PEDPACT targets families in hard to reach and poverty stricken areas of Laikipia North, West and East. Using the existing local structures, Kijani Kenya Trust (KKT) and Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital (GCH) is partnering with the District Hospitals and other local stakeholders to improve Laikipia's health indicators and scale up the services offered by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The project's activities are as follows:
A doctor and paediatrician from Gertrude’s offer outreach clinics in rural, hard to reach community health facilities in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. Their clinical expertise supplement the care offered by the District nurses and community health workers in the clinics. The services offered are HIV counseling and testing, PMTCT, ANC, adult and pediatric ART, immunization, curative services, RH/FP and comprehensive care.
The project is also developing a Comprehensive Care Center (CCC) at District Hospital and Cottage Hospital in Nanyuki by building up the infrastructure (including the building of play areas for the children) and purchasing needed lab equipment.
The project also operates training programs, continual medical education workshops and a mentorship program to develop the skills of the health staff based in District Hospital and Ministry of Health clinics and dispensaries. It also aims to empower the community to create a demand for quality services. Expansion and community outreach activities has seen the number of patients accessing care double due to the improved health seeking behavior and knowledge.
The project has also implemented a triage system where local healthcare providers attend to less severe cases and refer more complicated cases to the district hospitals. This has improved efficiency as patients spend less time at the outreach clinics and are able to go back to other activities.
The services are offered to the patient for free, but are supported by the Kijani Trust. Out of pocket costs to patients is reduced due to increased accessibility of care (services are provided closer to them). The cost of delivery is also reduced due to the high patient volumes and greater staff productivity. Because of the partnerships it has developed with other stakeholders, PEDPACT is able to provide quality drugs and services closer to the communities which have poor access to healthcare. The number of patients attended to has doubled due to expanded catchment area and proper community engagement and mobilization.
In 2011, over 12,000 patients have received health services and health education. This has resulted in improved immunization coverage, reduced under fives mortality and lower HIV related morbidity and mortality. These results are helping achieve Millennium Development goals Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal health Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
