HealthServicesineasternandcentralKenyaaregettingabigboostthroughanew$100milliondollarprogram.TheU.S.developmentagency,USAID,hasawardedthefundstoaninternationalnon-profitorganizationaffiliatedwithJohnsHopkinsUniversity.Forthepastfouryears,Jhpiegohasledanearly$34millionprogramineasternKenyacalledAPHIAII.APHIAstandsforAIDS,PopulationandHealthIntegratedAssistance.Thegoalisto"empowerfront-linehealthworkers"witheffective,lowcostsolutionstodeliveringqualityhealthcare."Theworkthatbeganin2006andwhichendedin2010December,ledbyJhpiego,wastaskedwiththeresponsibilityofbuildingalinkagebetweenthecommunityandthehospitalsinKenya,particularlythepartofKenyathatiscalledtheEasternProvince.EasternProvinceisanareaofabout6millionKenyanswithdiversechallengesintermsofhealth,"saysDr.KenChebet.Chebetsaysthosechallengesincludedlowimmunizationrates,alackoffamilyplanningservices,littleawarenessamongthelocalpopulationoftheirHIVstatusandalargenumberoforphansandvulnerablechildren.APHIAIImadeprogressonallfronts.Asaresult,USAIDisawarding$100milliondollarstoJhpiegotolaunchtheAPHIAPLUSHealthServiceDeliveryproject.It'sapartnershipbetweentheU.S.andtheKenyangovernmentthatwillexpandhealthservicesinbothEasternandCentralprovinces.Dr.Chebet,whoisincharge,says,"Weareexcitedasanorganization,Jhpiego,towinthisnewaward.It'sbeenanexcitingperiodforus."TheAPHIAPLUSprojectenlists–what'scalled–"aconsortiumofKenyanpartnerstointegratearangeofhealthservices,productsandinformationatalllevels."TheKenyanpopulationwillhavethechancetoknowtheirHIVstatus.ThissupportwillgointotestingforHIVandAIDS.AgreaterpartofthissupportwillalsobeabletoputanumberofourKenyanpop(population)thatarecurrentlypositiveonARV(antiretroviral)drugs.Wehopetomanageclosetohalfamillionorphansandvulnerablechildren.Chebetdescribesitasanewhealthimplementationframework."So,thesupportisbasicallygoingtofillintothegapsthathavebeenidentifiedbytheKenyangovernment,inwhatwecalla5yearstrategicplanintermsofahealthnetwork.So,itfillsintoagapthatwecouldnotbeabletoaffordasagovernment.Itwillbasicallyconsolidateanationaloutreach.Itrelatestoservicesgoingrightuptothevillagelevel,"hesays.Jhpiegobeganitswork35yearsago.Itnowoperatesinmorethan140countries.
