Direct Relief's Activities in Kenya
Kenya, known for its savannahs, is located in East Africa between Somalia and Tanzania, bordering the Indian Ocean. It has one of the largest populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 39.1 million people and an estimated growth of 2.6 percent. Despite being one of the most known and visited countries in Africa (64 percent of its gross domestic product GDP comes from tourism), maternal mortality is high. Women have a 1 in 39 chance of dying from a pregnancy-related cause; only 39 percent of delivering mothers are attended by a trained birth attendant, which has a direct correlation to maternal survival.1 Kenya’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is extremely high by world standards at 6.1 percent; 14.6 percent of children under 5 die from HIV/AIDS.2
Direct Relief has provided over $24.5 million (wholesale) in medical material assistance to Kenya since 2000, focusing on HIV/AIDS and maternal child health.
Direct Relief’s partners in Kenya include the OGRA Foundation, Matata Hospital, St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital, and Marie Stopes Kenya. Since 2006, Direct Relief has supported OGRA Foundation, created in 2000 by Dr. Herzon Mc’Obewa, who is now a regional medical adviser to Direct Relief. OGRA Foundation works to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other preventable infections and diseases among residents in eight districts of Nyanza Province. Direct Relief has helped OGRA Foundation to support 35 percent of patients with HIV in Nyando District.
Matata Hospital in western Kenya received its first shipment from Direct Relief in 1999. Now, Matata’s CEO, John Malago, says, “Over 80 percent of the equipment in the hospital is from Direct Relief.” Matata serves a catchement population of 1.4 million people. About half of the women deliver at health facilities, while the rest deliver in their homes. Matata is one of two health facilities in the area that can provide emergency obstetric care, along with the the district hospital, where patients aren’t received after 6 pm. To outfit its surgical theater so Matata can handle emergency obstetric cases any time of night or day, Direct Relief donated equipment including an anesthetic machine.
Founded in 1985, Marie Stopes Kenya is one of the country’s leading providers of reproductive and maternal healthcare. Marie Stopes Kenya operates 25 health clinics countrywide and operates an extensive network of scheduled rural mobile outreach clinics serving some of Kenya’s poorest and most isolated villages. In five districts, Marie Stopes Kenya has been contracted by the Ministry of Health to provide reproductive health services on behalf of the public health system. Direct Relief works with Marie Stopes Kenya to help ensure that critical medical materials are available to the trained staff at Marie Stopes health centers for better reproductive and maternal health outcomes.
Featured Work
A Doctor's Resolve Amid Political Turmoil
The widespread civil strife that broke out in the aftermath of Kenya’s December 27, 2007 presidential election was unexpected and violent.
More » Direct Relief's Partners in Kenya
AMREF-Kenya
OGRA FoundationMarie Stopes InternationalCrescent Medical Aid
Gynocare Fistula CenterJamaa Mission Hospital
Kibera Community Based Health CentreMatata Nursing & Maternity Home
Meru Hospice
Nyanza Provincial General Hospital
St. Joseph's Mission Hospital
Viagenco Comprehensive Care