Share
August 23, 2024
On a sunny morning in Amagoro, a village in Busia County, Kenya, Faith Nanjala sits with her nearly two-year-old daughter Shequila in her grandfather’s yard. Shequila has just recovered from severe malnutrition and malaria, which was diagnosed by community health worker (CHW) Silas during a routine screening for childhood diseases.
When CHW Silas found Shequila, she was in a poor state, having lost weight. She also had malaria. The CHW referred her to the nearest health facility where the mother accessed nutritional supplements as Shequila underwent further management. “I am forever grateful to CHW Silas for the advice, assistance, and guidance he has offered me. My child’s health is better because of him,” Nanjala says.
Shequila Gets a Second Chance at Life, Thanks to Silas, a Community Health Worker (CHW).
CHWs like Silas play a significant role in improving the health of children under five years. They are trained in integrated Community Case Management (iCCM), which gives them the skills to screen, identify, classify, and manage uncomplicated cases of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea.
Additionally, they perform general health checks, such as nutrition and weight assessments, and teach communities about disease prevention and healthy living. Engaging mothers and caregivers in health talks significantly improves the health and well-being of their children. This proactive approach has contributed to a steady decline in under-five mortality rates in Kenya.
In 2022, one in 25 children died before reaching age five, compared to one in 11 in 1990. Many of these deaths, caused by preventable and easily treatable diseases like malaria, are now managed at the community level through preventative measures like immunization and by timely and quality care provided by CHWs.
“Were it not for the CHW who has continuously monitored my daughter’s developmental milestones during his routine checks, today, we would be speaking a different story,” says Faith, reflecting on the crucial role Silas has played in her daughter’s journey to recovery. Busia was Living Goods’ first county of operations in Kenya, and we have been working there for the past eight years.
We have a learning site in two sub-counties and are now partnering with the county government to co-implement and co-finance their community health program in the other five sub-counties, upskilling CHWs, supporting the training of CHWs on the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), and enabling strong performance management approaches.