Siaya County, Kenya, June 2025: New diagnostic tools and bicycles empower frontline health workers in Siaya to fight neglected tropical diseases and malaria.
In a landmark moment for Siaya County, Amref Health Africa, together with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and pharmaceutical giant GSK, handed over a transformative donation at Governor James Orengo’s office, including state-of-the-art diagnostic tools for neglected tropical diseases and the first 50 of 210 rugged bicycles for Community Health Promoters to support malaria elimination efforts.
Valued at KSh 17.5 million, the initiative is a lifeline for a region where bilharzia, intestinal worms, and malaria have long burdened lake communities. Siaya’s community health promoters commonly known as nyamrerwas have in the past trekked miles on foot to deliver medicines and lifesaving medical information to their households, with these bicycles symbolizing a leap towards equity, turning arduous journeys into swift missions of healthcare.
Empowering 210 CHPs with Mobility
Claris Okoth, a community health promoter, from Gem Sub-County, was here to receive her two wheels of convenience. Her face lit up as she received her new Buffalo bicycle, a rugged, no-nonsense machine built for the rough terrain of rural Siaya.
“For years, I have walked kilometres every day to reach my 80 households,” she said, gripping the handlebars with pride and taking it for a test drive. “Now, I can visit more families, faster. This bicycle will make it possible for me to visit all my households with convenience.”
Claris is one of 210 CHPs who received bicycles this week through the GSK-funded malaria elimination programme in Siaya. Each CHP serves between 80 to 100 households, reaching over 100,000 people with vital health education, malaria testing, and referrals.
Diagnosing the Invisible
The donation also included advanced diagnostic tools, made possible by a KSh 13 million investment from The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). These tools will be distributed across 31 health facilities around Siaya, addressing a critical gap in the detection of NTDs. “Siaya is a pilot county for eliminating bilharzia and intestinal worms,” explained Gilbert Wangalwa, Amref’s Deputy Country Director. “Early diagnosis is key, especially for conditions like female genital schistosomiasis, which is often misdiagnosed and can lead to severe complications.”
The new equipment will allow clinicians to link lab results with outpatient diagnoses, improving treatment accuracy and follow-up. It is a leap forward in evidence-based care, and a step closer to Amref’s ambitious goal of elimination of a number of neglected tropical diseases by 2030. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Kenya’s Ministry of Health, and Amref, the estimated population at risk for at least one neglected tropical disease is approximately 25 million people, which is nearly 50% of Kenya’s total population of about 53 million as of 2023.
A County United
Dr. Martin K’Onyango, Siaya’s CEC for Health, acknowledged the transformative impact of the bicycles. “Our Nyamrerwas do incredible work, but distance has always been a challenge. With these bicycles, they will be more efficient in delivering life-saving services.”
Governor James Orengo echoed the sentiment, his voice firm with gratitude and resolve. “Without partners like Amref, we’d struggle to meet even 30% of our health goals. Our resources are shrinking, but the disease burden remains high. These partnerships are not optional, they’re essential.”
He also issued a call for accountability. “Let’s ensure these bicycles are used correctly. They are tools of service, not status.”
Why Bicycles?
Patrick Wanyama of World Bicycle Relief, the organisation behind the Buffalo bikes, explained their choice. “In rural areas, mobility is a major barrier to healthcare. Bicycles are affordable, eco-friendly, and require minimal maintenance. They’re the most practical solution.”
Indeed, in a region where motorbikes are costly and roads are often impassable, a bicycle can mean the difference between life and death.
A Journey of Partnership
The event was a celebration of collaboration from CIFF’s donation to GSK’s support and Amref’s boots-on-the-ground implementation, the initiative exemplifies what is possible when global ambition meets local action.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Governor Orengo left the crowd with a poignant message: “Dear partners, please be our life partners. We are joined at the hip. Let us keep expanding this partnership on the journey to eliminate these and other diseases burdening the Lake Region.”
As these bicycles roll into villages and NTD diagnostics equipment light up clinics, Siaya’s story becomes one of movement, not just on roads, but toward health, dignity, and hope.
Through it all, Amref will be there as a partner, ensuring these stories of hope are seen, heard, and multiplied. We invite continued collaboration to scale this model across other high-burden counties. With sustained investment, we can replicate this success and accelerate progress toward the 2030 NTD elimination goals.
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Contributors: Faith Mutegi, Michael Ofire, Robert Ofwete, Dennis Kinyua.