Testimonials

 

LABORATORY SUCCESS STORY

Before our laboratory was very small and there was no enough space for the machines. The working area was still small due to congestion of machines. Considering that the laboratory machines are delicate and need to be stored in a more spacious room we had a lot of problems trying to congest them to ensure they are well stored.  It was our wish that if space would be created i.e. expansion of the laboratory would solve many of our distress.  We also had no space for table, we used to place work books on the bench because there was no space for placing tables. It was recommended that the laboratory be expanded to take the space occupied by the store.

The laboratory under construction for expansion

 

Now the laboratory has been expanded to cater for all machines.  We have enough space for all machines and space also to place tables and accommodate clients coming for test without having to struggle for space, congestion is a forgotten vocabulary. The working area is convenient and we even have extra space for new machines.

 

 

 

 

 

CLINIC SUCCESS STORY

 

Since the clinic started in the year 2004, there have been great achievements that have taken place. By then no ARVs were being offered until the year 2006 when AIDS Relief programme introduced ARVs.

By the clinic was serving 100 clients with only one clinician and 1 nurse in the clinic, only one room being available for clinician. No post pharmacy counseling was being offered by then considering that most of our clients are illiterate thus need for counseling on drugs usage. No treatment preparation seminar was done as a group at a specific day. Clients were briefly taught and initiated on drugs individually.  There was need for space to conduct the treatment preparation seminar and a nurse or clinicians to do the teachings at a specifics date and time for the eligible clients.

Since the Art’s started the number increased and the enrollment rate was very high. This led to increase of work load for the clinician who had to serve many clients hence need for additional staff and space to cater for the new staffs.

 

Currently we are serving approximately have 2,000 clients, with 2 clinicians, 1 doctor and four nurses in the clinic and 1 part time doctor. Space have been created now having 3 clinicians rooms, 1 triage room for nurses, 1 post pharmacy room and a social hall for treatment preparation seminar. The clinic is now offering post pharmacy, treatment preparation seminars to the clients who are eligible for ARVs a group at a specific day and time. This has lead to improved services in terms of reduced congestion, delay and long queue, privacy is respected and clients have more time to air out their problems to the clinicians and the nurses. 

 

PHARMACY SUCCESS STORY

 

Our success story features the bulky store. Initially the bulky store had many shortcomings like:- Lack of space, Poor ventilation, Temperatures were high and not easy to control them.

Difficult to arrange drugs according to FEFO and FIFO hence tracking expiries was a challenge to us.

All this contributed to extreme working conditions which lead to poor record keeping.
The store was overcrowded with food stuff thus attracted pests which destroyed drugs. All this shortcomings resulted to bad audit report.

Having a spacious bulk store is one of the successes we can count on because we have been able to:-

 

1. Keep proper recording.
2. Confirm the received stock and physical count is done in time.
3. Arrange drugs according to FEFO.

 

Well controlled temperatures and ventilation since air conditioner was installed that is the potency of drugs is assured.

 

SUCCESSESS ACHIEVED IN THE FINANCE OFFICE SINCE INCEPTION OF THE PROJECT

PERSONNEL

Since inception of Huduma Ya Afya the finance portfolio was handled by the Project Coordinator and a Part time accountant. This led to increased workload for the management who had to put up with the nitty-gritty of keeping petty cash. The project on the other hand could not utilize the full services of the Part time accountant because of the limited time he spent in project work.

This may have been caused by limited financial resources to employ a full time accountant.
One of the major successes the project has achieved is to hire a full time Medical Doctor and more importantly retain a full time accountant.

 

In the Year 2005, Aids Relief under Catholic Relief Services came on board the Huduma Ya Afya project. They brought with them resources in terms of finance, expertise (Human resource) and Capital {Lab Equipment and Drugs (ARVs)}.

Baptista John- Accountant
SPACE
Initially space was a big problem; the accountant had to share one office with the I.T personnel .Confidentiality was highly elusive under such circumstances. A small Counseling room was provided but due to increase in project documents, it proved to be too small. With renewed zeal space had to be created not only for the finance office but also for other affected departments e.g. the pharmacy, the Lab and V.C.T Counseling rooms. This saw an
expansion of the V.C.T building to a magnificent one storey complex harbouring 13 rooms and a spacious conference hall at a tune of  Kshs.1.5 Million.

Mikindani VCT Complex

 

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Mombasa CBHC & Aids Relief Project has been reported in various forums as being among the best Local Partner Treatment Facility (LPTF) in financial reporting. This is as a result of team work among Staff, Finance and Management. “Espirit de corp.”(Team Work and cooperation) has been advanced by management as very essential in the work place so as to achieve project objectives.

Meeting deadlines in preparing and sending financial reports with minimal errors and achieving 98% file liquidation i.e. Minimal returned vouchers.

 

New Shelves for Holding files

 

CURRENT CHANGES IN FINANCE OFFICE

A person has been identified to handle the petty cash other than the accountant; this is being implemented after a series of recommendations by technical assistance, quarterly review, and the finance review teams. The accountant is empowering the new person on how to carry out this function efficiently & effectively.

 

Petty cashier under training

 

Capacity Building
Recently the finance personnel were trained for one week on the use of QuickBooks accounting software. This will improve reporting as compared to using Excel spreadsheets.

Quick books Accounting Package displayed

 

Success story October 2008
Before
The CCC started in 2004 October with only 3 staffs as HIV clinic targeting poor people. There was no record keeping .the clients records were written on books and drugs and drugs recorded in the bincards.the later file were introduced and were kept in a box. The client’s information’s were recorded separately between adult and kids.

After
In 2005 July the computerized system was introduced and data clerk hired. One database was formed for all the clients for proper and one reporting system. All the information in the record books and bin cards were transferred to the computerized database.
each client was give a file and the information transferred form books to files by then clients were 300..the clinical forms were introduced for continuous documentation and follow up of the client as the they visit clinic.shelfs were build for arranging the clients files neatly.
The CAREWARE and CARE TOOL system was used to generate reports monthly which are used to evaluate and analyze the progress of clients. In July 2007 the number of client were 1000 therefore workload increased and another data clerk was hired.
Due to advancement and effectness, In January 2008 the IQCARE and IQTOOL was introduced to replace the CAREWARE and CARETOOL.the IQCARE has many futures which help to analyze the client’s progress. The reporting system is also very efficient to the facility

 

INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS TESTIMONIALS

 

MARY***

Born on 20th July 2005 being the second born in a family of two. She resides in Mikindani with her aunt and father after the death of her mother who was our client. The child was introduced to us by the community health worker and the guardian with the complains of:-

 

1. Persistent fever
2. Sudden loss of weight
3. Refusal to feed
4. Yellowish ear discharge

 

She weighed 8 kgs and height of 75.5 cms. The guardians were counseled and DTC done and the child was put on syrup Septrin prophylaxis, multivitamin and first food.

Since then her health started to improve. We have been visiting her twice a month to monitor her progress and treat her of any minor ailment as she uses her prescribed drugs especially the chronic otitis media which has been resistant to most drugs.

At the age of 2 ½ years, Mary was put on ARV’s and continued to use first food. With the help of her aunt, she has been attending the clinic consistently with good drugs adherence. Since then she has shown great improvement because:

 

1. The chronic otitis media has cleared.
2. Complains of respiratory infections has decreased.
3. She can utter a few words.
4. Weights 12.2. kgs and 95 cms with CD4 of 1926 c/mm3

 

Unlike before when she had multiple eruptions and scaly skin, today she is a bright and jovial child. 

 

EVBU AKAMBA***

BEFORE

She was living with her uncle at the time o first contact. She had the following complains:-

1. Chest pain
2. Cough – productive ++
3. Night sweats
4. Fever
5. Weight loss
6. Headache
7. Loss of appetite

 

We immediately referred her for TB testing – Sputum for AFBS and the result was positive. She was immediately started on Anti – TBs. we then did DTC at Changamu office and it was reactive.

She was then enrolled at our clinic and was started on Unimix (Foundation plus) and she eventually responded well.

She had a major issue with the family members. She is an orphan and was married but the husband died of TB and left her with 2 children.

There was a lot of stigma at home so much that finally the uncle chased her away claiming the she would infect them with the virus.

She was then put on ARV’s since May 2007. All through she has been on Septrin and multivitamin.

The support group members contributed some cash for her house rent and then moved to stay on her own. They even donated utensils and basic furniture.

AFTER

 

She is doing very well on ART, Septrin prophylaxis. She is now employed as a watch woman in an estate. She is also able to do part time casual work hence she is now able to meet her daily needs comfortably. She is now living with her children in a much spacious room. The social worker disengaged her from the food assistance and she is satisfied because she is able to cater for herself and the family.

 

 

MWANA***

The above named child was brought in Chaani station by the community health worker and her mother. The health worker explained of the child and the mother was requested to give the history of the baby.

When the child was 3 years, she had a delayed milestones i.e. she was not walking, standing, talking, pale +++ and underweight.

The mother took her to Port- reitz hospital where she was admitted for two week and discharged with no improvement. The community health worker identified the child and explained to the mother of the services offered by our project thus brought her to the station.

The community nurse in charge counseled her on balance diet, exercise and speech therapy. The child was weighed and found to be 9 kgs and height of 81 cm at 3 years. She was then considered for first food and syrup multivitamin because she had no appetite.

After being on first food for one week, she started improving by smiling, eating well and even started crawling. Weekly follow ups were done and after one month the child had improved a lot and could stand though supporting herself. On weighing the child she had added 1.5 kgs. Issuing of first food continued 24 sachets per month until six months were over when she was weighed and found to be 14kgs and height of 96 cm and now can walk.

 

MBUNGONI SUCCESS STORY

 

Mbungoni is one of our Mikindani sites in the interior of Bombolulu. It is situated at St. Martin Catholic Church Mbungoni and it was started in the year 1997. Currently, it’s being upgraded to a fully equipped satellite. This will make our services more accessible people residing in the nearby communities such as Kisimani, kisauni, Kongowea, Mtopanga and Bamburi among others. Currently, the station has approximately 70 clients enrolled in our clinic at Mikindani.

Some of the problems in the area that we are trying to address include: malnutrition in children and adults, stigma, poor sanitation and high dependency rates among the clients on support.  

We have taken action to try and address above issues such as holding community awareness on HIV/AIDS related issues, nutrition education and counseling, nutritional supplementation, we have started kitchen gardening with the aim of encouraging consumption of vegetables thus reducing micronutrient deficiencies and we have also formed a support group through which the clients save some money on weekly basis of which they can later borrow and start small income generating activities.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

We have so far managed to start the SILC among the support group members where they elected officials among themselves and are already saving money. Kitchen gardening faces a lot of challenges among them including lack of space to the type of housing (Swahili houses) and congestion, security has also been an issue. However we have managed to start a few which are doing well. We were luck to receive a piece of land from the Marainists community through the Father In charge of Mbungoni parish which we divided among the support group members who had no space to do kitchen gardening at home. They planted vegetables mostly green leafy vegetables which at the moment they are harvesting for their own consumption and some get surplus which the sell and save the money. Meeting and working together has played a major role in reducing stigma since as they work they share and learn from one another. By working in there farms they are also exercising which is also an important practice in there day to day life.

In conclusion, by the successful initiation of the kitchen gardens and SILC, we have been able to come up with a more sustainable method of increasing consumption of green vegetable which in turn we hope to reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies. We have also managed to reduce the mentality of depending on support from outside by encouraging them to save the little money they can manage to so that they can later borrow money and start up small income generating activities. Finally, meeting and working together has acted as a therapy to the members where they get time to chat, share and learn from each other as they work and eventually in the reduction of stigma. Not forgetting that they are also exercising one of the critical nutrition practices.

We have managed to achieve this by working together and collaborating with other stakeholders such as the support group members, the agricultural officer APHIA II, the Community Health Workers and the Father In charge of Mbungoni Parish. We acknowledge each one of them for their support in making this a success.

 

*** Not their real names