MAISHAImprovingmaternalandnewbornhealth
FollowingtheEmergencyObstetricTraining(EmOC)inearlyNovembertheMAISHAprojectshiftedtotheruralhealthfacilitiesinMigoritoconducttwo‐weeklongtrainingsforCommunityHealthVolunteers(CHVs).TheKenyanNationalHealthStrategy,whichMAISHAsupportsthroughcapacitybuildingandtechnicalhealthcentersupports,issimplifiedinthemodelbelow:
EssentiallytheCHVsarethekeyactorsontheground.Theyarerecruitedfromwithintheircommunitiesandvotedoninapublicbaraza(communitymeeting).CHVsincludemenandwomenofvariousadultages.Theirkeyresponsibilitiesaretomakehomevisits,gatherhealthdatafromallhouseholds,promotehealthylifestylesandtoinformthecommunityofvarioushealthcampaigns.
TheCHVsaresupportedandsupervisedbytheirlocalCHCandthecommunity‐outreachCHEW(bothofwhichareattachedtotheirlocalhealthdispensary.MAISHA’strainingsareconductedbysubcountyhealthworkersandtheCHEWwhichwillworkdirectlywiththeCHVs.Typically10‐15CHVsareresponsiblefortheircommunityarea,whichcanhaveapopulationupto1000households.
NaQonalLevel
• MinistryofHealth• PartnershipswithNGOs,otherstates,andinsQtuQons
CountyLevel
• CountyHealthOfficers• FacilitynursesandCHEWs
CommunityLevel
• CHEWs(CommunityHealthExtensionWorkers)• CHCs(CommunityHealthCommitees)• CHVs(CommunityHealthVolunteers)
CommunityHealthVolunteers
November2014
2
CHVtrainingoccursovertendaysandfocusesonsixmodules:HealthandDevelopmentintheCommunity;CommunityGovernanceandLeadership;Communication;HealthPromotionandDiseasePrevention;BasicHealthCareandLifeSavingSkills;andManagementandUseofCommunityHealth.Whilethetrainingsareorganizedaccordingtothiscurriculummuchtimeisgiventogroupwork,presentations,andopendiscussions.Forinstance,thepicturetotheleftdepictsaproperhandwashingdemonstration.Simplehygienicpracticessuchasthisservetoimprovehealthexponentially.Similarly,seeninthegrouppicturebelow,alivelygroupdiscussionaboutfamilyplanningallowsCHVstodiscussthebenefits,myths,andconcernsaboutvariousformsofbirthcontrol.FamilyplanningisoftenthemostdiscussedsubjectofCHVtraininggiventhatcommunitymembersinruralareaswishtohavelargefamiliesandareoftenconcernedfamilyplanningwillinhibitthis.Inthiswaytrainingsserveasanopenandinformedforum.ThetrainersareabletocreateadialoguewithCHVs,whichwillcarryforwardtotherestofthecommunity.
CHVsarethedirectlinktocommunityhealthandcommunitymembers.Thereforetheirtrainingisanimportantopportunitytoshareknowledgeandempowerment.MAISHAisproudtosupportCHVswhoaretrue‘ambassadorsofchange’!
‐Ipsum
“Theremustbeawarenessaboutservices,otherwisetheservicesservenogood.”–CharlesOchieng,MigoriSub‐countyCHEW
Calendar
December1–12,2014MigoriCHVTraining
January7–15,2015NyeriCHCTraining
February9–13,2015NyeriMidtermReview
February23–27,2015MigoriMidterm
