Petrol Blast Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction in Nairobi’s Demographic Surveillance Site
By Jonathan Odhong
“I have basically lost everything. My life has been turned upside down!” laments Catherine Wamaitha one of the Viwandani residents still trying to come to terms with life in the aftermath of the tragic fire blaze that nearly wiped out the entire Sinai village in Viwandani, Nairobi on the morning of September 12, 2011. For a day that started normally like any other, she still can’t comprehend how chaos straight from hell descended on the residents. The Sinai Village probably acquired its name from the Biblical Mount Sinai where Moses received the 10 commandments engulfed in white clouds, however for the residents of Viwandani this cloud was black, smoky cloud of fire and death.
“On the day, I had woken up and gone around my chores for the house as usual, I sent my three children to school and then at about 8 am I stepped out of the house to find my neighbors in a mad rush for fuel which was flowing as usual from one of the Kenya Pipeline ducts. This was a usual occurrence to me because my house is about 10 meters from this pipe. So Like everybody else I dashed out to see everyone dashing about to get bigger containers to store the precious commodity, this time it was overflowing and everyone thought they could get some.
Redcross help in removing the charred remains of the unfortunate residents caught in the inferno.
As I got closer to the duct the strong stinging and nauseating smell of the fumes made me step back and because of my allergy I walked away. As I walked off I noticed a few people had already been intoxicated by the fumes and some were high while others had fainted. I walked off thinking this wasn’t the usual diesel fuel that we had time and time again carried off and sold to Matatu drivers for Kshs. 50 per litre. As I later came to confirm, this was super petrol. When I had walked a distance of about 250 meters the first blast came, and then the second. I ran as far as I could. I still cannot believe I am alive! I was saved by my allergy to strong scents! Although all my belongings are reduced to ashes, at least my husband and children who were away at the time are safe and sound”.
The fire which claimed over a hundred lives didn’t discriminate by age as both the young and old bear scars of the tragedy. Samwel Wanga, a 13-year old school boy was yet to resume school after the teachers strike had been called-off by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT). Earlier that day, his older brother had left home for school to check if learning had resumed.
Samwel Wanga (in a blue sweater) being escorted away from the scene of the fire by his mother Anne Odemba. Samwel barely escaped with his life.
Little did he know that this would make the difference between him and his brother, one which would see one of the brothers miss death by a whisker as the other has a regular “boring day” in school”. I was playing with my friends and then suddenly noticed the adults running towards the pipe. I guess curiosity got the better of me and I followed. One of my neighbors, I can’t remember her name, she told me to move closer and get some. Just as I was getting closer the first blast went off and I started running away. I can’t clearly remember the rest of the details”.
Samwel’s mother Ms Anne Odemba, a single mother of two is clearly stung by the narration her son gives of the ordeal. She was still in her house which is a good distance away from the scene of fire when all this was unfolding. All she can mutter amidst the sorrow is “thanks to God” for the fact that Samwel sustained non-fatal burns and is alive.
The Sinai fire incident brings into focus the difficulties of life in Nairobi’s informal settlements which APHRC’s research has continually focused on. Various research studies from the Center have invariably pointed out to the fact that every day is an emergency in the slums from the state of health, education to the living conditions as well as the many hazards the residents are exposed to. This therefore requires a multi-pronged approach by all stakeholders to change the status quo.
Research Communication Summit in Nigeria
By Jonathan Odhong
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| Prof Osita Ogbu explains a point during his presentation at the summit |
Failure by researchers to communicate their findings is probably the single biggest obstacle to the utilization of research findings in policymaking by African leaders. This is the problem that knowledge translation – a process through which research is brought to life – is meant to solve.
Knowledge translation is the intersection between research and action through a communicative relationship that relies on partnerships, collaborations and personal contacts between researchers and the people who use research results to make policy.
The Policy Engagement and Communication (PEC) Unit of APHRC has, since inception, actively promoted research communication, which is part of knowledge translation, in Africa. In continuing these efforts, the Unit collaborated with the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, (UNN) to hold a research communication summit for Nigerian researchers at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja, on 13th to 14th December 2010.
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| Al-Hajji Ibrahim Shehu Shema Governor of Katsina state |
Journalists, communication officers, policymakers and public affairs officers from different federal states in Nigeria also attended. Resource persons included policymakers, established researchers and communication experts drawn from Kenya and Nigeria. Participants were exposed to effective research communication principles using the IDRC Knowledge Translation Toolkit.
Al-Hajji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Executive Governor of Katsina Federal State, officially opened the summit. In his speech, delivered on his behalf by his Special Assistant in charge of Special Duties, Daura Zone, Mr Nafwi Lawal, Governor Shema lauded the conference as a timely event that would serve to enable researchers and policymakers see their relationship in a new and more useful light.
He singled out three factors contributing to poor communication of research results as researchers’ narrow focus on peers through journals; policymakers’ aversion to research information; and lack of incentives for evidence-based policymaking. The governor concluded by extending an invitation to APHRC and UNN to hold a similar summit in Katsina State in 2011.
Other speakers included Prof. Bartho Okolo, the Vice Chancellor of UNN; Prof. Osita Ogbu, a member of the APHRC Board and economic policy scholar and consultant; Ms Njoki Ndung’u, an ex-MP from Kenya who shared her experiences in policymaking; Mr. Michael Otieno, the Managing Director of Hill and Knowlton; and Dr Ejike Oji, Country Director, IPAS
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| How we did it: Njoki Ndungu narrates to the participants how together with her team they successfully for the enactment of the Sexual Offences bill in Kenya |
Plans are already underway to hold the 2011 Research Communication Summit in Katsina State, Nigeria.
New home for robust team
By Albert Mwangi
The new office complex in Kitusuru, Nairobi
The continent’s premier health and population research center has a new home in Kitisuru, Nairobi.
Staff officially moved to the Kshs. 416 million premises on June 2, 2011. The complex will host all departments of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and boasts ultra-modern training facilities.
The move coincides with the 10th anniversary of the organization which has recorded solid achievements in improving life in Africa through policy-relevant research. Established in 1995 as a programme of the Population Council, the center became autonomous in 2001 and bases its work on population, health, urbanization and education issues.
It also promotes the use of research to influence policy and has invested heavily in strengthening the capacity of African scholars and institutions.
APHRC researchers have published more than 220 peer-reviewed journal articles and successfully implemented over 20 primary research projects.
The center has established itself as a leader in urban health, particularly using its Nairobi Urban Demographic Surveillance System. Focusing on HIV/Aids, adolescent reproductive health and the status and needs of urban slums residents, APHRC has assisted other African organizations to enhance their capabilities.
It also developed the Nairobi Urban Health and Poverty Project to find cost-effective strategies for addressing the health and livelihood needs of those living in informal settlements.
The Population Dynamics and Reproductive Health theme has tested the use of the menstrual cups as an alternative method for managing menstrual flow among women in resource poor settings.
The Education theme has initiated studies to offer scientific evidence on the quality of teaching and learning in classrooms and factors influencing school participation. This involves slum and non-slum populations within the context of Kenya’s free primary education program.
There has been continuous dialogue with stakeholders and dissemination of findings in a timely and clear way through the policy, engagement and communications unit.
The center also boasts strong links with donors and partner organization, including UN agencies, government ministries and departments, professionals, Members of Parliament and other non-governmental organizations.
For example, APHRC works closely with Members of Parliament in Kenya and the entire region through the Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees on Health.
The Center — which has expanded in terms of human resources, countries covered and programs undertaken — has gradually become a leading think-tank on urbanization and well-being; population and reproductive health; health challenges and systems and education. This has grown APHRC’s credibility globally as a source of evidence-based information. As it enters a new decade, the Center looks forward to maintaining this tempo.
It is a new dawn for diabetics and hypertensive patients in the slums
Non-communicable diseases are no longer an affliction of the affluent in society. Research conducted by African Population and Health Center (APHRC) in Korogocho and Viwandani in 2008 to 2009 is a clear testimony of rising numbers of people suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure in informal urban settlements. During the research, APHRC in collaboration with the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) established outreach clinics in Korogocho and Viwandani, have held a clinic after every fortnight for residents suffering from these non-communicable diseases. The clinics have been a blessing to many patients who otherwise could have remained at home due to lack of funds to seek treatment elsewhere.
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| Dr Catherine Kyobutungi Dr Sam Oti and former area Member of Parliament Reuben Ndolo during the hand over ceremony at Lunga Lunga Health Center |
March 27th 2011, marked a new dawn to the long suffering diabetes and high blood pressure patients in the Korogocho and Viwandani slums. This is the day that APHRC donated a ‘starter kit’ worth more than Kshs. 200,000 of drugs and consumables to patients who are now registered as community based organizations by the name Korogocho/Viwandani Diabetes and Hypertensive Movement. The ‘starter kit’ will form the basis of a revolving fund where patients will pay monthly subscription fees to their respective movement. This will entitle them to a full dose of drugs prescribed during the two outreach clinics. The fees will be channeled to a joint fund that will be used to replenish the drugs and consumables. By so doing, the sustainability of the clinics will be attained at the long term.
Listening to speeches from invited guests, one could not miss the fact that the menace of diabetes and hypertension is real with moving testimonies by patients about their buried family members, friends and relatives who had succumbed to either diabetes, hypertension or from complications from the two diseases. According to Dr Catherine Kyobutungi, the project leader, the two disease conditions need concerted effort by all, the government, pharmaceutical companies and private sector to tackle them.
In an address to the patients who came to witness the colorful ceremony, she reiterated the importance of personal responsibility. The buck stops with each and every individual, she said. There is need for people to actively sensitize fellow country men and women on the need to be screened for the two conditions. Increased screening will lead to increased detection and diagnosis and with better reporting, the magnitude of these conditions will be clearer to policy and decision makers.
Research to Policy and Action Workshop: Communicating Evidence to Effect Change
Venue: The Hilton Hotel, Nairobi Kenya
Date: Tuesday 7 – Wednesday 8, September 2010
This workshop is expected to empower participants with skills of effectively communicating Research findings to targeted audiences, how to synthesize and use Research results to leverage evidence-based decision making and also how to bring Research to Policy and Action. The course content will incorporate different organizational case studies in Research Communication from different research institutions as well as seek to make participants understand Why Policies Matter: Who Makes Them for Whom, Why and How? How to Communicate Research for Health Policies and Change and why strategy is an integral component of Research Communication. Participants for this workshop will be drawn from various research organizations in Africa and this therefore will provide a fine opportunity for experience sharing among organizations involved in research with the aim of having an impact on policy.
Using lecture-discussion-and-demonstration approaches, complemented with relevant teaching aids, the resource persons will cover the following topics:
Topics on Policy
- Understanding the policy making process.
- Working with parliamentarians and policy makers.
- Making presentations to policy makers.
- Evidence-based advocacy.
- Writing policy engagement documents (policy briefs, occasional papers, situation reports etc).
Topics on Communication
- Why communication matters in policy making.
- Effective message development and communication strategies.(Effective communication strategiesPersuasive communication principles and strategies Effective message development)
- Integrating communication (and policy engagement) in the research cycle.
- Strategies for media relations (including writing for clarity, different media and getting published in refereed journals)
- Translating research into ‘vernacular’
Topics on Technology
- Using new technologies to reach policy makers and effect change
- Systems Research and Global Health Policy
Kenya – maternity medical centres in Nairobi are death traps
Most maternity medical centers in Nairobi are no more than death traps, lacking in facilities, medicines and human skills.
A study carried out by the Nairobi based African Population and Health Research Center, the World Bank and two UK universities — Southampton and Liverpool John Moores — found high maternal deaths related to poor medical services.
In a study published in the Journal of Reproductive Health, the researchers surveyed 25 health centres in Korogocho, Viwandani and surrounding areas and found that not only were medicines, human skills and equipment lacking, but these centers are not supervised by any government authority.
For example, a drug of choice, used in the treatment of eclampsia — a serious complication of pregnancy that includes high blood pressure — was available in only seven health facilities. The drug is called parenteral magnesium sulphate.
A woman developing complications in these facilities has very little chance of being evacuated in time to a higher level facility. “Only five health facilities had emergency transport on site for referral of obstetric emergencies. The lack of ambulances was reflected in the high level of emergencies that arrive at referral hospitals (56 per cent) on foot or public transport.”
Realizing how urgent this problem is, the government in its current Budget, has allocated money for the acquiring of 300 ambulances countrywide. To make the ambulances more effective and available even in insecure city estates, the minister for Medical Services, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o has suggested that all ambulances, both public and private sectors, be put in a common pool.
In such an arrangement, he has argued, it would be more effective for the ambulances to respond to an emergency from any part of the city. Such a programme would be subsidized by the government. What seemed to surprise the researchers more was the fact that only six health facilities give preventive HIV treatment for when staff get exposed to the virus through infected blood.
Although the law requires that such facilities be under regular external supervision, this does not happen. Many “operate without proper supervision and regulation with 20 per cent reporting no supervisory visit for more than a year,” say the researchers.
In a follow-up study, the same team sought to find the main causes of maternal deaths among slum women in Nairobi. The pregnancy outcome of more than two-thirds of the pregnancies that ended in death was either a miscarriage or induced abortion.
“We also observed that all abortion-related maternal deaths had the pregnancy terminated outside of health care facility and by non-skilled staff. Less than half died in a health center, implying that most abortion seekers do not seek medical attention even after developing complication.”
A significant number of women were found to be dying following delayed maternal causes. Such deaths occur between six weeks to one year after the termination of a pregnancy. “Aids and tuberculosis accounted for about 59 per cent of all late maternal deaths.”
Most of the deaths, say the researchers, happened following mismanaged labor or abortion by non-skilled attendants. “All abortion-related deaths followed an event carried out by a non-professional and less than 50 per cent sought care before death.”
Adopted from: http://urbanhealthupdates.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/kenya-maternity-medical-centres-in-nairobi-are-death-traps/
ICIPE AND APHRC Sign a Memorandum of Understanding
Last edited on: 2010-09-27
Joint talks between the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) were held on 15th September 2010 at the APHRC offices. The meeting is a follow-up on discussions initiated on 13th August 2010 by the two institutions on ways to collaborate on issues of research capacity strengthening in Africa.
Intense consultations between ICIPE and APHRC staff to establish a joint collaboration in research training
The purpose of the meeting was to map out specific areas of collaboration in building sustainable capacity among researchers in Africa, who needed to be provided with an enabling environment, exposure and opportunities to make them competitive. Both institutions agreed to seek opportunities to develop joint proposals to support research capacity strengthening efforts and share both human and physical resources. Particularly, it was noted, the established accommodation and laboratory facilities at ICIPE could greatly benefit APHRC’s capacity strengthening initiatives such as the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship (ADDRF).
Participants agreed on the following areas of cooperation: Supervision by established scientists; sharing infrastructure and other resources, including laboratories and hostels; exchange of staff and postgraduate students; and joint research training workshops, among others.
A memorandum of understanding to govern the collaboration as set out during the discussions has been signed. The meeting was attended by the APHRC Executive Director, Dr. Alex Ezeh, Chimaraoke Izugbara, Caroline Kabiru, Beatrice Arionget and Makau Ngola of APHRC. ICIPE was represented by Dr. Daniel Masiga, Baldwyn Torto, Lilian Igweta and Anne Njui.
Many Challenges Plague Primary Education in Nairobi Slums
A visit to primary schools in Korogocho slums by the city Director of Education Mr. Joseph Musaba exposed the adverse conditions under which education takes place within Korogocho slums, which is one of the many slum settlements in Nairobi. Overcrowded classes, dilapidated buildings, understaffed schools, poorly paid teachers, unhygienic learning environment and few or no text books at all form part of the myriad challenges in these schools.
Ms. Osnat Keidar (left) ,Dr. Moses Ngware (right ) of APHRC and the City Director of Education, Mr. Joseph Musaba (center) take a walk in Korogocho slums during the directors’ visit to the primary schools in the area
The City Director of education Mr. Musaba inspects one of the classrooms at Ngunyumu primary school in Korogocho. Most of the classes are very overcrowded
The visit by the Director which took place on the 21st September was facilitated by APHRC’s health Promoting Schools (HPS) programme which has been involved in efforts to promote and improve the capacity of schools in the slum to provide quality education using personal hygiene as an entry point. The project schools include 2 formal primary schools and 9 informal primary schools, but while both sets schools in the slums share the same predicament, the learning conditions in most of the informal schools is most appalling.
Pastor Joel is the manager of Jambo toto informal school testifies to these challenges.”The challenges of running an informal school in these settings are numerous, but because we don’t have any other option we have to get on with it. The classes are mostly cramped up and because we have very little space available the pupils don’t even have playgrounds like in other formal schools. Our situation is even more awkward because we don’t have enough books for learning and to make matters worse, the government still doesn’t offer us free primary education support funds. The teachers who work from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm take home as little as 3,000 Kshs. Per month because this is all we can afford to pay them under these circumstances. It’s is therefore very difficult for us to compete on a fair footing with other better funded schools which have ample books and resources”.
The door to one of the classrooms at Jambo Toto informal school. Poor infrastructure remains a big challenge for the informal schools in Korogocho
Education in adversity: A teacher at Jambo Toto informal school carries on with teaching despite the several challenges facing teachers in the informal schools
The growth and popularity of Informal schools in the slums started in the mid 90’s due to the inability of many parents to pay the high school fee charged in the formal schools after the government introduced the cost sharing policy in the late 80’s . Most of the parents in the slum therefore opted for privately owned schools where they could afford to pay the tuition fee with ease .Some of the informal schools charge 600 Kshs. per term without putting any restrictions on school uniform and tuition charges as is the norm in the formal schools. The introduction of the Free Primary Education Policy didn’t change much either because parents still had to meet other costs like school uniforms and buy text books, so contrary to expectations the number of informal schools in the slum increased. For the formal schools, Free Primary education policy presented a challenge of numbers where classes are overcrowded with pupils therefore curtailing the effectiveness of with which a teacher can impart knowledge to students. The high number of students in the schools also ends up putting a lot of pressure on the limited resources like books, desks as well as vital sanitation resources like toilets.
While addressing a meeting of all the teachers from the formal and the informal primary schools at Daniel Comboni primary school. The Director lauded the positive attitude with which the teachers were meeting the challenges of teaching under such difficult circumstances posed by the slum setting. Noting that the experience of the visit to both the formal and the informal schools was an rude awakening call that He and his officers will strive to improve. He also thanked APHRC and its partner in the HPS programme UN-Habitat for the work that they have continuously carried out in the community since 2008 and urged them to continue .Since the inception of the HPS programme by Osnat Keidar in Korogocho 11 primary schools (both formal and informal) have received connection of water, water tanks for water storage, hand washing facilities, construction and renovation of sanitation blocks book donations, water tanks for rainwater harvesting sanitary towel donations ,food donations as well as kitchen construction in support of the school feeding programme as well as capacity building activities in schools and community. A sanitation center which has 6 toilets and 2 bathrooms has also been put up in the community to promote hygienic practices and sanitation within the community. Health tips: The City Education Director looks at some of the health messages being printed on the walls under the HPS programme on the walls to the toilets. Every toilet is also fitted with a hand washing point to ensure that pupils can access hand washing points with ease.
Promoting handwashing: Leaky tins placed strategically at the entrance of each class as part of the HPS initiative to encourage the hand washing culture among the pupils
VACANCY: COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER – Deadline: April 14, 2010.
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization that carries out policy relevant research on population, health, education and development issues facing sub-Saharan Africa. The Center seeks to recruit a Community Relations Officer.
The overall purpose of the job is to coordinate project activities and administrative responsibilities related to community outreach and engagement with people and organizations in our research communities.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Liaise with and explain research projects to community leaders, community members governmental bodies and other groups through door to door campaigns, barazas or other suitable fora;
- Act as problem-solver between researchers and residents of research communities. ;
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing, through briefings, reports and presentations;
- Perform essential administration, including records management of community events;
- Mobilize funds from local and international institutions for community projects and activities;
- Collaborate with partners, including Government of Kenya, NGOs, community-based organizations and other donor supported projects;
- Serve as the link between APHRC and the community members;
- Assist in coordination of project community-based activities;
- Oversee and monitor community interventions; and
- Implement APHRC’s long term corporate social responsibility programs in the community;
Education Qualification:
- Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Public Relations or Social Sciences. Candidates without a degree but with 5 years of experience in undertaking community development work will also be considered.
Experience and Skills:
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent communication skills in both English and Kiswahili
- Experience working with marginalized communities will be an added advantage
Please apply enclosing a detailed CV, quoting current and expected salary and providing contact details of three referees (at least one of whom must be a current/former employer) to the address below by April 14, 2010. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. If applying by email (jobs@aphrc.org) please indicate ‘’Community relations Officer’’ on the subject line.
The Human Resources Manager
African Population and Health Research Center
P.O. Box 10787-00100 GPO, Nairobi
Health Centers in Nairobi to Receive Equipments for Screening Chronic Conditions
On Saturday, March 27 2010, The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) will donate medical equipments for screening diabetes and high blood pressure to fifteen health facilities in Nairobi.
The handover ceremony will be held at Lunga Lunga Health Center in Viwandani slums from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Research by APHRC shows that the poor living in the urban areas are increasingly becoming affected by cardiovascular diseases, with 17% of the adult population in the slums having either high blood pressure or diabetes.
An analysis of public and private health centers that serve this population further indicates that they are least prepared to deal with the situation as these health centers lack basic screening equipments, and majority of the medical staff are not trained on management and care of these conditions.
With support from the World Diabetes Foundation, APHRC has collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and the Kenya Diabetes and Management Information Center to train 117 health care providers in 15 health centers in Nairobi on management and control of diabetes and high blood pressure. As a follow on to the training, APHRC will be handing over state-of-the-art screening and monitoring equipments to these health centers. These equipments include but are not limited to blood pressure machines, glucose meters, weighing scales, and stethoscopes.
APHRC’s Executive Director Dr Alex Ezeh will preside over the ceremony to be attended by government officials from the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation among other guests.
The media are invited to cover the event. Please contact Elizabeth Kahurani, ekahurani@aphrc.org; 0721537627 for transport arrangements to the venue.
