Kenya
Kenya’s population of 35 million people has placed a tremendous strain on the health system, already suffering from soaring AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria rates.
AMREF works with a diverse range of Kenyan communities including urban slum settlements in Nairobi, remote rural areas in the north-east and south, lake regions in the west and coastal communities in the east.
Kenya’s Major Health Challenges
Kenya is currently facing a health crisis. A rapidly increasing population, an under funded health sector, and countrywide shortages of skilled health workers means that mortality rates in Kenya remain high and continue to rise – particularly among women and children in disadvantaged communities.
The public health service is often beyond the reach of those living in remote rural areas or urban slums. The community health facilities are often under-resourced and staffed by few, inadequately trained and overworked health workers.
Effective health care is hindered by mismanagement, low staff morale, and a disconnect between the community needs and health services available.
Most doctors in Kenya gravitate towards cities with large hospitals. Many are abandoning public practice to work in private clinics and many others are leaving Kenya to work overseas. As a result, community health centres in remote locations suffer an acute shortage of trained professionals.
AIDS is the leading cause of lost productivity in Kenya. About 5.9 per cent of the population or 1.2 million people in Kenya are currently infected with HIV.
AMREF is:
Helping youth in urban slums, especially girls, to improve their health, escape from poverty and improve their academic opportunities.
Supporting Laboratory medicine across East Africa by setting up new labs, providing technical expertise and developing training courses
Awarding rural health professionals with scholarships to upgrade their skills and improve community health.
Empowering Girils toward better health through the Ganze Girls Education Project.
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