One Health Approach Strengthens Human and Animal Health in Turkana, Kenya.

The Turkana One Health Initiative partners conducted this year’s Kimormor, from the 26^th of January to the 5^th of February, targeting the Turkana West and parts of the Turkana North region. The ‘Kimormor’ initiative provides one-stop-shop health and social development services to the nomadic population in Turkana County. Services offered include immunisation, nutrition, HIV testing, family planning, ophthalmology, vaccination, deworming, nutritional support, diagnosis, and treatment. It is implemented with the Turkana County Government Departments of Health, Agriculture and Livestock, Gender, Culture, Social Services, and other development partners and agencies. 

To identify the regions of focus, a team of representatives from the partners, including the County Ministry of Health, Ministry of Livestock and Agriculture, Amref’s USAID Imarisha Jamii, and Community Health Volunteers conducted a reconnaissance and identified the specific areas for Kimormor. They met village elders, local administrators, and other influential religious leaders who would later support the team in mobilising the communities. The areas mapped for Kimormor included Lokabuuk of Lotea Ward (Turkana West), Ingechel, Kokorio, and Ngataparine of Nanam Ward (Lokichoggio), and Lomeruguro of Nakalale Ward (Turkana North). All these areas have the nearest health facilities over 50 km from the target communities.

Since its launch in 2016 by Amref with funding from USAID, Kimormor has consistently reached different communities across various regions of Turkana County. This year, the outreach extended its support to many unreached pastoralist communities near the international borders with Uganda and South Sudan. From all the outreach sites, close to 7,000 pure pastoralist community members were reached with health services and education, more than 18,000 animals were treated, vaccinated, and dewormed, more than 1,100 people registered for national identification, more than 700 registered for NHIF/SHIF. In contrast, close to 150 children were registered for birth certificate acquisition.

Children were reached with various vaccines, including polio, measles, Tuberculosis, and tetanus, and others who were below 5 years old were dewormed. Antenatal care and IFAS supplements were also offered to pregnant mothers to improve their safe delivery chances.

As noted by Alice, a nutritionist at the Lopiding Sub County Hospital, they gave health talks to the Ingechel Kraal community and immunised many who had not completed their full cycle. 

“Most who had not completed their immunisation were immunised while lactating ANC mothers were issued medical booklets since they did not have any. We further conducted assessments on lactating mothers and children, and quite a number were malnourished.” She stated.

At the Kokorio outreach site, Kuya, an elder living with disability (left leg amputated), had been feeling much pain in his chest and knee. He was informed of the Kimormor outreach and sought medical attention, which would have taken him a longer time if he had to go to a dispensary.

“I came here since I had so much pain in both my amputated leg and chest,” Kuya stated. “I have been prescribed with painkiller, which will help to reduce the pain that I have been feeling for some time now.” He added.

In Ngataparine, Akai registered for the national Identity card and received the nutritious Soya Corn Blend (CSB++), which will help reduce malnutrition in her household.

“I have registered for an Identity Card and received Corn Soya Blend (CSB ++). Our livestock have also been treated and vaccinated,” Akai stated with a smile.

It is worth noting that these communities living along the borders face a huge challenge in obtaining identity cards due to the government’s vetting along international borders.

At the Lomeguro outreach site, the one health initiative was privileged to host both the Amref Health Kenya Country Director, Dr. Ndirangu Wanjuki, and the USA Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, who was visiting Turkana County to learn about economic, health, and environmental initiatives funded by USAID. The Ambassador was so impressed by the Kimormor initiative in support of health and the success of the pastoralist communities.

Amref’s One Health programming is a groundbreaking approach to safeguarding the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment. The success of this program depends on the seamless synergy between implementing partners, local authorities, and the community it serves. With the generous support of the American People through USAID and PEPFAR, and in partnership with the Government of Kenya, USAID Imarisha Jamii is supporting the County Government of Turkana to sustainably improve health outcomes for women, orphans, and vulnerable children, adolescents, and youth in the County.

Article by Kevin Majoni, Communications Lead, USAID Imarisha Jamii