The combination of rapid urbanization and poverty has resulted Africa’s urban slums are growing at twice the speed of the continent’s exploding cities.
For example, 85 % of Kenya’s population growth during the 1990s was absorbed in the densely packed slums of Nairobi and Mombasa.
The majority of Africa’s slums are characterized by overcrowded small dwellings. The sanitary conditions are poor sp contagious diseases are widespread. Communities are often unsettled as they are not recognized by governments and conflict is rife, due to a fusion of different cultures.
AMREF’s work with People in Urban Slums
AMREF works in the largest slum in Africa including; Kibera, in Nairobi, Kechene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Kawempe in Kampala, Uganda. In all of these slums, AMREF works with both communities and governments to improve health and hygiene. The projects focus on encouraging governments to take responsibility for these communities and building the communities’ ability to demand and access health services.
In Kibera, for example, basic health care and water and sanitation emerged as the top two priorities after AMREF consulted with the local communities. AMREF built a health centre in 2000 and since then, we have managed to convince the government to provide trained health workers and drug supplies. We have also trained community members to educate people in how to prevent HIV and community health workers to care for those living with HIV/AIDS.
AMREF also negotiated with Nairobi City Council to provide a water supply, installed water tanks and helped to establish local water committees with responsibilities for managing and maintaining the water supply.
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