Pandemic Diseases

A PCV marks nets before distribution takes place, Saraya

The Universal Coverage Campaign of LLINs (long-lasting insecticide nets) conducted by Peace Corps in partnership with the Health District of Saraya and its management team in the Health District of Saraya was a great success and a very important event. While Kendeya is planning with the Health District and the local PCV a survey to assess the long-term benefits of Universal Coverage, the methodology adopted for the Campaign received strong appreciation from international agencies and national government institutions. Kendeya, who took part into the implementation of the second cycle of the Campaign, held between the month of January and February 2010, is now involved in the documentation and reporting of the result of the Campaign, in order to disseminate information about the modality of distribution and enabling future replication of the successful malaria prevention strategy.

Distribution in the village of Sountounkoloung

In order to assure that malaria mortality and morbidity can be effectively reduced, mosquito nets need to be distributed regularly, due to migration and the dynamic nature of the local population, as well as because of the deterioration of nets. For this reason PC, the Health District and Kendeya are already planning another Universal Coverage Campaign. Kendeya has already been involved in organisational meetings and, with the local PCV, is developing a training session for the community health workers who are going to have an active role in the delivery of the nets.

Kendeya also assisted in the submission of a grant application to conduct a HIV/AIDS programme in the Saraya district. The funding was approved and the programme will be fully implemented in the coming year. The main objectives of the project are the intensification and the optimisation of the distribution of condoms in the Health District, the conduction of regular educational interventions in local villages, as well as the creation of a follow up strategy for individuals that have resulted positive to the HIV/AIDS test.

Midwife Fatou Kan prepares HIV/AIDS tests, while project manager Annarita Imbucci distributes T-shirts to community members that helped the organisation of the free HIV/AIDS testing, Balori

Posted by Annarita

Outreach Visits

During the month of April 2010 Kendeya visited neighbouring villages of Dioulfundou, Bembou and Badioula situated in the zone of Saraya for the regular vaccination programme EPV (Enlarged Programme of Vaccination). It was the first time that the organisation conducted the EPV in these villages, as usually it visits further away communities with the mobile team. Two matrons, Dado and Diaba Danfakha, and the community health worker Mady Kanouté, constituted the vaccination team, and KCHP project manager Annarita Imbucci supported the activities. The villages visited had been previously informed of the vaccination team’s arrival, as the Health Centre attempts to visit villages on the same date of each month. For this reason, most of the mothers were already in place and ready to have their babies vaccinated. When the baby was not present the localmatrons went to the household and invited the mothers to come to the vaccination point. The villages’ matrons receive regular training from the Health District and, with their participation, they efficiently supported the work of the vaccination team. Knowing the number, names and parents of each new born, they were able to both assist the gathering of the mothers and take care of the babies during vaccinations with a maternal and caring touch that soothed the babies during injections. In total 35 of the 41 children to vaccinate in the three villages were seen in a single morning: 16 in Bembou, 11 in Badioula and 8 in Dioulfundou

Project manager Annarita Imbucci recently visited the women in Dalafing, to follow the project aimed at developing a community garden that has been implemented in the neighbouring community. Fences now surround two allotments of about 20 meters square each. Unfortunately, due to the current dry season it is not possible to plant any species of seeds, as the shortage of water reaches serious conditions in this period of the year. Communities are forced to choose between utilising the water for either dinking and washing themselves or to water their gardens. However, the women of Dalafing were enthusiastic to show to Kendeya their progress and commitment to the project, and feel they are ready to start growing different varieties of vegetables as soon as the season will be more favourable.

Posted By Annarita

Fundraising

Image on Kendeya greeting card

Since the month of December 2009, Kendeya has been working to establish a fundraising network in Italy, by promoting its activities as well as those of the Saraya Health District. Thanks to the sensibility and generosity of friends and family, Kendeya has been able to plan future projects for the coming season. The fundraising has been primarily constituted of selling greeting cards, the image of which conveys the sharing approach of the organisation. A charity market held at the Scuola Media Statale Esopo, Roma, allowed Kendeya to raise a considerable amount of money that will serve the creation of a internet point for the community of Saraya. The additional funds will be used to incorporate an internet café in a room that currently holds regular meetings organised by the Health District. Frequently, the attendees of such meetings travel from far away over very difficult terrain in order to participate in the meetings which can last for a considerable part of a day. The Health Centre is always an excellent host, providing participants with a meat-based meal and cold refreshments (both very uncommon luxuries in the area). However, despite the Health Centre’s best efforts to make participants feel looked after, the conditions of the meeting room, which can become unbearable hot and uncomfortable, can seriously affect the development of meetings. With the funds raised at the Esopo, Kendeya is planning to entirely restructure the room, remaking the electricity system, the floor, the roof, the wall as well as the back board and the projection board. With a subvention provided by the Peace Corps, 5 computers and an air conditioning system are already available, and a second air conditioning system will be provided by the Health Centre. Finally, with Kendeya financial and management support, the room will be made more respondent to the necessities of the District and the community of Saraya, providing the population with their first internet café.

Health Centre Meeting room

Posted by Annarita