Highlights From SVH-Mbakalo
SVH-Mbakalo serves a Western Province region with a population of 155,000, including at least 1,000 orphans and other vulnerable children, or OVC (SK census, 2005). Most of the residents are Bukusu, a sub-tribe of the Luhya culture.
More than 55 percent of the people live below the poverty line. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS has been estimated at 25 percent (Bungoma District Development Plan). Although that number may be declining, the burden of care continues to overwhelm local health facilities and programs.
Led by a locally elected management committee of 13 volunteers headed by Chairman Wycliffe Mttaki, Mbakalo aims to counter the effects of AIDS by providing essential services to the OVC, and to ensure that the children remain HIV-negative or live positively with HIV. The Kenyan government recognizes Mbakalo as an official Community-Based Organization.
As with all four SVHs, the key elements of Mbakalo’s program are love, food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, income generation, love, psycho-social encouragement, and hope. SK’s AIDS Barefoot Doctors, which include some OVC, have cared for hundreds of households here. Recently we have restarted the program and we’re seeking resources to expand that effort.
Health services
The area has one doctor for every 142,000 residents. The Village, which focuses on health services, opened a dispensary in February 2005. Staffed by a nurse, a nurse’s assistant, a lab technoligist, an accounts clerk, a watchman, and a cleaning person, the facility treats an assortment of opportunistic infections. The most frequent ailments are malaria, skin diseases and acute respiratory infections. (HIV/AIDS patients usually are referred to hospitals for anti-retroviral treatment.) At the dispensary’s pharmacy, the most frequently distributed products are anti-malarials, analgesics, antihistamines, antibiotics and vitamins.
With the assistance of a local clini,c visits to give immunizations are happening.
Mbakalo plans to expand the dispensary by building a structure on 2.25 acres that SOTENI owns and is using to grow crops for profit. Expansion would include a mother-and-child health clinic to provide antenatal care and postnatal care to age 5. The clinic also would offer immunizations and family-planning help. An upgrade of the diagnostic laboratory equipment and facility would greatly increase use of the dispensary.
The cost of the project, which would include a permanent office for the SVH, is estimated at more than 3 million Kenyan shillings, or at least $50,000.
Dispensary Staff
Generating income
As for other income-generating activities, the management committee is focusing on short-term crops such as sunflowers or maize. The committee is also discussing buying farm animals and also exploring the possibility of starting a brick making business in the community.
Sponsoring orphans
The SI Sponsorship program directly supports seven children here (see Sponsorship section, and we would love to see that number greatly expanded.
