COVID-19 presents acute challenges in parts of the developing world, unless vaccination rates above 75% the people of Kericho County in Western Kenya will continue to struggle against COVID-19; health systems will continue to be challenged, and livelihoods will be strained. in April 2021 ElectricAid provided a grant of €10,000 to Cork based charity, Brighter Communities Worldwide to achieve several objectives in the County:
1. To support health facilities to administer the vaccine through the provision of communication materials, tents, fridges, cooler boxes, equipment and PPE;
2. To promote awareness and train Health Care Workers on how to administer the COVID-19 vaccination;
3. To sensitise communities both on the prevention of COVID-19 and on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination via the Community Health Volunteers.
To achieve these objectives, several activities were implemented during the grant period. To effectively distribute and increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, all health facilities across the County are needed to administer the vaccine. Unfortunately, most of these facilities lack equipment to deliver these services. Through this project, Brighter Communities Worldwide supported five health facilities with vaccination fridges, communication materials (posters, banners) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
To increase awareness of the risks posed by COVID-19, Brighter Communities Worldwide in partnership with the Ministry of Health continue to train Health Care Workers on COVID-19 vaccine. Between the 15th and 29th of July, 115 Health Care Workers were trained. Community Health Volunteers are part of Kenya’s Community Health Strategy, acting as a link between the households and health facilities in each community. They act as key agents in highlighting the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine. To facilitate Community Health Volunteers in this role, Brighter Communities Worldwide supported their training and provision of communications materials.
The project also supported training of 202 Community Health Volunteers who in turn, reached a further 14,434 people across their communities. This enables a change in attitude towards vaccination in the community resulting in increased uptake of COVID-19 vaccine. From April to 31st July, 18,861 adults and 3,383 youths (15 – 18 years) were fully vaccinated across 31 communities reached.
The impact of the “Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Programme, Kericho County” project continues to be seen through the improved uptake of the vaccine by Health Care Workers and community members. Increased uptake of the vaccine is because of ability and confidence of the staff to administer the vaccine (through training, provision of PPE), regular sensitization of households by the Community Health Volunteers and greater access to the vaccine. Between April and 31st July 22,244 people were fully vaccinated. Below are some of the messages of appreciation from communities and partners. ‘’Great thanks to Brighter Communities Worldwide for your support and sacrifice. Your support helps further our mission to provide healthcare services to the community’’; Dr Collins Kirui, Sub County Medical Officer of Health, Belgut Sub County, Kericho County.
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