Traditionally, ‘health’ is at the very focus of Malteser International’s work. In addition to the provision of medical services, we provide training and counseling for community health workers, to develop the capacities of individuals. We want to further increase reach and impact of our health programs which we mainly undertake in the following fields: HIV and TB control programs, curative care, communicable diseases control, health management, rational use of medicine, reproductive health, health education and promotion, medical emergencies.
Opening a Window In Nairobi's Slums
The hut in Kangemi, Nairobi, with walls of corrugated tin and cardboard, had little light or air. Diana Nafungu, aged six, has lived there in semi darkness with her three-year-old brother Francis, Mary, her 18 year-old aunt, and her 12-year-old cousin Janet, in eight square meters. Such living conditions threatened their health. At weekends, Diana’s grandmother, a maid in rich downtown Nairobi, can sometimes bring food and money. Mary explains: "Diana’s father died of AIDS and her mother, a drug addict, left her children." Then Diana grew ill. Mary sought help from George Ratenu, health volunteer at Kangemi Health center, where he works for the Malteser International team. He went with Mary and Diana for tuberculosis and HIV tests; both tests were positive.
Today, it is hard to believe Diana has had TB. "She has recovered so well," beams Mary. Diana survived thanks to the antibiotics she took for eight months. ‘We tell patients they must not stop treatment after a few weeks,’" says nurse Margaret Meruga at the Health center, "because they will become resistant to the antibiotics." The Malteser International team is made up of nurses, a clinical officer and a doctor. It also includes six local health care workers who live in the slums themselves. They tell their neighbors, families and friends about the Health center’s tests and explain how to avoid tuberculosis. "Fresh air is important for TB patients," George advised Diana’s family. Since then, windows have been put in Diana’s hut for air and light.
Malteser International has been supporting urban health services in Kenya since 2001. Since that time, the organization has been fighting against AIDS and TB in eight slums of Nairobi with a catchment area of 600,000 people. The diagnosis and treatment, the training of local staff in the health centers, the set up of laboratories and the education of slum residents are essential parts of the programme. Health and sexual education campaigns in cooperation with local self-help organizations contribute to decreasing the spread of the infectious diseases.
In Kenya three quarters of all TB patients are infected with HIV. In Kangemi, one of the largest slum areas in Nairobi, 78,000 people live in tiny spaces, without sewage, power or water. In the dry season, the paths are full of refuse. In the rainy season they are full of mud which seeps indoors.
Malteser International puts special emphasis on continuous training and retraining for both government-employed and community-employed health care personnel. This work is very successful: In December 2007, the diagnosis and treatment center Riruta in the slums of Nairobi which is supported by Malteser International has won the national award as the best tuberculosis facility of the years 2006 and 2007.