Nutrition and Health

The bottom line is than most of these children would go hungry if it were not for the food they receive from the school.

Here is a picture of the old kitchen and the new kitchen built by Aid2Africa.

Health in Kenya and Moi'sBridge

Kenya’s Human Development Index is 0.521, ranking the country 148th out of 177 countries according to the World Heath Organization. Progress in Kenya is slow and uncertain with only education registering significant progress.

The Kenya Government is the main provider of health care services. However, poor infrastructure, weak institutions and poor regulatory enforcement are key development challenges. Election-related political turbulence and the global economic crisis often spill over into Kenya.

Health status and indicators

Key health impact indicators suggest stagnation or decline in the health status.

1. Life expectancy is at birth is 53 years on average.

2. The percentage of the population under 15 years old is 43%.

3. The death rate of children under 5 is 93 out of 1000 births, that is 9.3%.

4. Maternal mortality ratio is 4.1% and actually getting worse.

5. Malaria is the leading cause of death at 30%, next respiratory diseases 24.5%

6. HIV prevalence among adults is 7.4 %. However, 83% of those infected do not know their HIV status and only 35% of those in need are receiving treatment.

7. Persistent poverty and low water and sanitation coverage have contributed to sanitation related illnesses like cholera.

Challenges

Health impact indicators suggest wide disparities in health across the country, closely linked to underlying socio-economic, gender and geographical disparities. In rural areas the income level is $1 a day or less.

There is a sever lack of access to health facilities and professionals. This results in an inadequate response to manage the disease burden. Roughly 5000 doctors in a population of 38 million people, or 1 doctor for every 7500 people.

High burden of untreated communicable diseases.

Persistent poverty and low water and sanitation coverage have contributed to sanitation related illnesses like cholera.

In the same analogy of teaching a man to fish the best solutions are sustainable solutions. However, the lack of infrastructure and an economic base in rural areas makes this difficult. The school is the foundation for proving sustainable improvements, such as in sanitation, clean water, animal husbandry and agriculture.

Our Goals

We want to sponsor annual check-ups for the children including any required treatment. Malaria and Typhoid are endemic in the region. So far this year, 41 children of the Waymarks Education Center were treated for malaria, and 18 for typhoid. All were treated successfully. Mosquito nets can help control Malaria.

Where essential, we want to improve living conditions that pose heath risks. The school offers good sanitation and clean water. However, as the number of children increases the school must expand the availability of these resources.

Other important needs include Health Education in the school and for the school to have basic First Aid supplies and common medicines. We also would like to provide Dental and Vision care.

At present there is no specific funding allocated for these needs.

Nutrition and Health Projects

PROJECT: Mosquito Nets

Malaria and Typhoid are endemic in the region. In Fact Malaria is the leading cause of death at 30%. So far this year, 41 children of the Waymarks Education Center were treated for malaria. All were treated successfully.

Mosquito nets can help control Malaria. Mosquito nets are about $10 each, $2,000 would enable the school to give every child and staff member a mosquito net.

PROJECT: Basic Health Checkup and Inoculations

There are great disparities in health across the country, coupled with a high burden of untreated communicable diseases. There is a sever lack of access to health facilities and professionals. This results in an inadequate response to manage the disease burden. There are roughly 5000 doctors in a population of 38 million people, or 1 doctor for every 7500 people.

The goal here is to provide annual check-ups for the children including any required treatment. The cost of a basic health checkup and inoculations at the proper age is about $5 per child a year, $1,000 for all the children in the school.

This project will need to be renewed each year until sustainability projects grow and mature.

PROJECT: First Aid Kits

The goal here is to provide basic First Aid Kits for the school and the Children’s Homes and keep them stocked for a year.

PROJECT: Daily Meals for the Children

The bottom line is that most of the children would not eat everyday if not for the meals provided by the school.

Right now they get a mug of sweetened maize porridge in the morning at 10 am and a meal later in the day. It resembles a type of stew containing beans cooked with either rice or potatoes. Sometimes they get a banana.

We need to improve upon this by adding calories from fresh fruit, vegetables, and most important more protein. At Christmas and Easter we try to have special meals.

Our goal is to have the sustainable projects make enough profit to pay for this expense. Until they grow, funding this need is a high priority.

PROJECT: Holiday Meals for the Children

On Christmas and Easter we have traditionally provided special meals for the children. Daily the children mainly have corn porridge. The holiday meals consist of much more, such as meats, chicken and lamb, vegetables, fruits, beverages and treats.