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