This project aims to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable groups in Kenya, particularly children under the age of five, have the resources to access nutrition and health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project responds to the threat of COVID-19 by supporting and strengthen the capacity of the local health system, to deliver essential nutrition and health services in five targeted counties in Kenya: Kilifi, Kwale, Siaya, Taita Taveta and Uasin Gishu. Project activities include: (1) strengthening the local health care system by training community health workers and volunteers in COVID-19 prevention, nutrition, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition (MNCHN) and gender equality; (2) engaging with community leaders and groups to increase knowledge and support for MNCHN services and gender equality; (3) identifying gender-based barriers and risk factors to assist community health workers with providing tailored health and nutrition services to vulnerable women and girls, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence; and (4) strengthening coordination forums for health and nutrition and COVID-19 response by providing technical and logistical assistance to targeted counties in Kenya. This project expects to reach 768,011 children under the age of five, providing 614,000 of these children with Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming. This project should also reach 429,800 indirect beneficiaries.This project aims to adapt to service delivery to protect both health workers and the population from COVID-19, remove barriers to health services and promote the adoption of optimal nutrition practices by women, men, and children during the COVID-19 pandemic across the five targeted counties in Kenya. This project also works in partnership with Helen Keller International.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved provision of gender-responsive, inclusive and accountable essential nutrition services by health care providers for diverse groups of women and children rights-holders in Kenya; and (2) increased equitable use of maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition services by diverse groups of women and children rights-holders in Kenya.
Results achieved as of September 30, 2022 include: (1) provided vitamin A supplementation to 1,202,192 children aged 6 to 59 months, and deworming treatment to 1,022,992 children aged 12-59 months in Kenya; (2) 182 healthcare workers and 10 health management team members trained on infection prevention and control; (3) 1,631 Health workers and 7,737 Community Health Volunteers trained on vitamin A supplementation and deworming administration, data collection, gender equality and community mobilization; and (4) 250 key community influencers sensitized and trained on sexual and gender-based violence reporting and referral pathways.
