Timing, Spacing & Immunisation Project

Improved use of voluntary reproductive health services through integration with Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) interventions (Immunization services).

The project is implemented in West Pokot and Isiolo counties in Kenya, where there is a low rate of modern contraceptive use at 14% and 27% respectively compared to the Kenya national rate of 58%, as well as inadequate funding for family planning. Immunization rates for young children are poor with only 34 % of West Pokot children between 12 to 23 months old being fully immunized. Immunization is key in protecting children from preventable diseases that cause lifetime disabilities and death.

National Lead Organization: World Vision Kenya

Focal Reach: Pokot South and Pokot Central Sub-Counties and in Isiolo ( Garbatula Sub-County)

Duration: March 2016 - February 2018

Partner: Ministry of Health and county Department of Health of West Pokot and Isiolo

Target Beneficiaries: Children under 5 years -  20,462 , women of reproductive age -  29,559, men - 14,615, faith leaders - 100, social accountability members - 80

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

 

  • 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 behaviors
  • Increased evidence generation to create better programming in the project area
PROJECT PROGRESS

 

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: 

  •  Community-based maternal & newborn care module for health workers and community health volunteers
  • Health Systems Strengthening through initiatives and strategies that lead to better access, coverage, quality, and efficiency
  • Channels of Hope in MNCH (training for faith leaders)
  • Social accountability through the Citizen Voice and Action model
PROJECT PROGRESS

 

  • On capacity building of faith leaders, 145 pastors have been trained on Channels of Hope Maternal Newborn Child Health and 35 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 128 channels of hope action teams were formed and a total of 387 congregation members are now sensitizing their community members on the importance of quality maternal newborn child health services. To date, 18,955 community members are sensitized through the church on Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies and Immunization.
  • 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
  • 56 health workers and 300 CHVs have been trained on the Community Maternal Newborn Care module and are extending quality primary health care to the household level

For more information kindly contact Jeremiah_Nyagah@wvi.org