Pfizer Supported & Immunization Project

Improved use of voluntary reproductive health services through integration with MNCH interventions (Immunization services).

The project is located in West Pokot and Isiolo counties in Kenya where there is low rate of modern contraceptive use (58 %)I , and inadequate funding for family planning. . Immunization rates for young children are poor with only 34 percent of West Pokot children 12 to 23 months old are fully immunized and in West Pokot. Immunization is key in protect- ing children from preventable diseases that cause lifetime disabilities and death.

The fertility rate in these two counties is higher than the national rate;

  • West Pokot is at 7.2%
  • Isiolo is at 4.9%

In West Pokot County the project covers two sub-counties (Pokot South and Pokot Central Sub-Counties) and in Isiolo the project covers one Sub-county (Garbatulla Sub-County) 

National Lead Organization: World Vision Kenya

Focal Reach: West Pokot County and Isiolo County

Duration: 1 year 6 months (March 2016 – August 2017)

Patner: Ministry of Health

RATIONALE

 

 Target Population

  • Children under 5 years 20,462
  • Women of reproductive age 29,559
  • Men 14,615
  • Faith leaders 100
  • Community voices and action members 80
PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

 

March 2016 - August 2016

  • On capacity building of faith leaders, 70 pastors have been trained on Channels of Hope Maternal Newborn Child Health and 32 imams have been trained on Mobilizing Muslim Leaders for Reproductive Health and Family Planning in the Community
  • As a result of the faith leaders training 48 Channels of Hope Action Teams were formed and a total of 145 congregation members are now sensitizing their community members on the importance of quality Maternal Newborn Child Health services
  • On Social Accountability 98 members of various community groups were trained on Social Accountability in health. The community members are now monitoring the standard of health services in their facility so as to lobby decision makers to allocate more resources to improve services
  • Fifty six health workers have been trained on the Community Maternal Newborn Care module and are extending quality primary health care to the household level
  • Baseline data collection and barrier analysis completed
PROJECT OUTCOMES

 

  • Increased knowledge of immunization and Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies in West Pokot and Isiolo
  • Increased access to immunization and voluntary family planning services
  • Improved social and policy environment for immunization family planning services, and positive reproductive health behaviours
  • Increased evidence generation to create better program- ming in the project area
PROJECT MODELS

 

The models used are the Ministry of Health and World Vision’s well-tested models for improving access to and use of health services. These include: 

  1. Community Based Newborn Care Module for health workers and community health volunteers
  2. Health Systems Strengthening through iniatives and strategies that lead to better access, coverage, quality, and efficiency
  3. Channels of Hope (Training for faith leaders)
  4. Community Based Newborn Care Module for health workers and community health volunteers
CHALLENGES

 

  • Shortage of health care providers which cuts across all cadres
  • Poor health service infrastructure
  • Irregular supply of FP commodities and vaccines
  • Poor male involvement
  • Negative community perception and religious beliefs in relation to Family planning uptake
  • Pastoral- nomadic lifestyle of the Isiolo community makes it di cult for health care providers to reach them to follow up on vaccination and family planning uptake

For more information kindly contact Jeremiah_Nyagah@wvi.org