Global Fund Chief of Staff visits Amref Project in Nairobi

The Chief of Staff at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, Dr Marijke Wijnroks paid a visit to the Medical Mission of Mary Health Centre in Mukuru kwa Njenga slum, Embakasi in Nairobi, to check on the progress of the Centre. The Amref Health Africa in Kenya project is funded by Global Fund.

Speaking during the visit, Dr Marijke, who was accompanied by Margaret Mungai the Amref Health Africa in Kenya Global Fund HIV/AIDS TB and Malaria Programme Manager commended Amref staff and the project overseers for seeing to the fine management and maintenance of the facility. The facility helps in controlling the high TB prevalence in Mukuru and is well situated to serve the over 100,000 people in the slum.

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During the visit, Dr Marijke got a full breakdown of the TB diagnosing, treatment and data recording process used to implement the project. She insisted on the need for public and private sector to make a connection as TB diagnosis and treatment needs both sectors’ support and involvement.

Kenya has been at the front run in partnering with the private sector, and this is a great step towards treating and managing TB,” she said.

Also present during the visit were two Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) from Mukuru who briefed Dr Marijke on how they sensitize, educate and refer potential TB patients to the clinic. “ These CHV’s are an important part of the community because not all people come to the clinic for help, thus CHVs reach out to them” said Dr. Marijke.

The Global Fund TB project is implemented in all 47 counties in Kenya and includes activities such as capacity building, Multi-Drug Resistance TB patients’ social support and community based TB activities. Also present during the visit was a sub-recipient of the Global Fund TB project, Malteser International, who were represented by Ms Josephine Mutenyo. Josephine was grateful to Global Fund TB for choosing to work with them in reducing and eradicating TB cases in Kenya.

By Winfred Nduku

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