Jhpiego Improves Access To Services At Kenyan Hospital

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Public Health
Article Date: 22 Sep 2008 - 10:00 PST

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This week 3,000 people joined the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Michael E. Ranneberger, Kenya Minister of Medical Services The Honorable Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, Jhpiego, and its partners to officially open a new Maternal Child Health/FP and Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) at Embu Provincial General Hospital (EPGH) in Kenya.

EPGH is one of 15 clinics being renovated in Eastern Province. The building needed significant repairs and now has been transformed to include clinical rooms, a pharmacy, and a registration area with a waiting room and TV for health messaging. EPGH also has an adjoining 'kitchen' garden to train people living with HIV and AIDS in gardening and to provide fresh food to patients. The project was funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) APHIA II Eastern project.

"The establishment of this Comprehensive Care Centre is one of our many responses to the HIV pandemic," says Ambassador Ranneberger. "HIV/AIDS continues to be a major challenge to Kenya's socio economic development. The impressive facilities we are launching will serve as regional referral centers providing comprehensive HIV and maternal/child health services to 5 million residents of Eastern Province and will be extraordinary."

"Jhpiego has been a leader in developing innovations to save the lives of women and their families for 35 years. Without the support of such committed partners in Kenya including the Minister of Health and USAID, we would not be able to provide sustainable solutions to improve access to quality healthcare for Kenyans," says Dr. Leslie Mancuso, President and CEO of Jhpiego. "At EPGH, Jhpiego will continue to provide mentorships and training for healthcare workers as well as drugs and equipment."

In the Eastern Province of Kenya, Jhpiego and its partners provide high-quality HIV/AIDS services that are increasing the number of people receiving antiretroviral and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services, as well as a wide range of palliative care services. APHIA II integrates and improves reproductive health and family planning, tuberculosis, and selected maternal and child health services at both the facility and community levels.

Partners in the project include: USAID, Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Family Health International, PATH, and two national partners, Liverpool VCT, Care & Treatment, and The African Medical and Research Foundation.

About Jhpiego

Jhpiego, (pronounced "JA-PIE-GO"), is an international non-profit health organization affiliated with The Johns Hopkins University. For 35 years, Jhpiego has empowered front-line health workers by designing and implementing effective, low-cost, hands-on solutions to strengthen the delivery of health care services. By putting evidence-based health innovations into everyday practice, Jhpiego works to break down barriers to quality health care services for the world's most vulnerable populations.

Jhpiego