KANGEMI TB CLINIC HAND-OVER CEREMONY
Kangemi is a slum located on the outskirts of Nairobi, Westlands sub-county. It is estimated to have a population of 234,080 people. Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is reported to be higher in slum areas due to congestion and poverty.Kangemi falls in this category falls in this category. Most housing units in Kangemi are overcrowded and poorly ventilated hence providing ideal breeding grounds and airborne transmission of TB.
However, Kangemi has been one of the areas that have been proactive in community engagement in TB control. As early as 2009 former TB patients in Kangemi had come together and established Pamoja TB group, a team formed to respond to TB in that community. They engage in creating TB awareness, supporting TB adherence, contact and defaulter tracing among other interventions, The current reported decline in TB cases in Kangemi may be attributed to such community involvement.
Through Pamoja TB group, Kangemi health center has succeeded in establishing relationships with external partners. One such partner is Results Japan. Results Japan was introduced to Kangemi during their visit to Kenya around 2012 where they made the commitment to renovate the health center among other community interventions.
The renovated clinic was being handed over by the Results Japan to The Nairobi County on this day. The relationship between the Kangemi Health Centre and RESULTS-Japan began in 2012, prompted by the dire conditions of the previous TB treatment center such as gaping walls, dilapidated ceilings and floors in a bad state as well as challenges among the CHVs. The community development project by RESULT-JAPAN in Kangemi is broad and involves fundamental aspects such as:
• Training CHVs on TB Prevention and Advocacy
• Refurbishment of the TB clinic
• Offering practical and technical support and monitoring the CHVs in the implementation of their annual action plan.
Karen Kuria from Stop TB Partnership(extreme left) joins the MoH officials and the CHVs during the Kangemi TB Clinic Handing-over ceremony
The event was graced by sub-county medical officers, The Ministry of Health officials and the Chief Guest the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Ambassador Toshitsugu Uesawa and Stop TB Partnership. In his speech, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for its active contribution and role in the growth of developing countries and improving the health standards. He also mentioned that Kenya is the biggest recipient of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Sub-Sahara Africa. Kenya was also the first country in Africa to host the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) which strengthened the ties between Africa and Japan and also involved discussions on the establishment of resilient health systems. His final wish was that with the successful collaboration between results Japan and Kangemi, it would build a bridge of friendship between Japan and Kenya.
This bilateral relationship is encouraged as an approach towards improved health outcomes and achieving the health targets in the Sustainable development goals targets.
By Mercy Karumba
