Health, Food & Water Insecurity in Northeastern Kenya

PHM experience in Masalani & Garissa

PHM Kenya: case studyContext of health

PHM Kenya: case studyGeographic location

Masalani Division,Garissa County, Kenya

Tanzania

South SudanEthiopia

• Repeated droughts & famine 2006-2012

• Close to Somali border and refugee camps

• Neglected by government

• Oversaturated with NGOs with relief and dependency approach

PHM Kenya: case studyContext of health in Masalani

PHM Kenya: case studyGarissa: Dadaab refugee camp

Third largest Somali city (pop. 500,000) located in Garissa, Northeastern Kenya

PHM Kenya: case studyPoor housing and insecurity

PHM Kenya: case studyDrought and famine risk

Emaciated livestock at riskdue to drought and famine

PHM Kenya: case studyMany, many NGOs

Encourage dependency, not empowerment

• PHM Kenya began work in the drought-affected, famine-risk area

• Started with relief (food, water treatment, nets) to build trust

• Proceeded to advocacy training for rights-based empowerment

PHM Kenya: case studyRelief and Advocacy project

• 110 households provided with nutrition supplements, water treatment, and bed nets

• Trained 10 CHWs and 3221 community members on hygiene, referral of malnourished children

• Trust established with community

PHM Kenya: case studyResults of relief work

PHM Kenya: case studyMasalani – aerial view

• Trained 50 community leaders in health rights and advocacy (20 women, 30 men)

• Shared Alma Ata Declaration,People’s Charter for Health,Constitution of Kenya

• Community-led evaluation of health and social determinants

PHM Kenya: case studyAdvocacy

PHM Kenya: case studyAdvocacy training toolkits

People’s Charter for

Health

Constitution of Kenya

• Community members know their rights and have examined social determinants of health in Masalani

• Trained human rights advocates began their own advocacy work, including a peaceful protest

PHM Kenya: case studyAdvocacy results

Stories and perspectives

from the Masalani communities

PHM Kenya: case study

PHM Kenya: case studyMasalani – road conditions

PHM Kenya: case studyRoad impassable for ambulance

PHM Kenya: case studyBabies at risk without health care

PHM Kenya: case studyHIV - PLHA stigmatization

PHM Kenya: case studyHIV - PLHA stigmatization

• Local advocacy is a strong tool in drought/famine emergencies

• PHM Kenya established partnership with Masalani community, first by meeting the community expectations

• PCH & Bill of Rights are foundations for rights to health and health care

PHM Kenya: case studySummary of findings

• Some factors cannot be predicted:Kenyan military invaded Somalia

• Our own PHM Kenya partnership has been a learning process for all - managing expectations and assets

• Communities assume dependant status; extra effort for empowerment

PHM Kenya: case studyChallenges

• Unite around one cause

• Use your differences

• Don’t wait to grow …members join through action

• Grassroots desire for advocacy

PHM Kenya: case studyLessons for PHM country circles

Health, Food & Water Insecurity in Northeastern Kenya

PHM experience in Masalani

PHM KenyaDan Owalla, Omondi Otieno, Khadija Yussuf and Ravi Ramthe people of Masalani, Garissa County, and many others

With support from Medico International

PHM Kenya: case studyContext of health

Asanteni Sana