. The programme staff felt the need for continuation of outreach programme activities and in an integrated services version through Mobile Dispensary Health Care Services Project. Since these staff were members of a community based organisation (CBO) “Pastoralist Foundation for Life”, the CBO was to develop project proposal for funding in order to make health care services accessible to the mobile pastoralists.

 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUTREACH CURATIVE CARE PROGRAMME

Outreach curative care services programme achieved the following:

- community capacity building by training Community Health Workers, Traditional Birth Attendants and Village Health Committees i.e. community based resource persons for community based health care programme. These community based resource persons are still active and functioning in the community in facilitating community based referrals to health facilities and mobilizing community for outreach health care services and health campaigns

- community based sanitation campaigns using tools purchased and distributed by the outreach programme

- increased health conscientisation in the community in the catchments areas facilitating reduction of outbreak of diseases such as diarrhoea and cases of cerebral malaria

- increased self-preventability of disease, self-diagnosis and self-referral for health care services by community members as a result of community-based trainings

- supporting supply of drugs to the Government of Kenya Health facilities to minimise essential drug shortages in the remote areas of the District

- increased health care access to mobile pastoralists in the remote interior of the District, as shown in the table I, below:

 

OUTREACH CURATIVE CARE SERVICES STATISTICS

 

                                        

Year

Number of patients who received care

2006

12,340

2007

  5,866

2008

  4,196

2009

  5,148

Total

27,550

 

Source: outreach curative care services statistics, year 2006 - 2009

 

The year 2006 was characterised by outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases in the community due to water shortage and displacement due to tribal conflicts. This triggered high number of patients seen in the outreach care services.

 

 

STATEMENT OF THE IDENTIFIED PROBLEM

Health services inaccessibility, causing human suffering in pastoralism is the key problem facing the pastoralists of Sololo District. National and District Health Delivery System are not tuned to meet pastoralists health needs.

The killer diseases of Africa’s poor, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS are prevalent within the poor population of pastoralists in Sololo District. These diseases occur in remote areas and affect the poor pastoralists a scenario made worse by inaccessibility or unavailability of health care for timely and effective treatment.

These diseases are threatening the life of citizen of nations globally demanding global attention as well as challenging the attainment of millennium development goals. All nations in the world are focusing and directing resources to prevent control and eradicate these diseases, since they are obstacles to health and development of nations.

National Health Programmes on these global life threatening diseases do not focus on pastoralists as a special risk category group in Kenya. Making pastoralists to die from preventable deaths.

Prevalent of these diseases in population denies development of human potentiality in developing nations e.g. pastoralists of Sololo District in Kenya.

To break the stigma of silence, Pastoralists Foundation for Life advocates that time has reached to address health needs of the pastoralists through “Mobile Dispensary Integrated Health Care Services Project”. This is in order to close the gaps in health access.

 

BENEFICIARIES AND STAKEHOLDERS

 

a) Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of mobile dispensary health care services are the pastoralist population living in Sololo District and include the Borana, Gabbra, Ajuran and Ghari ethnic groups. The programme will also target to benefit Ethiopians along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. Other tribes living in these districts also have access to the health services provided.

Within the general target group mobile dispensary project puts emphasis on targeting the following groups: adults, pregnant mothers, lactating mothers, infants and children, youth and adolescents, family planning clients, couples, patients with STI and TB and people with disabilities.

The project targets women and children mostly because of their risk to ill health. Women due to their reproductive role are predispose to marry health related problems and therefore need more health care attention. Children on the other hand need more support since they are growing a category requiring energy and other nutrition and protective care, to develop immunity and be able to cope with life demands.

 

b) Stakeholders

Health care services required in the mobile dispensary project area of coverage are offered by several other groups of people or stakeholders. These include Ministry of Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation that provides EPI, curative care, health education and STI/HIV/AIDS related services, Arid Land Resources Management, local or international NGOs and UN Agencies such as AMREF, UNICEF, MEDS, REDCROSS, CCM, local NGO and CBO such as FHI, CIFA, World Vision, CCS and CIPAD.

The private sector is also involved in offering health services through private clinics and nursing homes. Many of these service providers have special interest in the pastoralist people or operate on humanitarian ground.

Health services delivery to the pastoralist is not tuned to meet their needs. There are no mobile health services to reach mobile pastoralist in the range lands.

Appendix 1 give details of services offered by identified stakeholders involved in provision of various health services, Their interests, strengths, weaknesses and possible areas of collaboration with Pastoralist Foundation for Life Mobile Dispensary Project are also elaborated.

 

PROJECT INTERVENTIONS

 

1.0 Overall Objective (Goal)

To contribute to the attainment of health for the pastoralist of Sololo District through provision of acceptable, affordable and accessible Health Care Services

 

2.0 Purpose

The project purpose is fivefold:

      2.1 to reduce the spread of HIV infection in pastoralist in Sololo District in Kenya

      2.2 to lessen the impact of HIV epidemic on pastoralist communities of Sololo District

      2.3 to improve referrals and linkages to comprehensive care, HIV prevention, treatment and   

            social support

      2.4 to improve family planning and HIV integrated services within the pastoralist communities

            of Sololo District

      2.5 to reduce maternal and childhood morbidity and mortality in Sololo District in Kenya

 

3.0 Specific Objectives    

      3.1 to promote community based HIV testing and counselling by conducting door to door HIV

            testing and counselling, HIV testing and counselling at homes of patients on ART, couples

            and their families testing and counselling, testing and counselling of children of deceased or

            HIV infected parents, providing initiated testing and counselling, voluntary testing and

            counselling and providing outreach HIV testing and counselling services to mobile

            communities

      3.2 to promote prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS by conducting HIV

            testing and counselling of pregnant and postnatal mothers, providing ART and

            cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, early infant diagnosis, referrals of DBs specimen for HIV

            exposed infants, facilitating partner testing and counselling, conducting STI, TB and

            anaemia screening, organizing infant feeding counselling workshops, SP prophylaxis and

            supporting infant feeding options for HIV exposed infants

      3.3 to improve community care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans by

            conducting HIV/AIDS risk and vulnerability assessment workshops, facilitating formation

            of PLWHAs’ groups, conducting adherence counselling, workshops, support supply of ART

            and opportunistic infections, drugs, conducting training and exchange visits for PLWHAs,

            supporting income generating projects for PLWHAs, nutritional supplementation for

            PLWHAs, supply of school materials and uniforms for orphans and vulnerable children,

            payment of school fees for orphans, payment of health care bills for PLWHAs and

            orphans, supporting trainings of treatment supporters, supporting community-based

            linkages for PLWHAs, support HIV/AIDS support groups and supporting referrals of

            PLWHAs for comprehensive care services

      3.4 to strengthen reproductive health care services by facilitating distribution of male and

            female condoms, supporting supplies of contraceptives, screening of STI, treatment and

            referrals, delivery of antenatal care package, conducting reproductive health community

            awareness workshops, and supporting integration of family planning and reproductive health

            into HIV testing and counselling

      3.5 to improve maternal health care services through delivery of focused antenatal care package,

            supporting skilled birth attendant campaigns, supporting skilled birth attendant campaigns,

            supporting monitoring of pregnancies at outreach services delivery points, supporting

            Vitamin A supplementation for lactating mothers, supporting nutritional supplementation

            for vulnerable pregnant and lactating mothers and supporting treatment of medical

            conditions in pregnancy

      3.6 to improve child health care services through supporting clinical and community IMCI,

            conducting mobile immunisation services, supporting nutritional supplementation for

            children with acute malnutrition, supporting supplementation supply of essential drugs for

            IMCI and supporting school programme services

 

 

STRATEGIES

1.0 Community-based HIV testing and counselling promotion

2.0 Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS promotion

3.0 Community care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans improvement

4.0 Reproductive health care services strengthening

5.0 Maternal health care services improvement

6.0 Child health care services improvement

 

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

 

1.0 Strategy: Community-based HIV testing and counselling promotion

 

Activities:

1.1 support door to door HIV testing and counselling

1.2 support HIV testing and counselling at homes of patients on antiretroviral therapy

1.3 support couples and their families testing and counselling for HIV

1.4 support HIV testing and counselling for children of deceased or HIV infected mothers

1.5 support outreach HIV testing and counselling services

1.6 support youth out of school and school-based HIV/AIDS programmes

1.7 support workplace HIV testing and counselling

1.8 support community mobilization

1.9 support provider initiated testing and counselling

1.10 support voluntary testing and counselling

 

2.0 Strategy: Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS promotion

 

Activities:

2.1 support HIV testing and counselling for pregnant and postnatal mothers

2.2 support ART prophylaxis for HIV positive pregnant mothers and HIV exposed infants

2.3 support early infant HIV diagnosis

2.4 support referrals of DBs of HIV exposed infants to national laboratories eg KEMRI

2.5 facilitate partner testing and counselling

2.6 support cotrimoxazole prophylaxis

2.7 support SP prophylaxis for pregnant mothers

2.8 support supply of insecticide treated mosquito nets to HIV positive pregnant and postnatal

      mothers

2.9 conduct STI, TB, Malaria and Anaemia screening for pregnant mothers

2.10 support infant early HIV diagnosis and feeding counselling workshops

 

 

3.0 Strategy: Community care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans

                       improvement

 

Activities:

3.1 conduct community HIV/AIDS risk and vulnerability assessment workshops

3.2 support formation of groups of people living with HIV/AIDS

3.3 conduct adherence counselling workshops for people living with HIV/AIDS and treatment

      supporters

3.4 support supply of ART and opportunistic infections drugs

3.5 conduct trainings of self-help projects for people living with HIV/AIDS

3.6 support exchange visit for people living with HIV/AIDS

3.7 support income generating projects for people living with HIV/AIDS

3.8 support nutritional supplementation for people living with HIV/AIDS

3.9 support supply of school uniform for orphans and vulnerable children

3.10 support payment of school fees for orphans and vulnerable children

3.11 support payments of health care bills for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans

3.12 support trainings of treatment supporters

3.13 support community based linkages for people living with HIV/AIDS

3.14 support HIV/AIDS support groups

3.15 support referrals of people living with HIV/AIDS for comprehensive care services

3.16 support prevention with positives meetings/workshops

 

4.0 Strategy: Reproductive Health Care Services Strengthening

 

Activities:

4.1 support distribution of male and female condoms

4.2 support supply of contraceptives

4.3 support screening of sexually transmitted infections, treatment and referrals

4.4 support delivery of antenatal care package

4.5 support reproductive health community awareness workshops

4.6 support integration of family planning and reproductive health into HIV testing and counselling

 

5.0 Strategy: Maternal Health Care Services Improvement

 

Activities:

5.1 support delivery of focused antenatal care package to pregnant mothers

5.2 support skilled birth attendance campaigns

5.3 support monitoring of pregnancies at outreach service delivery points

5.4 support Vitamin A supplementation for lactating mothers

5.5 support nutritional supplementation for vulnerable pregnant and lactating mothers

5.6 support treatment of medical conditions in pregnancy and child

 

6.0 Strategy: Child Health Care Services Improvement

 

Activities:

6.1 support clinical and community integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI)

6.2 conduct mobile immunisation services

6.3 support nutritional supplementation for children with acute malnutrition (IMAM)

6.4 support supply of essential drugs for IMCI

6.5 support school health programme services

 

EXPECTED OUTPUTS/RESULTS

 

1.0 Community-based HIV testing and counselling promoted

2.0 Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS promoted

3.0 Community care and support for PLWHAs and orphans improved

4.0 Reproductive health care services strengthened

5.0 Maternal health care services improved

6.0 Child health care services improved

 

RESULTS AND ACTIVITIES

The programme director after consulting the community, community organised groups and key stakeholders in the programme catchments area identified six expected results/output or services to be delivered by the programme.

Under each of the results, relevant activities were identified that show how the programme goods and services will be delivered to the beneficiaries.

Details of the result, activities, objectively verifiable indicators and target for the activities are given in programme planning matrix or logical framework matrix (appendix)

The results and respective activities are as follows:

 

1.0 Community-based HIV testing and counselling promoted

 

1.1 Support door to door HIV testing and counselling

Pastoralist Foundation for Life Programme aims at accessing HIV services to pastoralists at their homes, this is to facilitate prevention of the epidemic at the rangelands.

The programme will use outreach/mobile strategy to reach the pastoral community for HIV testing and counselling services.

The programme also aims at targeting villages and households, using the door to door strategy for HIV testing and counselling. The programme team will be camping at specific sites for service delivery points in the programme catchments area for a period of one to two weeks in order to deliver mobile services package for pastoralist community.

The programme aims at providing HIV testing and counselling to 400 households (i.e. 2000 people) within a period of 3 years.

 

1.2 Support HIV testing and counselling at homes of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART)

The aim of the programme is to go beyond the index patient and reach to the family members for HIV testing and counselling. This is to promote prevention, care and support at family unit level.

Accessibility of HIV testing and counselling for the pastoralist community in the rangeland is a dream, it is never conducted and therefore pastoralist are neglected population in HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The programme aims at targeting 200 households in the programme catchments area within the time scale of the programme.

 

1.3 Support couples and their families HIV testing and counselling

Prevalence of HIV discordance is high in Kenya with 50 % of married or cohabitating HIV infected persons having an HIV negative spouse (KDHS, 2003).

The programme aims at conducting couples HIV testing and counselling at their homes. This is aimed at reducing HIV transmission risk within discordant couples, facilitating disclosure, referrals and to provide social support.

The programme aims at building and strengthening community or home-based HIV testing and counselling strategy among the pastoralist in the rangeland in order to reduce HIV transmission.

The programme will target at least 200 couples by the end of the programme period.

 

1.4 Support HIV testing and counselling for children of deceased or HIV infected mothers

This activity is aimed at accessing early childhood HIV diagnosis in the pastoralist community at the rangelands. It is aimed at facilitating care, treatments and social support.

The programme will target at least 50 children in three years time.

 

1.5 Support outreach HIV testing and counselling services

Pastoralist Foundation for Life programme believes outreach/mobile integrated programme as the core strategy for realising the programme goals and objectives. It is through this strategy that the marginalised pastoralists at the rangeland will get access to HIV testing and counselling services and receive linkage to care, treatment and social support.

 

The programme propose to use the following methodologies:

° mobile sites using tents

° market centres, targeting market days

° pastoralist water points, targeting herders

° pastoralist ceremonies days

° workplace, targeting schools in ASAL regions

° patients’ homes

° clients’ homes

° immunization campaigns

° school games, i.e. during inter schools competition

° outreach HIV testing and counselling at night for pastoralist herders

 

The programme aims at implementing the following outreach/mobile integrated activities/services

° home-based HIV testing and counselling

° prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS

° provider initiated testing and counselling (PITC)

° antenatal care package

° family planning services

° tuberculosis screening and referrals

° STI screening and referrals

° opportunistic infections screening and referral

° malaria prevention and control

° voluntary testing and counselling

° early infant diagnosis e.g. DBS collection and referral

° ART, SP and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis

° linkage to comprehensive care clinic services

° school health programmes i.e. school-based HIV/AIDS programme

° youth out of school programmes

° workplace testing and counselling e.g. in school, kiosks

° community mobilization and health education

The programme team will settle within specific sites in the catchments area where the pastoral community can access services for at least one to two weeks. The aim of the programme is to target 6 mobile visits to the pastoral communities in the programme catchments area per year for a period of 3 years i.e. 18 mobile visits targeting 900 people in three years.

 

 

 

1.6.1 Conduct workshops for youth out of school

Youth form a critical section of the society because they are the basis of the future families to be in the community and future leadership of the society.

They are currently facing life-threatening socio-economic problems, such as:

- HIV/AIDS pandemic

- poverty and unemployment

- drug abuse and alcoholism

- pressure of modern living

The programme purpose to facilitate capacity building workshops at the rangelands targeting mobile pastoralists youth. The key topics will be as follows:

- HIV/AIDS and youth in pastoralism

- benefits of HIV testing and counselling to the individual, family and community

- management of self-help projects and winning resources

- leadership and development

The aim of the programme is also to conduct HIV testing and counselling at the end of every workshop. The programme will strictly practice the core principles of HIV testing and counselling i.e. consent, confidentiality and counselling, as per the national guidelines for HIV testing and counselling in Kenya, May 2008.

Youth out of school are expected to play a key role in community HIV/AIDS activism and be at the frontline in the fight against HIV/AIDS and advocate for community in HIV/AIDS campaigns and community education on the pandemic. As a strategy to reduce risk and vulnerability, the youth out of school are expected to operate self-help projects. This is to orientate them on socio-economic lifestyle and help in the fight against poverty. It is also a strategy to fight grass root poverty and build an economic base of pastoralist households.

Youth out of school programme approach could be a double strategy, that is to fight disease and poverty.

The programme will organise and facilitate 3 workshops, each attended by 30 participants i.e. targeting 90 participants in 3 years.

These workshops will be conducted at the community level, as part of mobile/outreach integrated programme.

 

1.6.2 Conduct workshops for school-based HIV/AIDS programme

The aim of this activity is to consciencize members of the education sector on the benefits of knowing once HIV status. It aims also at broadening partnership in the fight against the pandemic particularly in the marginalised pastoralist regions.

The programme propose to organise and conduct 3 workshops, each to be attended by 40 participants, totalling to 120 participants in 3 years. The following topics are to be focused during the workshops

- adolescent and HIV/AIDS pandemic in pastoralism

- benefits of knowing one’s HIV-Sero-Status

- impact of HIV/AIDS in education sector and pastoralist lifestyle e.g. economy

- prevention, care, treatment and social support for PLWHAs

HIV testing and counselling will be part of the workshops as an integrated activity in the programme

 

1.6.3 Conduct training of school-based counsellors on HIV testing and counselling

The programme aims at training 10 school-based counsellors for HIV testing and counselling. This is to establish a community-based structure for fighters and building awareness on HIV/AIDS at the pastoralist schools located in the rangeland areas i.e. those that are far away from the satellite centres. These counsellors will be conducting HIV testing and counselling in schools.

 

1.7 Support workplace HIV testing and counselling

The programme aims at targeting primary and secondary schools, kiosks in pastoralist satellite centres, CBOs and other workplaces in the pastoralist region within the programme catchments area.

This activity aims at accessing HIV testing and counselling services to personnel at workplaces in marginalised areas of the pastoralist community.

The programme also aims at organising and conducting 3 workshops, attended by 20 participants, which will be a total of 60 participants in 3 years. The aim of the workshops is to create awareness and facilitate HIV testing and counselling.

 

1.8 Support community mobilization

Community mobilisation is key to orientating individuals, families and communities towards programme services. It is also essential for explaining  influential figures in the community available services.

When using community mobilisation strategy, the programme will focus on the following:

- identify key people in the community who can ultimately facilitate the dissemination of information

- aim to create a forum for dialogue. Sensitisation messages are most effective when they are discussed and debated with the community. Encourage participants to ask questions, voice their opinions and expand or modify any aspect of the community mobilisation strategy.

- when dealing with community influential figures, highlight the important of their participation in programme activities.

The programme aims at organising and conducting community leaders workshop, targeting 40 participants and community mobilizers workshop for 10 participants. 3 workshops for community members, targeting 150 participants will also be conducted.

The programme propose to be paying a monthly stipend for three (3) community mobilizers for a period of two years. at a rate of KSh 4.000 per month.

 

1.9 Support provider initiated testing and counselling

This activity aimed at offering HIV test to clients or patients regardless of their reason for attending mobile services. The programme aims at making PITC as part of routine medical care before the onset of HIV related symptoms at outreach services delivery points.

The programme team will provide counselling and testing at the point of care and an HIV test results.

The programme will target at least 500 clients and patients for PITC within a period of 3 years.

 

1.10 Support voluntary counselling and testing

This activity promotes a situation whereby an individual, couple or group actively seek out HIV testing and counselling at the site of service delivery point i.e. at mobile sites or in peoples’ homes.

This activity puts emphasis on risk reduction counselling to help the clients or couples identify plans for the prevention of HIV transmission or acquisition.

The programme will target at least 200 clients in three years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.0 Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS promoted

 

      2.1 Support HIV testing and counselling for pregnant and postnatal mothers (PMTCT)

The aim of this programme activity is to prevent HIV transmission on children. This is by promoting and strengthening the following activities

° promotion of ABC, voluntary counselling and testing for HOV negative young women

° prevention of unintended pregnancies in HIV infected women through voluntary family  

   planning

° universal HIV testing for pregnant women

° ARU prophylaxis for HIV positive mothers and exposed infants. Counselling and testing

   for negative mothers and partners

° early infant HIV diagnosis

° prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections

° provision of family planning services e.g. post-partum-family planning

° referral to comprehensive care clinic for follow-up

° male involvement for HIV prevention, care and support

° infant feeding counselling e.g. exclusive breastfeeding

° administration of highly active anti-retroviral therapy for HIV positive eligible mothers

 

This activity is part of child survival strategy in HIV/AIDS pandemic:

PMTCT activity will be provided through mobile/outreach services. It is aimed at reaching the pastoralist who are staying far away from static service delivery points (e.g. health facilities).

Mobile/outreach services will integrate PMTCT activity in order to facilitate accessibility of PMTCT service to the community. This is to target women within the reproductive age bracket so that they can be screened for HIV infection.

The programme propose to target 250 pregnant and postnatal mothers within the programme period of 3 years.

 

2.2 Support anti-retroviral therapy prophylaxis for HIV positive pregnant mothers and HIV exposed infants

      The programme aims at facilitating this activity together with partner agencies, particularly  

      static health facilities in order to prevent HIV transmission on children.

      250 pregnant and postnatal mothers and 50 exposed infants will be targeted by the programme

      mobile/outreach integrated services within the programme planned period.

 

2.3 Support early infant HIV diagnosis

This programme activity aims at performing HIV testing of mothers and children for early infant diagnosis. This is to be implemented by performing the following

° routine HIV screening for all mothers having 6 weeks old infants whose HIV status is not  

   known. Sick children in service delivery points to establish HIV exposure/infection status.

° diagnostic HIV antibody testing for all mothers detected with TB or STIs who have young

   children, unless they decline i.e. opt out

° diagnostic HIV antibody testing and counselling for all sick children attending service delivery

   point

° routine dry blood spot (DBs) for DNA PCR for all infants known to be HIV exposed at

  6 weeks and all HIV exposed sick infants below 12 months

° HIV screening (antibody test) for all infants of HIV-positive mothers and having unknown

   status attending service delivery point, at 9 months and at 18 months for confirmatory anti-

   body test.

The programme aims at targeting 250 mothers and 50 children within 3 years.

2.4 Support referrals of dried blood spot samples of HIV exposed infants to national laboratories

Referral of blood samples to national laboratories is a key strategy for early infant HIV diagnosis. This activity will facilitate early care, treatment and support for HIV positive children. The programme aims at collecting dried blood spot samples during mobile/outreach integrated services and facilitating referrals to KEMRI.

50 dried blood sport samples specimen will be collected and referred to KEMRI by the end of the programme.

 

2.5 Facilitate partner testing and counselling

This activity aims at prevention of HIV transmission and assess for couple discordance. It also aims at facilitating disclosure and social support for HIV positive couples. The programme will target at least 250 couples in 3 years time.

 

2.6 Support Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for HIV positive persons

Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for HIV positive people provides protection against many opportunistic infections such as

° bacterial pneumonia

° malaria

° pneumocystis pneumonia

° toxoplasmosis

° salmonella

 

Administration of cotrimoxazole on daily basis will improve the quality of life and prevent deaths from opportunistic infections.

The programme aims at facilitating referral of HIV positive people to comprehensive care clinic for provision of cotrimoxazole.

The programme will target to refer at least 300 people within a period of 3 years.

 

2.7 Support Salfadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP) Prophylaxis for pregnant mothers

Malaria is one of the top development concerns for Kenya as 70% (20 million) of the total population is at risk of infection. It is a major cause of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.

The programme aims at facilitating administration of SP to pregnant women during mobile/outreach integrated services.

The programme propose to use DOT strategy when implementing this activity.

A total of 200 pregnant mothers are to be targeted by the programme for SP administration.

 

2.8 Support supply of insecticide-treated mosquito nets

The programme aims at facilitating distribution of ITMNS to people who are HIV positive.

This is aimed at preventing malaria and improving their quality of life and therefore preventing mortality associated with malaria. Use of mosquito nets aims at avoiding man and vector contact. The programme through mobile integrated services aims at distributing 400 insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

 

2.9 Conduct STI, TB, Malaria and Anaemia Screening

The programme aims at integrating STI, TB, malaria and anaemia screening in service delivery to pregnant mothers, because of the following

° STI increases the likelihood of developing tuberculosis

° pregnancy also increases the risk of developing tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is the major

  opportunistic infection in HIV and the leading killer of people living with HIV/AIDS

° the major health effect of malaria on the pregnant mother is anaemia.

 

The programme aims at screening pregnant mothers and facilitating referrals for treatment at the static health facility.

150 pregnant mothers are targeted to be screened and referred for care in 3 years period.

 

2.10 Support early infant HIV diagnosis and infant feeding counselling workshops

These workshops will aim at targeting the following beneficiaries

° pregnant women

° breastfeeding mothers, less than 12 months

° couples within reproductive age brackets

° young men and girls

° postnatal mothers

 

The programme aims at focusing on the following key themes/areas

° mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS

° benefits of breastfeeding in growth and development

° nutritional care and support

° infant feeding options e.g.

   - exclusive breastfeeding

   - replacement feeding e.g. AFASS

   - complementary feeding

° nutritional counselling for HIV positive mothers

° maternal and infant conditions facilitating HIV transmission

 

A total of 120 participants will be targeted by the programme.

 

3.0 Community Care and Support for People living with HIV/AIDS and Orphans improved

 

3.1 Conduct community HIV/AIDS risk and vulnerability assessment workshops

The aim of this activity is to facilitate community understanding of the dynamics of HIV/AIDS

pandemic in their own communities. It is also to deeply analyse the pattern of transmission based on really life experience of the community. The planned programme workshops will facilitate community understanding of the pandemic by focusing on the following key topics

° disasters (e.g. drought, man-made conflicts, cattle rustling) and transmission of HIV in

   pastoralism

° displacements, migration and labour mobility to towns following droughts and transmission

   of HIV/AIDS

° pastoralist stress coping mechanisms and strategies (e.g. self restocking, job seeking attitudes)

  and transmission of HIV/AIDS

° pastoralism, gender discrimination and negative cultural practices and HIV/AIDS transmission

° community risk and vulnerability action plan for implementation

 

A total of 4 workshops will be conducted and will be attended by 80 participants.

 

3.2 Support formation of groups of people living with HIV/AIDS

Formation of groups of people living with HIV/AIDS in pastoralist community is to form a basis for establishing a network of pastoralist living with HIV/AIDS organisation.

A group of people living with HIV/AIDS strategy aims at the following

° fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty resulting from impact of HIV/AIDS

° facilitate formation of self-help groups

° activist in the fights against discrimination and stigmatisation in pastoralist community

° mobilizers of pastoralist communities in the fight against the pandemic

° promoting adherence to ART at community level

° form a community based structure in the conscientisation of the community

 

The programme propose formation of five groups of people living with HIV/AIDS

 

3.3 Conduct adherence counselling workshops for people living with HIV/AIDS and treatment supporters

The programme aims at conducting adherence counselling workshops at the community level, particularly those that are close to health facilities with comprehensive care clinics.

The following beneficiaries will be targeted

° people living with HIV/AIDS

° guardians and parents of HIV positive children

° treatment supporters

° HIV positive pregnant and postnatal mothers

 

The programme aims at focusing on the following key topics

° highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)

° benefits of ARTs and role of ARTS in PMTCT

° causes of non-adherence

° benefits of good adherence

° outcomes of non-adherence e.g.

  - treatment failure

  - viral resistance

  - poor quality of life and death

° side effects and adverse effects of ART drugs

° types of opportunistic infections

° opportunistic infections, drugs and their uses

° WHO clinical staging-signs and symptoms

° Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis

° ART prophylaxis e.g. in

  - pregnancy

  - post-exposure prophylaxis

  - rape victims

° Fluconazole-secondary prophylaxis

° patient monitoring e.g.

  - CD4 counts

  - vival load

  - immunological

° role of family and community in promoting adherence and basic counselling skills

 

The programme will target 80 participants.

 

3.4 Support supply of antiretroviral and opportunistic infection drugs

This activity is aimed at forming a partnership with static health facilities within the pastoralist community catchments area for delivery of care to people living with HIV/AIDS.

The programme aims at forming community linkages for people living with HIV/AIDS to static health facilities with comprehensive care services.

The programme will also facilitate patients referrals to service delivery points and formulate a scheduled follow-up mechanism for monitoring service delivery to people living with HIV/AIDS.

NASCOP will be expected to facilitate supplies of ART and OI drugs to be used in comprehensive care clinic centres in the health facilities in the programme catchments area. The programme will facilitate referrals of 50 people to comprehensive care services.

 

3.5 Conduct trainings of Self-help Projects for people living with HIV/AIDS

The aim of the programme is to organise and conduct training of people living with HIV/AIDS on the concepts of self-help projects. The training will focus on the following areas

° micro-enterprise management and linking livestock as a resource in poverty alleviation at households in pastoralism

° principles of sustainable development and winning o resources

° group dynamics and self-help projects

° project information management

° development of annual implementation plans i.e. micro-planning

° self-help project goal is to generate income for people living with HIV/AIDS to meet their

   basic needs. It is a poverty alleviation strategy as well as HIV/AIDS impact mitigation

   strategy, since HIV/AIDS is a contributor of poverty in society

 

These projects can be utilized as a social mobilization strategy to facilitate the acceptance of the disease in human population and build a culture of positive living with the disaster like any other chronic disease or disability.

Self-help projects may be a basis for community organisation or movement in the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic in the society.

Self-help projects, as community mobilization and organisation strategy can generate a basis for people driven self-determination and sustainable development. These projects also form key entry points for social transformation and a strategy for groups to use as a tool for winning resources for themselves from donor agencies, banks, ministerial grants and other funding agencies targeting to benefit community groups.

Self-help projects, if successful, can be empowering communities, build groups spirit of self-reliance and generate the energy for creativity. These are essential elements for community self-organisation and participation in development.

A total of 80 participants will be trained in 3 years time.

 

3.6 Support exchange visit for people living with HIV/AIDS

This activity aims at maximising learning experience for people living with HIV/AIDS on the challenges affecting their life, so that they can live positively.

The programme will facilitate two exchange visits to national or specific established groups of people living with HIV/AIDS.

 

3.7 Support income generating projects for people living with HIV/AIDS

This activity is expected to enable people living with HIV/AIDS to be self-reliant and play an active role in community development.

It will also strengthen psycho-social support for PLWHA and build a sense of belonging of the members in the group.

The programme will propose to facilitate two projects i.e.

° rental houses and lodging project at a cost of KShs 1.040.000, targeting HIV positive dropout

  pastoralist at satellite centres

° camel dairy (milk) project at a cost of KShs 300.000 i.e. 10 camels at KSHs 30.000 each,

  targeting pastoralist at the rangeland who are HIV positive. Community is expected to

  contribute land for building the rental houses and lodgings.

 

 

3.8 Support nutritional supplementation for people living with HIV/AIDS

Pastoralist Foundation for Life Programme aims at facilitating provision of food for HIV positive people, particularly during the periods of drought when food deficit is a reality at pastoralist households.

Malnutrition causes immunodeficiency as well as HIV/AIDS disease, leading to increased morbidity and mortality of people with HIV/AIDS.

The programme will aim at purchasing 50 bags of 90 kg of maize, 30 bags of 90 kg of beans, 30 bags of 50 kg of rice, 30 bags of 25 kg of Unimix and 20 Jeri cans of 20 ltrs of vegetable oil and distribute to HIV positive people through integrated outreach programme in collaboration with partner agencies. This activity will be implemented at a cost of KSHs 965.500.

 

3.9 Support supply of school uniforms for orphans and vulnerable children

Pastoralist Foundation for Life will aim at also targeting HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children for education services.

A total of 20 children will be targeted to benefit for school uniform, at a rate of KSHs. 4.000 per child per year for a period of 3 years.

 

3.10 Support payment for school fees for orphans and vulnerable children

Pastoralist Foundation for Life believes education as an essential tool for human liberation and development of a nation and, therefore, it proposes to facilitate education of orphans and vulnerable children in pastoralist community.

The programme aims at targeting to secondary students who are HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, by facilitating payment of school fees at a rate of KSHs. 8.000 per term and a transport fee of KSHs. 2.000 per term for a period of 3 years.

 

3.11 Support for payments of health care bills for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans

As a result of burden of health care bills, the programme propose to facilitate payment of hospitalization bills for PLWHA and orphans for the pastoralist community in the rangelands and pastoralist drop-outs at satellite centres, this is because of fragile and unstable pastoralist economy.

The total health care bill budget that the programme will propose for payments will be KSHs. 600.000, targeting for 20 beneficiaries in 3 years.

 

3.12 Support trainings of treatment supporters

Pastoralist Foundation for Life aims at implementing this activity in order for people with HIV/AIDS to receive quality care and longevity of life.

The programme will conduct 4 workshops, targeting 80 participants. The key topics/themes to be focused are as follows

° components of home-based care

° home-based care nursing care

° basic counselling skills

° safe water and hygiene

° nutrition care

° benefits of ART and OI drugs

° benefits of good adherence

° benefits of HIV-sero-status disclosure

° the role of family and community in care for PLWHA

° core principles of HIV testing and counselling

 

These workshops will be conducted as part of mobile/outreach integrated services, at the community level, targeting pastoralists.

3.13 Support community-based linkages for people living with HIV/AIDS

The aim of implementing this activity is to form a broad base partnership for the implementation of programme activities in order to attain the desire goals and objectives.

The programme aims at organising and conducting 6 stakeholders meetings and attended by 60 participants in 3 years. The meetings will be attended by the following

° community leaders

° faith-based organisation leaders

° non-governmental organisations

° community-based organisation

° community-socially organised groups

° youth representatives

° women groups representative

° Ministry of Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation

° humanitarian organisations

 

The programme will also plan to conduct 2 workshops for stakeholders. In this workshop the following key areas/themes will be focused on

° benefits of partnership in development projects

° community resources mapping for the benefits of people living with HIV/AIDS

° role of stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic

° assessing community potentials for development. Development of action plan.

A total of 60 participants will be targeted to benefit from the training within 3 years.

 

3.14 Support HIV/AIDS support groups

Pastoralist Foundation for Life implement this activity, in order to perform monitoring of support groups performance at the community level. This is to detect deviation from the proposed plan and design corrective action/measures in time. It is also monitoring precise target milestones and targets for physical performance.

The programme will focus to plan and conduct 3 workshops, attended by 60 participants by the end of 2012. The workshops will focus on the following themes/areas

° group dynamics and human relationships

° community-based linkages strategies

° resources mobilization for people living with HIV/AIDS

° principles of partnership in development

° development of action plan

Meetings will also be scheduled as a follow-up mechanism for HIV/AIDS support groups. This meeting will be conducted at least two times a year.

 

3.15 Support referrals of people living with HIV/AIDS for comprehensive care services

Due to inaccessibility of comprehensive care services for pastoralist at the rangeland, the programme will focus on referring patients/clients to static health facilities.

Pastoralist Foundation for Life programme will use mobile/outreach integrated services as a detection strategy for patients/clients in need of comprehensive care services.

Referral forms and registers will be used to document this activity.

A total of 300 people will be targeted for referral for comprehensive care services by 2012.

 

3.16 Support prevention with positive workshops and meetings

The programme aims at partnering with HIV positive people to prevent the transmission of the epidemic in the community. The programme will propose to train these people on the methodologies for community mobilization in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The programme propose to organize and conduct workshops for people living positively with HIV/AIDS.

The following key topics/themes will be focused on in the workshops

° community socio-cultural dynamics and HIV/AIDS transmission

° diseases of stigmatisation and discrimination

° role of family and community in the fight against HIV/AIDS stigmatisation and discrimination

° concepts of community mobilisation

° community mobilisation strategies

° role of people living positively with HIV/AIDS in the fight against the pandemic

° development of action plan

A total of 120 participants will be targeted in three workshops within the time period of the programme.

Follow-up meetings will also be conducted on quarterly basis for a period of 3 years.

 

4.0 Reproductive Health Care Services strengthening

 

4.1 Support male and female condom education and distribution

Male and female condoms are inaccessible to the pastoralist in the rangelands and therefore there are risks of STI/HIV/AIDS transmission.

The programme aims at disseminating condom use messages in all workshops conducted within the programme period as well as facilitating distribution to rangelands.

The programme will target to distribute 2000 male condoms and at least 200 female condoms. Condoms will be supplied by Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS) to the programme in order to facilitate distribution to the community.

 

4.2 Support supply of contraceptives

Contraceptive services are inaccessible to mobile pastoralist in the rangelands and therefore artificial family planning is never practiced by pastoralist in the rangelands.

The programme will mobilize contraceptives from Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and facilitate accessibility through programme outreach health services strategy to the pastoralist communities in the catchments area.

A total of 60 clients will be targeted by the programme by the end of 2012.

 

4.3 Support screening of sexually transmitted infections treatment and referrals

Sexually transmitted infections services are never accessible to the pastoralist in the rangeland except for pastoralist at the satellite centres where the health facilities are located.

The programme will be to access this service to pastoralist at the rangeland, through mobile/outreach health services programme.

Awareness messages will also be disseminated in all workshops conducted by the programme on STI/HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention measures.

A total of at least 80 patients will be targeted within 3 years time.

 

4.4 Support delivery of antenatal package

This activity aims at mobilizing resources from Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation in order to promote maternal health at the rangelands.

The programme will facilitate delivery of maternal health care services through mobile/outreach health services programme:

A total of 50 mothers will be targeted for antenatal package.

 

 

 

4.5 Support community-based reproductive health awareness workshops

Pastoralist communities are unaware of the reproductive health rights and services.

The aim of the programme will be to create and build awareness of reproductive health rights and existing services.

Community-based reproductive health care workshops will be conducted targeting the following beneficiaries

° community leadership

° community health workers

° community-based distributors

° women of reproductive age

° adolescents and youth

° men (male involvement in reproductive health care)

The key themes of the workshops will be as follows

° community reproductive health needs

° reproductive health rights

° community resource mobilization for reproductive health e.g. community based transport system

° community participation for reproductive health care

° community linkages with reproductive health providers

° role of family and community in reproductive health care

° male involvement in reproductive health services

A total of three workshops will be conducted per year for a period of two years targeting 180 participants.

 

4.6 Support integration of family planning and reproductive health into HIV testing and counselling

The programme will aim at screening family planning clients for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS in cases of unknown status.

HIV testing and counselling will be a routine activity to be conducted for family planning and STI patients/clients.

The programme will also use partner notification strategy when providing STI services to the community. Partner management is an effective way of detecting untreated STIs and undiagnosed HIV infections (e.g. discordant couples). This strategy is important since association of HIV and STI has been documented in practice (e.g. vaginitis, urethritis, genital ulcer diseases, herpes simplex virus type 2)

The programme will aim at targeting 40 family planning clients and 50 STIs patients within a period of 3 years.

 

5.0 Maternal Health Care Services improved

 

5.1 Support delivery of focused antenatal care package to pregnant mothers

The aim of this activity is to provide a package of care to pregnant mothers in the rangelands among the pastoralist community. The package of care will focus on the following

° focused antenatal care (FANC)

° intermittent preventive treatment e.g. malaria in pregnancy

° prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT)

° tuberculosis screening and referral in pregnancy

° enhance linkages within the existing structures in provision of comprehensive focused antenatal care

° community role in promotion of care seeking behaviour.

A total of 120 pregnant mothers will be targeted in 3 years

5.1.1. Conduct focused antenatal care package community workshops

Pastoralist Foundation for Life focuses to facilitate community transformation towards promotion of maternal health care at households and community level. This is reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality at the household and community levels.

The programme will use outreach strategies to reach the target pastoralist community.

Community-based workshops will be conducted at the village level focusing on the following topics

° focused antenatal care

° individual birth plan

° danger signs in pregnancy, labour and delivery

° emergency preparedness for pregnant mothers

° malaria in pregnancy

° TB in pregnancy

° prevention of mother to child transmission

° anaemia in pregnancy

° STI/HIV in pregnancy

° prevention of postpartum haemorrhage

° role of community in promotion of health care seeking behaviour

° immunisation

° role of fathers (men) in focused antenatal care (FANC)

 

The workshops will target the following

° pregnant mothers and their husbands

° breastfeeding mothers and their husbands

° adolescent girls and boys

The programme aims at facilitating three workshops targeting a total of 90 participants within a period of 3 years.

 

5.1.2. Support supply of essential drugs for focused antenatal care package

Essential drugs and medical supplies is an essential input in a health service delivery system and therefore the programme will propose supply of drugs in order to facilitate service delivery at the outreach service delivery points at the community in the rangelands.

The programme team will aim at mobilizing drugs and medical supplies from Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation for service delivery at the outreach service delivery points in the community. The programme will focus to reach at least 50 antenatal mothers in 3 years.

 

5.2. Support skilled birth attendance community campaigns

This activity is aimed at conscientisation of the pastoralist community on the importance of skilled birth attendance strategy in prevention of maternal mortality e.g. postpartum haemorrhage which is a leading cause of maternal mortality in Africa e.g. Kenya.

The programme aims at conducting community public meetings for awareness on the benefits of skilled birth attendance, targeting at least 2000 - 5000 participants in 3 years.

 

5.3 Support monitoring of pregnancies at outreach services

This activity aims at monitoring maternal and foetal well-being throughout the gestation period by focusing on the following during each outreach visit to all pregnant mothers

° blood pressure assessment of the mother

° foetal movement and foetal heart rate

° assessment of maternal vital signs

° assessment of general health of the mother e.g. malaria, TB, anaemia and STI/HIV/AIDS

° maternal nutritional assessment

The programme focus at targeting 50 mothers by 2012.

 

5.4 Support Vitamin A supplementation for lactating mothers

Vitami A supplementation is a national strategy aimed at promoting child survival by reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. By acquiring Vitamin A through maternal breast milk, Vitamin A helps to prevent against common childhood diseases.

This activity aims at targeting at least 100 mothers for Vitamin A supplementation in 3 years period.

 

5.5 Support nutritional supplementation for vulnerable pregnant and lactating mothers

Nutrition is vital for foetal growth and well-being in the uterus as well as healthy development in future. Adequate quantities essential of essential amino acids derived from proteins are essential for development of organs during the period of organ formation in foetus. Amino acids are the building blocks of brain cells and the entire nervous system of a developing foetus in uterus. This determines the child’s future performance in adulthood.

The programme aims at facilitating provision of food to vulnerable pregnant and lactating mothers in order to promote maternal and child well-being and consequently reduce morbidity and mortality.

This activity aims at targeting 100 mothers to benefit from the programme in 3 years period.

 

5.6 Support supply of essential drugs for medical treatment in pregnancy and childbirth

The programme aims at facilitating the supply of essential drugs for management of medical conditions in pregnancy and childbirth, this is in order to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. A total of 100 pregnant and postnatal mothers will be focused by the programme through mobile health care services.

 

6.0 Child Health Care Services improved

 

6.1 Conduct community integrated management of childhood illnesses workshops

Integrated management of childhood illnesses is WHO strategy adapted globally aimed at reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Pastoralist Foundation for Life integrated outreach health care services programme aims also at implementing IMCI strategy at household and community level among the pastoralist community.

Community IMCI strategy aims at strengthening household-based preventive strategies in order to reduce health hazards at the child’s environment and therefore reduce child morbidity and mortality.

The programme will organise and conduct workshops focusing on the following strategies

° breastfeeding

° supplementary feeding

° provision of micronutrients e.g. vitamins

° immunisation. Main symptoms in IMCI

° malaria prevention and management

° promotion of child mental and social development

° feeding of sick children. General danger signs in IMCI

° referral of sick children

° vaccination of pregnant mothers with tetanus toxin vaccine. Safe disposal of stool and hand washing with soap and water

° preventive measures against HIV/AIDS

° prevention of child abuse

° reproductive health

° prevent and beat child injuries

The above are household and community practices for IMCI which the programme aims at strengthening implementation at pastoralist households.

The programme is aiming at conducting two workshops, targeting 120 participants in a 3 years period.

The programme will target the following beneficiaries

° pregnant mothers

° breast feeding mothers

° adolescents and youth

° men (e.g. male involvement in IMCI)

 

6.2. Conduct mobile immunisation services

Expanded programme on immunisation services are inaccessible to the pastoralist community. Outreach/mobile services strategy becomes the only realistic means of accessing vaccination to children and pregnant mothers. Immunisation as one of the global strategy for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality will be a key strategy for promoting pastoralist child survival. Resources input for the activity will be from MOPHS.

The programme aims at targeting 500 children and pregnant mothers in 3 years time.

 

6.3. Support nutritional supplementation for children with acute malnutrition (IMAM)

Worldwide, malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood. Severe malnutrition in infants is common in developing countries. Food deficiency characteristics displayed by pastoralist communities include the following

° insufficient food at household

° inadequate knowledge of feeding technique

° improper feeding habits

° poor hygiene

These factors expose pastoralist child to malnutrition. Drought is also a prevalent feature in pastoralist occupied regions. This is also characterised by household food deficiency and therefore childhood malnutrition  with immunodeficiency resulting into pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases.

The programme aim will be to integrate management of acute malnutrition with programme activities.

A total of 120 children will be targeted within a period of 3 years.

 

6.4 Support supply of essential drugs for integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI)

Shortages of essential drugs at health facility level is a common feature in pastoralist areas due to unreliable drugs supply logistic system. Frequent shortage of essential drugs and inaccessibility of health services contribute to childhood mortality.

The programme will propose supply of health services contribute to childhood mortality.

The programme will propose supply of essential drugs for IMCI activities at the outreach services. IMCI activity will target to provide care to 200 children by the end of 2012.

 

6.5 Support school health programme services

This activity aims at promoting child health in the pastoralist areas. The programme will provide the following health services

° screening for minor illnesses and providing treatment

° physical examination for disorder

° assessing immunization status

° revaccination for BCG vaccine and tetanus toxoid vaccine for those with wounds

° referral for children with major disorders to health facilities

° deworming and Vitamin A supplementation

° voluntary counselling and testing

° health education and workplace HIV counselling and testing

The programme will target Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in the catchments area.

It will target at least 20 schools with a total population of 500 beneficiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 5a:

 

BUDGET SUMMARY BY OUTPUT FOR PASTORALIST FOUNDATION FOR LIFE MOBILE DISPENSARY PROJECT

 

 

OUTPUT

YEAR 1

 2010

YEAR 2

2011

YEAR 3

2012

TOTAL FOR 3 YEARS

1.

Community-based HIV Testing and Counselling promoted

1,891,909

1,396,909

  698,409

 3,987,227

2.

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS promoted

   272,000

   400,000

    80,000

    752,000

3.

Community Care and Support for People living with HIV/AIDS and orphans improved

3,290,833

2,666,833

1,430,833

  7,388,499

4.

Reproductive Health Care Services strengthened

   330,000

   330,000

 

    660,000

5.

Maternal Health Care Services improved

1,111,666

   554,666

   554,660

  2,220,998

6.

Child Health Care Services improved

   789,569

   789,569

   789,569

  2,368,707

 

SUB - TOTAL

7,685,977

6,137,977

3,553,471

17,377,431

 

10 % inflation factor for year 2 and 3

              -

   613,798

   355,347

                -

 

Total output budget including inflation

7,685,977

6,751,775

3,908,818

18,346,570

 

5 % contingency of total output oriented budget

   384,299

   337,589

   195,441

     917,329

7.

Personnel and vehicle hire/maintenance

2,506,000

2,764,200

3,038,072

  8,308,272

 

TOTAL

10,576,276

9,853,564

7,142,338

27,572,178