The Year Past

Success is a condiment of hard work and determination, never given on a silver platter. The year 2014 came with a myriad of success albeit challenges.

“Over 60% of CUs in Kuria have started Income generating activities Kuria, Migori County” says, KeNAAM CEO, Edward Mwangi. Whilst addressing the scourge of malaria in the county, KeNAAM has also developed programs to ensure the communities become self-sustaining.

The CU’s in the region have various projects. The Nyankore CU has a 2 bee hives and is looking to expand to breed more honey producing bees. Whilst in another part of Kuria, Kombe district, Kuria East, Sweet potato harvest potatoes are ready for harvest.

“All this projects are thanks to the efforts, training and encouragements by KeNAAM,” said Nyankore CU Chairperson, Mr. Manase Mugendi.

“We want communities to be independent beyond KeNAAM projects”, Said KeNAAM CEO, Edward Mwangi. Similar views are shared by Miriam Mbone, KeNAAM Kuria field officer. KeNAAM now wants to duplicate similar progress in the newly acquired Nyamira County.

Also in Migori county, great progress was recorded in the year in the net distribution program. A large number of households are responded well to the net distribution program. The involvement of the community in the distribution program has greatly improved the uptake. Whilst KeNAAM only played a supervisory role, trainings conducted within the community on proper net usage and importance of nets by KeNAAM trained CHWs have greatly impacted the program.

In the year 2014, KeNAAM was also involved in the revision of the Kenya Malaria Strategy. This presents the organization as an important member of the policy making communities.

Whilst several successes exist, they never came on a silver platter. Few challenges also existed in the ending year. Grants under the Global Fund round 10 ended prematurely on some projects that had already started. This though did not stop the organization achieving its set out goals as it set out to fundraise for the new strategy.

As the year comes to a close, KeNAAM has lots to celebrate as it looks forward to create a more vibrant, malaria free Kenya. Also looking to reduce and eventual eliminate Neo-natal, maternal, and child related deaths as spelt out in its new strategy 2013-2017.