KATINE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT - Guardian.co.uk

centres. Bicycles are also being used for transporting severely ill people from villages to
health centres. The remaining bicycles will be given to the VHTs after their training is
completed. Some of the purchased bicycles needed repair due to brakes and lights not
functioning properly and will be distributed once repaired.
High risk groups for malaria infection and its complications include children below five years of
age, pregnant women and people living with HIV/AIDS. The KCPP’s baseline survey revealed
that mosquito net coverage was 48% in Katine. In an effort to reduce malaria, 3250 Insecticide
Treated Nets (ITNs) were procured. Since the inception of the KCPP, 1308 ITNs have been
distributed to 1308 households in Ochuloi, Merok, Katine and Ojama parishes. Each
household was targeted for net distribution because it was home to at least one child under
the age of five. Children tend to sleep together under one net so a single bed net may benefit
more than one child. Distribution of nets to children under the age of five, pregnant women
and people living with HIV/ AIDS will continue into the next quarter of the project. Regular
visits by VHTs to households ensure that those most vulnerable to malaria (the target groups)
are using the nets regularly and correctly. The project works closely with the existing health
system ensuring that information is shared. This is important because the KCPP wants to be
certain future ITN distribution from other sources does not target the same individuals as this
project. During net distribution, VHTs sensitised communities to ensure that there was positive
health behaviour change (aiming to ensure the target groups did sleep under an ITN).
As a result of capacity gaps the delivery of quality services among health centre staff and
inadequate facilities at the health centres, the project conducted refresher training in outpatient
care for nine staff members working in Katine HC II, Ojom HC II and Tiriri HC IV. It
also conducted a four-day residential training for the three Health Unit Management
Committees of Tiriri HC IV, Katine HC II and Ojom HC II. The project found these committees
already in place. 23 members attended, of which five were women. All the committees have at
least one women member. They were trained in their roles and responsibilities, equipped with
supervisory skills, quality assurance techniques and trained in planning for health services.
Immunisation equipment and supplies such as children’s weighing scales, vaccine carriers,
bicycles, chairs and tables were also provided to Ojom HC II and Katine HCII.
To improve on the quality of maternal and neo-natal care services, a three-day refresher
training course was held for 19 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) already existing within the
community (all the six parishes), all of whom were women. They were trained in early
recognition of high risk pregnancies, pregnancy danger signs, HIV/AIDS, prevention of mother
to child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT), immunisation, record keeping and knowledge on
how to conduct safe and clean deliveries. Referral records at the health centres show that
several referrals have been made from the community by TBAs since their training.
Improved access to quality education
The household baseline survey revealed that 75% of primary school going age (6-12 years)
children are currently attending school; lower than the 81% for all rural areas. Gender equity in
the ratio of boys to girls enrolled has only been achieved in Merok parish while the widest
gaps were in Katine/Ojama and Olwelai.
KCPP six monthly narrative report - October 2007 to March 2008 14