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HealthX Africa in collaboration with accelerateUHC & Kenya Union of the Blind set to improve healthcare accessibility in Kirinyaga County

Recognizing the difficulties experienced by visually impaired individuals in accessing healthcare, HealthX Africa in collaboration with accelerateUHC and the Kenya Union of the Blind are actively stepping in to onboard and provide comprehensive healthcare support to members of the Kirinyaga Branch using HealthX Africa’s telehealth services.

People living with disabilities in Kenya confront significant challenges in accessing healthcare. The 2019 census reveals that 2.2% of Kenyans live with disabilities, with mobility disabilities comprising 28.6% of this group. Visual, hearing, and communication-related impairments disproportionately affect women (57.5%) and those in rural areas (80%). While Kenya has established robust policy frameworks to address health equity disparities, translating these policies into tangible solutions remains challenging.

Shockingly, one in two people with disabilities cannot access healthcare, leading to a disease burden nearly 10% higher than the general population.

These statistics were recently brought to life during a needs assessment done by the Kenya Union for the Blind. It was discovered that members of the Kirinyaga Branch encounter obstacles in movement, leading to higher logistics costs and delays in seeking healthcare. Many members require guides to attend hospitals, and when guides are unavailable, some choose to postpone healthcare visits.

“For Kenya to achieve universal health coverage we must cater to individuals that have traditionally been excluded from the healthcare landscape,” HealthX Africa’s CEO, Roy Bore said, “Using digital innovations like telehealth will allow us to be a step closer in making inclusive healthcare a reality.”

Recognizing the transformative potential of telehealth in achieving universal health coverage, HealthX with accelerateUHC, a project of RaHa Solutions, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and others, has committed to providing telehealth services to this community. HealthX Africa emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology to create an inclusive and equitable healthcare system. Telemedicine has proven globally to reduce costs, enhance access to providers, and mitigate barriers such as transportation expenses, especially crucial during pandemics.

With this premise, the Kenya Union of the Blind, Kirinyaga Branch members, will have access to comprehensive telehealth services that will encompass unlimited virtual doctor consultations, nutrition counseling, and counseling psychology through the toll-free number. Furthermore, the County government of Kirinyaga has pledged to assist the people with disability with the Governor H.E Anne Waiguru declaring her commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity to ensure no part of the society is left behind.

“It is our priority to ensure that Universal health coverage is a reality for all Kenyans, and this project is the first step in creating an inclusive healthcare system,” said accelerateUHC’s Liason person, Kadu Titi.

HealthX Africa is intentional in working with and learning from organizations representing and advocating for the health and rights of people with disabilities and adapting and improving HealthX telemedicine systems and services to meet the needs and preferences of Kenyans living with different disabilities.

John Muriuki, the Chairperson of the Kenya Union of the Blind, appreciated the medical support, saying this is an opportunity given to them to be able to access primary healthcare, especially through their phone. He said: “As a community, we face many challenges. When visiting the hospital, someone has to take you, thus making it difficult for your privacy and mental wellness, with a guide who is probably your relative sitting next to you in some instances. If the guide is not available, we do not go to the hospital. The possibility of accessing a doctor through our own phones without having to buy airtime is the surest way of ensuring universal access to health support. I request accelerateUHC to extend support to all the members of the Kirinyaga Branch, who are 327 members with visual impairments. We appreciate the support of 50 members, but I am appealing for your support to cover all the members. We also request your support for medicine, which will go a long way in ensuring easy and equal access to health”.

“HealthX has given people a medical access card with security features that will be used by people with visual challenges,” Muriuki added.

OUR FIRST PAYMENT THIS MONTH

This is the first payment we got this month : “Hello Kadu, …Been in the village to bury my grandma. Then my Aunty also passed away. Still at the village. Burial is on Saturday. Will definitely action on the water tank or borehole. You will never know how handy the well is. Kitui is super dry. God bless you.

Follow Up

You may have read our previous updates that we’re participating in fundraising to Help Build Latrines for others –– while giving toilets, reusable sanitary towels, water and medical cover to villages and schools that you care about.

We really do need your support, especially your in-kind support.

To date, we’ve raised $20.00 CAD but we still have a way to go to reach our target goal of $50,000.00 CAD. We can assure you that World Vision uses the funds in building latrines.

Your generosity would be greatly appreciated and no amount is too little. Just click on the link below and it will take you to our Pledge Page. To support in kind, click HERE.

If you can’t afford a donation, pledge your support by sending this e-mail to friends, family or colleagues.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Phoebe Kimani Contributes $1000

UHC PADS FOR MWASERE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Phoebe supports Mwasere with small part of her time –– by doing this she is donating time equivalent to about $ 1000 plus 5% of $1000 ($ 50). The $ 1000 goes directly to this cause and the $50 goes to World Vision.

See more about this cause.

 


“You decide what’s possible. Where others see a mountain, you see a summit. What they call the daily grind, you call the chance to prove yourself. When they say it can’t be done, you ask when you can start. You are going big and you are not going home. They see a child in poverty. You see dignity, beauty and hope. They say it’s a lost cause. But you can’t hear them over the sound of pushing all your chips in. The thing is, you’re never a world-changer. Until you are.” (Word Vision, Canada)

 

ELMOUHIB Imane

We couldn’t be more excited to share this news with you — just moments ago, Elmouhib Imane joined us.
She said ” I am Imane, I came from Morocco to work with RaHa Solution. I always had interest in water preservation. For me, coming to Kenya is a great opportunity to know more about the issues that people are facing when it comes to getting clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. I have come to work in order to improve their living standard.
I can’t wait to leave an impact in Kenya.”

Dear Brookside Dairy Ltd

You are like-d by the village around Makindu Primary School. They want you to mark their rainwater harvesting tank as illustrated above, for free, see more details here. When you agree, they get water which they currently have little of. When you agree, you will also enable many more similar schools and villages to get water and toilets.

Regards,

RaHaSolutions

TOILETS ON HIGHWAYS MUST BE ON ROAD RESERVES

Public toilets that are poorly located generate a sense of neglect, attracting vandalism, anti-social behaviour and social disorder. And lack of available and appropriate facilities at the right time encourages fouling, and treating diseases associated with open defecation such as typhoid, dysentery or cholera is a significant and costly task.

These issues, if not tackled effectively, can generate a cycle of decline, leading to more entrenched social problems, and seriously impairing quality of place and quality of life for local people.

Others have seen this reality before. HIGHWAY ACT 1980 Part VII Provision of Special Facilities for Highways states that “…112 Provision of picnic sites and public conveniences for users of trunk roads (1) The Minister may provide on land adjoining, or in the vicinity of, a trunk road that is not a special road a picnic site for motorists and others likely to use the road with space for parking vehicles and a means of access to and from a highway. An area of any such land as aforesaid in which there are, or are to be, provided such a picnic site, parking space and means of access as aforesaid is in this Act referred to as a “trunk road picnic area “.

“(2) The Minister may erect buildings and execute works on a trunk road picnic area for the purpose of providing all or any of the following:— (a) parking places for vehicles, (b) a means of access to or from the area from or to a highway, (c) public sanitary conveniences (including lavatories), and…”

“…(5) The Minister may provide public sanitary conveniences (including lavatories) in proper and convenient situations on or under land forming part of a trunk road that is not a special road, or adjoining, or in the vicinity of, such a road and may manage such conveniences…”

BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS ALLIANCE

We are thrilled to announce that we have today submitted to Billion Dollar Business Alliance (BDBA) our offer to build filters next to water ponds that BDBA are currently building in Kenya.

Our offer is based on fact that cleaning of water is not part of activities BDBA is doing. They are harvesting rainwater for agriculture and, apparently, they assumed that farmers would not use the water for domestic purposes. Our contribution to the BDBA project will enable beneficiaries of the ponds to use the water for drinking as well – for a large number of the beneficiaries, this will be their only water source.

We have also offered to build toilets in toilet-less homes and along roads that are within areas that drain water to the ponds. This will reduce pollution of water that will end up in the ponds. The SANI SOLAR toilets sun dry faeces and urine to form fertiliser that the farmers will need.

We sent our offer through BDBA’s Maimbo M. Malesu of World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). ICRAF, WFP and Government of Kenya are members of the BDBA.

KENYA ROADS BOARD – THE TASK IS NOBLE & IMPORTANT

“Kenya Roads Board acknowledges that the task (RaHa has) been assigned is a nobble one and important”

KBR EXECUTIVE DIRECOR

Eng. Jacob Z. Ruwa, OGW

The assignment referred to is installing SANI SOLAR toilets on roads, to be used free of charge, in line with recent directive by the Kenya Ministry of Health aiming to improve public access to better quality toilets.

TOILET IS INVESTMENT

Businesses respond to motivations. Businesses operate as part of communities and hold as much of a stake in supporting local community amenities and promoting civic pride as the locals themselves.

Family businesses and independents, for instance, may have connections with their local area going back generations. SANI SOLAR public toilets will make such businesses to remain connected with their local area.

Transport operators – like any commercial business – will only make the most of their commercial opportunities if there are public toilets that their passengers demand, many times quietly. 

International and national chains, on the other hand, often have a strong social or community support ethos as part of their corporate policy. Opportunities to provide free services and, sometimes, funding for local community initiatives motivates them – and public toilets provide the opportunity. 

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