Kenya
Rural healthcare provision

WER UK along with WNH (WER Holland), are funding improved community outreach services at Matata Hospital in Kenya. The grant has enabled Matata Hospital to train an additional 35 volunteers as community health workers  so that they can hold local clinics; educate on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and supervise those patients who are receiving treatment. 

Matata Community Hospital is located in Rachuonyo district, Kenya within Oyugis town.  It serves the 500,000 people that live within this rural district. 

The provision of primary health care in Rachuonyo district is very poor.  The transportation system is unreliable and expensive meaning access to health care for rural poor is unaffordable.  Those that are infected with HIV/AIDs or other chronic illnesses often go without treatment.

The effective training of the community health workers has empowered the community to take care of their own health from amongst themselves. This has been achieved through training youths and young persons on basic nursing care and pharmacology, holding regular meetings for peer groups to share challenges, and the production of nutritious and sustainable food through locally available resources.

WER has also funded 15 high quality paediatric beds for use in the children’s wards and maternity unit.

Ongoing funding will be used to continue with staff development in paediatric management; nutritional management and general clinical diagnosis and care. This allows Matata Hospital and its health out reach programs to give sustainable hospital based and community outreach care services to those who otherwise could not afford it.