KEN/10/062 - Renovation/repair/completion of Kithimani Dispensary/Facility

Objective: To improve the Facility to accommodate both preventative and curative health services in support of disease control/ health promotion for the local community.

Background: The Kithimani Dispensary is a government Rural Health Facility. It occupies an area of 10 acres on the northern outskirts of Kithimani market. It was started in 1963 as a community based health facility through a Kenyan government initiative. The Facility has one community unit with 50 community health workers and two Chiefs. It also has a functional health management committee of nine members. It is served by eight rooms operating as: screening room, drug store, injection room, MCH/FP (management of maternal child health/family planning) clinic room, chest clinic, public health office, dispensing room for under fives, LLITNS (long lasting insecticide-Treated Nets store). The Facility vicinity and environs are affected by highly infectious diseases which are endemic and include: malaria (3.900 cases per year), ARI – Acute Respiratory Infections(3.600), Diarrhoea (1.800), skin disease (1.440), UTI – Urinary Tract Infections (140), PTB - Pulmonary Tubercolosis (120), and Intestinal Worm (200). Rheumatic disease, Typhoid fever, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS cases which require highly complicated equipment and personnel coupled with adequate operational space would also be required. The facility also lacks a room for delivery to cater for essential services (Delivery and Services). Moreover, in Kenya, everyone must make a symbolic payment for health care. The inclusion of a laboratory service would improve the range of services provided, increase income for the Facility and thus help towards generating a more reliable source of income for ongoing maintenance and provision of adequate services. The requesting group was referred to the Fund by Ms. Francesca Guerrieri, ADG/Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, SEU, Budapest, who worked with Ms. Minutella in Côte d’Ivoire. P. Tendi – 19 October 2010

Use of Funds: The completion of the dispensary extension, including a laboratory, its renovation and maintenance as well as the purchase of a microscope. The funds would support the expansion of the provision of essential health services and ensure that these are accessible to the community, enhance knowledge, attitudes and practices of the community in health, using their own resources and medical personnel; create greater space and facilities catering for the fast-growing medical needs through increased infrastructure, equipment and human resources. KENCOM will provide the managers to oversee the work, Ms. Waya, and labour. The medical staff would be recruited by the government and the government would guarantee support for the start-up of the structure for one year. In subsequent years the facility will be supported in part by the government and in part by treatment payments by the patients.

Beneficiaries: Unknown