Community Development Initiatives

Most of the Center's research activities are conducted in poor slum settlements in Nairobi. As a responsible corporate citizen, APHRC conducts several activities in these communities to improve the wellbeing of residents. The activities include:

1. Bursaries for bright students who wish to go to high school

   Through the support of various donors, APHRC has been supporting bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access secondary education. Many bright students who do well in their primary school exams cannot afford the high schools fees for secondary education. Even with the advent of free primary education, many children do not transition to secondary schools due to financial constraints.

    In partnership with the SEWA Foundation, APHRC is supporting the provision of 10 scholarships for secondary education for bright students. 

   Needs: Each scholarship would cover tuition fees, lodging costs, uniforms, and other necessities. On average each scholarship would be worth 120,000 KES (1,500 USD) for a day school and 250,000 KES (3,125 USD) – to cover tuition costs for four years. 

   "...When I sat for my Standard 8 examinations and passed, I had already resigned myself to the fact that I was not going to join secondary school.  My dream of becoming a doctor in future was just to be that, a dream.  But this dream is slowly becoming a reality with the provision of a scholarship by APHRC. Now I am sure I will finish my secondary school education, join the university and realize my dream.’’

   (George Ann Mmbale, 15, Form 2 student and beneficiary of the scholarship scheme).

   
   
2. Free medical camps held bi-annually in two sites. During these camps:
1. Residents get free consultations for common ailments and get free drugs to treat the ailments
2. All children below five years are weighed to detect those with malnutrition and referred when necessary
3. Vaccinations are given to those children with uncompleted schedules
4. Pregnant women are examined and counseled
5. Family planning counseling and commodities are offered
6. Suspected patients are screened for tuberculosis
7. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV is provided for those who need it
8. All adults above the age of 18 years are screened for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Impact: Every year, close to 5000 consultations are done, 1200 children weighed, 150 children vaccinated, 80 women given family planning services, 60 patients screened for TB (with 5 new cases detected),  300 adults offered VCT (with 10 HIV positives detected), 1200 adults screened (with 20 new diabetics detected)

Needs: The annual direct costs for the four medical camps are 1.6m KES (20,000 USD)

2. Clinics for the treatment of diabetes and high blood pressure held fortnightly in two sites. During these clinics:
<li >Patients get free consultations
1. Patients get extensive counseling on treatment adherence and life style changes with regard to diet, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use
2. Patients are tested on clinical measures to monitor their progress.

Impact: Since their inception in May 2008, more than 1100 patients have received treatment at least once. Currently up to 400 patients are seen on a regular basis every month. The patients have since formed advocacy and care groups to collectively source for drugs, save money and improve their economic livelihoods

Needs: The current direct costs per month are 108,200 KES (1353 USD).
One diabetic patient needs about 550 KES or 6.9 USD for a month of treatment.
In the near future, a revolving fund will be established for the patients to sustainably purchase drugs and other tests needed for their long term care � estimated cost of 300,000 KES (4,000 USD)

3. Provision of water and sanitation facilities. These have been provided in the framework of a health promoting schools initiative. In addition, facilities have been constructed through various initiatives by the Center:
1. 14 toilets have been constructed or renovated in 10 primary schools
2. 13 water tanks have been installed, of which 6 have been connected to rain water harvesting facilities
3. 4 ablution blocks with 20 toilets and 8 showers have been constructed in two villages. 5 water tanks have also been installed in the ablution blocks.
4. A waste recycling plant has been constructed in one village

Impact: 6300 school children and 150 teachers have benefited from the improved water and sanitation facilities, 2000 community members have benefitted from the ablution blocks, 5 community based groups have generated income through running the ablution blocks and waste recycling center.

Needs: We need to improve the water and sanitation facilities in another 10 schools and to construct 10 ablution blocks in another 5 villages. The average cost per school toilet block is 800,000 KES (10,000 USD); for the sanitation block it is 1.2M KES (15,000 USD).

4. Provision of sanitary towels to school girls and young women

One of the most common reasons for slums girls to miss school is being in their menstruation period, as they lack funds to buy any kind of sanitary towels. They tend to use any kind of material, like newspapers, used cloth, pieces of mattresses, and as they feel uncomfortable they tend to stay out of school in order to avoid any kind of observed bleeding and so. Therefore, provision of sanitary towels to support the girls is essential.

1.   Disposable napkins for a one year use were distributed to the most needy girls in both Korogocho and Viwandani  
2.   Re-usable pads for a year�s use were distributed to all the menstruating school girls in 4 of Korogocho schools 

Impact: Around 500 girls are currently using the above sanitary towels.

Needs: We need to ensure all girls who need these pads are provided with. The number of girls who are in need of these towels in both Korogocho and Viwandani is 2,276.