Showing posts with label vaccinations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vaccinations. Show all posts

Friday, August 1, 2014

Health Program Update - Half Year Report

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Health Program shares and reports on their successes thus far, halfway through 2014. Thus far, the Health Team has successful conducted 16 outreaches to different remote areas within Kuku Group Ranch. A total of 670 patients were attended to during these outreaches; this includes 224 children who received their vaccinations against different childhood illnesses. These children would have otherwise missed the vaccinations at the appropriate age when they need them most.
MCWT Dr. Warai on one of his many health outreaches
In the months of March and June, MWCT partnered with the Ministry of Health in two supplemental immunization campaigns towards prevention of neonatal tetanus and eradication of polio. This partnership was very successful resulting in achievement of over 100% coverage of set targets, and 4945 persons immunized by MWCT health personnel.

Starting in May of this year, MWCT Health Team has introduced mobile laboratory outreaches. The MWCT employed laboratory technologist travels on a regular basis to provide laboratory diagnostic services to the patients attending this facility. A total of 85 tests have been conducted during these outreaches!

Mobile laboratory
The distribution of sanitary pads to teenage girls within the Kuku Group Ranch Schools has been very successful thus far in 2014. A total of 1379 school girls have received a reusable sanitary pad package, which with proper use, is designed to last for one year. This allows the girls to safely and comfortable attend classes, which consequently, the academic performance and self-esteem of these girls has improved consistently. The presentation of the sanitary pads is preceded with a discussion on female reproductive health.
Enkusero school girls receiving their sanitary pads
The Health Program has actively been working with community health volunteers (CHVs) in various projects during the year thus far. A total of 90 community health volunteers attached to four different health centres have participated in MWCT organized outreaches. Starting in April this year, MWCT launched the CHV Health Education Program (CHEP). This is a community health volunteer led initiative that aims at educating the patients attending a clinic on important health topics such as sanitation, child nutrition, women health and benefits of family planning. The education sessions are conducted in the local Maa language. Since the inception of the program, 12 weekly education sessions have been conducted.

CHV Education Program in Olorika

During the first half of 2014, the MWCT ambulance was involved in 9 incidents of emergency patient transfers to Loitokitok District Hospital, over 50 kilometers away, for specialist medical care. Furthermore, the vehicle has facilitated 22 health outreaches to various community areas and schools within the Group Ranch.

"Anna" the ambulance on one of her many outreaches 
The MWCT Health Team will continue to extend its' tremendous efforts across the Group Ranch for the remainder of 2014 and onwards; ensuring the residents of Kuku Group Ranch are continuing to receive adequate and accessible health services.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Health Program Update - March Efforts

As usual the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Health Program team has been working hard. The month of March had them extending their efforts all across Kuku Group Ranch.

The routine health outreaches continued into the month of March, including an outreach to Kuku in which 85 patients were attended to. Further, a new outreach was initiated in the month of March - a mobile laboratory. The MWCT lab technician, whom is permanently stationed at Iltilal Health Center, travelled 25 kilometres away to the Langata Dispensary. Here he managed to do complete prenatal testing for 7 women, as well as a total of 5 tests from the outpatient clinic. The objective of this mobile outreach is to increase the diagnostic capacity of all the health facilities within Kuku, and also increase revenues in order to allow the laboratory to become self-sustained.


As a part of ensuring access and continuity of health services by residents of Kuku Group Ranch, Dr. Gabriel travelled to Langata dispensary and stayed there for 4 days.

The second round of the Tetanus Campaign continued in March. As you may remember, MWCT has partnered with the Ministry of Health to immunize all women of reproductive age. The Iltilal Health Centre Team managed to exceed the set target of 900 women, and immunized a total of 997 women at the end of the campaign!

Lining up for the Tetanus vaccination
Some exciting news about our Community Health Volunteers! The new group of 15 community health volunteers attached to the Iltilal Health Centre completed their 10-day training at the Marla on March 7! Certificates were awarded by the District Medical Office of Health.

New Community Health Workers