Kalyet Afya Foundation (KAF) provides information and basic health care on family planning, immunization, HIV-testing, counselling and preventative cancer to rural communities and slums in Molo and Kuresoi. KAF also supports 3 tree-nursery projects through training the farmer groups on good practices for them to have quality seedlings for sale. We facilitate them with quality certified seeds, tubers to put their seedlings when they are ready,  watering cans and market linkages. Further, we collaborate with schools in planting quick-growing trees like blue gum and fruit trees.

Consequently, this brings basic health services to people who could otherwise not visit a hospital or doctor when they need it, because; the nearest health centre is far away from where they live, and they cannot afford fare to visit the hospital. Government dispensaries are understaffed or lack sufficient equipment and medicine. In addition, many women of reproductive age in the rural areas we work lack reliable knowledge of family planning by the many rumours and misconceptions around family planning methods. Altogether this leads to many postponing getting information or medications, which jeopardizes their health.

Majority of the residents fell for firewood. By planting fast growing trees for firewood, it will conserve the indigenous trees. And the planted fruit trees will provide important vitamins and minerals to the residents’ non nutritious diet. They also get an extra income from selling the surplus fruits.

Together we promote community health in Molo and Kuresoi, which has a huge impact on family income, food security and wellbeing.

3600 people are enlightened and receive integrated health care services like cervical cancer screening, prostate cancer screening, diabetes screening, HIV testing, antenatal care, immunizations and deworming and improved family planning.  

Through tree planting 300 families will be assured of income. They can sell the seedlings or matured blue gum trees as firewood to schools or factories; and sell their fruits at local markets. It will generate a sustainable income that they can use to pay for their healthcare and other necessities like paying fees for their children.

In the communities of Molo and Kuresoi this means that major diseases are prevented or alleviated: Women of reproductive age will be healthier and enabled to provide a healthier life for their children, when they are able to space their pregnancies. Lives of children under 5 are saved by immunizations, as they will be prevented against diseases such as polio. Lives of adolescents will be improved, as being informed on reproductive health leads to less teen pregnancies and les Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Lives of men over 60 are saved by screening and medication for life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and prostate cancer.

What’s more, the entire community benefits from improved information, which spreads among people, which will in turn increase health-seeking behaviour and thus improve health and well-being in the community.

Ksh 1,106,396 or (€9,046) KAF will be able to cover:

• Coordination costs like transport cost to meet various stakeholders, transport while going to purchase various materials to be used in the project, airtime for communication, food while on various stakeholder meetings, refreshments for staff during outreach clinics in the rural areas, for hiring vehicle to transport staff to various outreach clinic sites
• Purchasing of drugs and non- pharmaceuticals for the outreach.
• Mentorship and Training fees.
• Paying community health volunteers (CHVs) for the outreach and other logistics.
• Buying equipment’s for use tree nurseries, purchasing seeds, purchasing fruit trees and also partially for managing the project.
• Monitoring & Evaluation Costs to check the entire implementation of the project by the project manager.

Own contributions: KAF commits KES 150,000 annually to this project.

Other contributions:

• The Kenyan Ministry of Health provides ARV-drugs for our outreaches, and additional family planning commodities when available.

• CHASE AFRICA finances one outreach per month in the community and to plant trees in schools.