Summary

Program goals

Communities within the Laikipia District are isolated and among the poorest in the country. Furthermore, identifying adults and children with HIV in Laikipia East is difficult, as there remains a strong stigma towards those living with HIV, resulting in low rates of volunteer testing. CHADIK addresses issues related to reduced access to health due to poverty and lack of health infrastructure, stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS, low rates of volunteer testing, and general lack of health care services.

Key program components

CHADIK  (formerly PEDPACT project) uses the existing local structures, CHADIK collaborates with Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital (GCH), 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 program'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, preventative services, RH/FP and comprehensive care.
• 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 program 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.
• In the Likii slum in Nanyuki, CHADIK is also in the process of supporting a nursery school and IT training at the LISHACQ Self Help Centre.

Because of the partnerships it has developed with other stakeholders, CHADIK is able to provide quality drugs and services closer to the communities which have poor access to healthcare. The number of patients attended to 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.

CHADIK treats up to 120 patients a day through its outreach clinics.