APHIAPLUS UPDATE: VOLUME I, ISSUE 1 MONTH: FEBRUARY APHIAplus Program in and Coast Provinces Launched

USAID funded APHIAplus projects were launched in Nairobi and Coast provinces on 22nd and 24th February respectively. The events, marked with pomp and celebration attracted a total of about 300 guests. Nairobi held the celebration at the Intercontinental Hotel while Coast held its event at the Pride Inn Kohinoor hotel.

Nairobi Launch At 8:30am, Drs Peter Eerens, Margaret Makumi and Maryinez Lyons from Pathfinder International; APHIAplus Nairobi -Coast arrived at the PC’s office for a courtesy call. They were later joined by the provincial representatives from the Ministries of Health and USAID representatives. The knowledgeable and charming PC welcomed his guests who proceeded to demystify 1 APHIAplus and introduce some of the key people who will be implementing the project in the province.

After the courtesy call, the delegation, led by the PC, headed to the Intercontinental hotel to join the about 150 guests who included, partners, community representatives and the media in officially launching the program. One highlight of the launch was a moving testimony by two volunteers living with HIV who were involved in the previous APHIA II Nairobi project – Margaret and Albert - who 2 3 gave a lucid account on how APHIA II Nairobi had helped improve their lives. Their delegation and reiterated the importance of candid and emotional testimonies moved the health projects in Coast; “Without health, guests who attended the event. “I was in my there is no development,” he remarked. A death bed,” said Margaret “but look at me large focus of APHIAplus Nairobi – Coast now! Don’t you think I look good?” to which will be on most-at-risk-populations who the guests nodded in agreement. Albert, a include men who have sex with men and father of five, explained how he had lost his intravenous drug users. Coast province has wife to HIV/AIDS but was rescued through large number of this population the PC the home based care. The two are trained confirmed. Community Health Workers affiliated to Redeemed Gospel Church, and St The USAID Mission Director graced the 4 Francis Community Hospital official launch that took place on 24th February. Dr Peter Eerens and Dr. Abdullahi Coast Launch Mahat from APHIAplus Northern Arid A cake and ribbon cutting ceremony at the A meeting with Dr. Maurice Siminyu the Lands each gave presentations about end of the event marked the official launch. Provincial Director for Medical services and APHIAplus and its role in the Coast. thereafter courtesy call to PC Earnest Munyi’s Pictures: 1‐Coast province Assistant PC and USAID Mission APHIAplus Northern Arid Lands covers Director Erna Kerst Cut cake to officially launch APHIAplus in office at 3pm on 23rd February set the pace Tana River District while APHIAplus the Coast. Looking on are Pamela Onduso; Pathfinder, Karren for the Coast launch. The PC expressed Nairobi - Coast covers the rest of the Klimowsky USAID and Mike Owiga PSI. 2 ‐ Uten Arts drama pleasure at receiving the high-powered . group entertain guests during the Nairobi launch. 3 ‐ Guests province and staff from Pathfinder take a photo during the Nairobi launch. 4 ‐ Coast PC cuts the ribbon to unveil the APHIAplus plaque Page 2 NAIROBI—COAST APHIAplus Project Staff Kick off Training Held to Build Skills Participation in District Planning and Confidence in Procurement

Dan Pellegrom, Pathfinder International’s president, speaks during the opening. Dorothy Mbondo from Pathfinder speaks during the Kamukunji AOP meeting Nairobi was the host of a five day training dubbed Staff from the APHIAplus project have with the plans. The planning usually ‘Building Skills and Confidence in Procurement’. The training which attracted a total of about 65 staff from been attending Annual Operational begins with an orientation meeting by various Pathfinder International offices worldwide Planning (AOP) meetings for the the national to the provincial, provincial districts in Nairobi for the past two took place at the Windsor Hotel, Kiambu from the to district and districts to facilities and weeks. Project staff were divided into 21st to the 25th of March. Staff from the nine groups to attend the planning then facilities to community health units procurement, administration and finance departments meetings in the nine districts of Nairobi and will thereafter be consolidated in the attended the training which was officially opened by namely Kamukunji, Starehe, Makadara, province level and submitted to national the Pathfinder International President; Dan Pellegrom. Also in attendance were key Finance officials from the Kasarani, Lang’ata, , , level. Njiru and Westlands. Pathfinder International headquarters in Boston APHIAplus staff had different including the Chief Financial Officer Tom Downing. experiences in the meetings. Starehe and The AOP implementation, now in their Kasarani districts received accolades for Training was carried out by a trainer form the seventh year, fits into the GOK fiscal having very organized and informative International Procurement Agency. Members of the st year that begins on 1 July and ends on meetings. Kasarani district for example, procurement committee in attended the first day 30th June of the following year. Planning had more than 60 participants including of the meeting only. Staff from Kenya expressed their is at different levels starting from the most of the community health workers. pleasure for the training received saying that it was There is still, however, need for better community, facility, district, provincial interesting and informative. Other participating orientation so that the district teams can and then national levels. In the spirit of countries included India, Pakistan, Tanzania, Burundi, be more conversant with the AOP Angola, Uganda, South Africa, Ethiopia and Guinea. ensuring that APHIAplus maintains its documents. mandate of being people-centered and led by local leadership, staff have been The AOP7 plans will be a reference attending the district meetings to ensure points for Pathfinder International as it that activities of APHIAplus are in line develops its annual workplan.

APHIAplus Coast Moves into New Office

APHIAplus Coast province has moved into its office at the Catholic Centre in Tudor. The office which previously hosted FHI (implementers of APHIA II Coast), is now almost fully functioning with many of the staff and a large number of equipment/facilities now available. Having carried out the launch of the program two weeks ago, program staff are now in the planning phases ready to begin activities. APHIAplus staff work in the new boardroom a day before the APHIAplus Coast launch

International House Mezzanine Floor, P.O. Box 48147 – 00100 Nairobi Kenya, tel: 2224154/2222397, www.pathfind.org APHIAPLUS UPDATE: VOLUME I, ISSUE 1 MONTH: FEBRUARY NORTHERN ARID LANDS Mandera Staff Relocate Activities Following Security Scare

25th February would have been a normal working day for APHIAplus staff in Mandera had they not have experienced a security scare that made them relocate staff from the border town. However, the day was not normal since there was an attack on the town forcing staff to relocate. Reports in the media the next day revealed that the attack was as a result of ongoing fighting between Somalia’s Al-Shabab militants and forces affiliated to the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Following the attacks, banks, schools and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) closed down their activities and many of the staff were moved from the area. While most NGOs evacuated their staff to the Nairobi headquarters, APHIAplus adopted a unique method of relocation. They moved their staff to safer ground and continued working. The plan was to carry on activities in the field offices as they Movement by the APHIAplus staff wait for the situation in Mandera to cool down. continuing with program activities as scheduled in the field. Abdi Yarrow, the Community Services Manager based in Mandera said that since the fighting, they have moved to four different locations first Currently, things have quieted down in Mandera, and schools and banks starting with Ramu where they stayed for two days and then El Wak, are opening. APHIAplus continues to monitor the situation on the Takaba for four days each and finally Banissa for two days. Most of the ground and will move back to the office when things cool down time during their movements, they have not been able to access completely. However, work continues as usual for the staff in the spirit electricity, banks or even telephone communication but they have been of improving health service delivery for all.

Resource Centre to provide Much Needed Health Information to Health Workers resource materials. According to NASCOP officials it is the only such resource centre in the country and therefore a model that could be replicated in other facilities.

Public Health facilities usually possess critical health information since the government makes available the latest health documents to them. In most health facilities however, there is no method of sharing out these documents with the targeted audience (health workers).

The resource centre in Garissa has succeeded in placing and organizing these documents, books and other information education and communication materials (IEC) in an organized and easy-to-reach manner making them easily available to all the users. Health workers who visited the resource centre are excited and cannot wait to begin using it. A nurse takes care of a patient at Garissa Provincial Hospital. Healthworkers are They cannot believe that such resources were within their reach all this the main target of the resource centre time yet they did not use it. APHIAplus Northern Arid Lands (NAL) has completed a resource centre at the Garissa Provincial Hospital that will reform access to health APHIAplus Northern Arid Lands (NAL) was responsible for renovating information in the area. The one-roomed resource centre that has been set the room where the resource centre lies and hiring people to catalogue up within the Comprehensive Care Centre (CCC), is a one-stop shop for and index the materials. They will soon be setting up a computer to be health workers and people living with HIV who need information on used in the centre as they wait for the official opening. Ahmed Boray various areas of health. Arale, the Service Delivery Specialist for NAL has already met with the area Provincial AIDS/STI Control Officer to plan for the official The resource centre has been furnished with the most current health opening. The resource centre will be managed by the CCC Coordinator. policies, Kenyan Health strategy documents and many other HIV/TB

International House, Mezzanine Floor, P. O. Box 48147‐00100 Tel: (020) ‐2224154/2222397/2222490/2222487 E‐mail: [email protected], www.pathfind.org