03 Mar 2008
AMREF will up its support for peace building efforts in the sprawling Nairobi’s Kibera slums.
The “silent crisis” still permeates the country in general, especially in the areas ravaged by the tribal violence that saw more than 1,000 people killed and over 300,000 displaced, the AMREF Kibera Project Manager, Mr Sakwa Mwangala said yesterday. Even as a deal was sealed between President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga on Thursday, Mr Mwangala noted that the effects of the bloodletting remain to haunt the victims. Trauma does not end quickly, but gradually.
“The silent emergency is still there. People are (still) traumatized (by the violence) - they lost their loved ones, had their houses burnt or are displaced,” he said. Mr Mwangala was however positive that the new deal witnessed by among others chief mediator Koffi Anan and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete would usher in calm.
Though the AMREF clinic in the heart of Kibera slums has not been specifically affected by the conflict that has raged on since the New Year, patients from various communities who were (previously) attended to at the clinic were unable to access it due to the ethnic tensions. The health centre experienced up to a 30 per cent decrease in outpatients and lost track of 60 per cent and 30 per cent of AIDS and TB patients respectively. Yesterday, Mr Mwangala noted that the community health workers and social workers have in the period reported an increase in gender based violence in the slums. He remarked, “People are jubilant following the peace deal, but emotionally, there are still challenges. The effects of gender based and other forms of violence, is a major crisis.”
AMREF’s approach, he added, would be to integrate health support throughout Kibera. AMREF is getting the private (health) practitioners to refer cases to the AMREF clinic in Kibera. Also through faith-based organisations, local community based organisations, the village elders, youth and women; AMREF is supporting various peace efforts in the largest slum in the country.
“We will give support to peace building in Kibera. We will facilitate peace activities such as sponsorship of games and other conflict resolution events bringing together different communities,” Mwangala said in an interview.
Following the post-election crisis, AMREF has kicked off a series of mobile clinics aimed at reaching the Kibera communities affected by the violence. Services offered have include; child welfare, VCT; laboratory and Family Planning.
AMREF has also been providing measles vaccines and other immunization services, vitamin A tablets and deworming; facilitating preventive, promotive and curative services for malarial and other diseases, providing basic laboratory tests and psychosocial support in cooperation with other partners.
For further information please contact:For further information please contact: Betty Muriuki – AMREF Writing Manager, on +254 20 6993327, Cell: +254 726 261495, email:Betty Muriuki<betty.muriuki@amref.org |
