highlights of Quarter 3 2024
Expanding Our Horizons: Delivering Healthcare to Underserved Communities
Building upon a successful first half of the year, Safari Doctors remained steadfast in its mission to provide quality healthcare to remote communities in Lamu, Garissa, and Tana River counties during Q3 2024. Our dedicated team, along with our incredible Youth Health Ambassadors (YHAs), embarked on outreach clinics, traveling by boat and road to reach 17 villages scattered across the vast landscapes. Overcoming logistical hurdles and navigating sometimes challenging terrain, they delivered essential medical services to those who needed them most. Below are the highlights of Q3.
Celebrating Leadership:
We are thrilled to announce that our founder, Umra Omar, has been selected as an Ashoka Fellow! This prestigious fellowship recognizes Umra’s innovative work in transforming healthcare delivery for Kenya’s most remote communities. Ashoka Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who are creating systemic change in their fields. This recognition is a testament to Umra’s vision and the impact of Safari Doctors. Link to Ashoka story
Safari Doctors at UNGA:
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) opened on 10th September 2024 with a general debate on 24th September and concluded on 30th September with significant declarations. The Safari Doctors Founder and Executive Director Umar Omar joined the meeting and took part in several side events including the Segal family foundation spotlight convening for philanthropists and leaders who work in Africa. Earlier on, Ms Omar joined the crown family foundation organized partner event on the sidelines of the UNGA Meeting in New York.
Expanding Reach:
Safari Doctors conducted monthly medical outreaches, reaching a total of 5,622 patients across 17 villages in Lamu, Garissa, and Tana River counties and 805 patients in our facilities (Shela Medical Centre and Tchundwa Medical Centre). This represents a significant increase from the previous quarter, highlighting the growing need for our services in these remote regions. Our mobile clinics provided essential medical services, including consultations, treatment for common illnesses, prenatal care, and immunizations. We also addressed sexual and reproductive health needs, conducted referrals for complex cases, and distributed essential medications.
Empowering Youth:
We continued to invest in our YHAs, recognizing their critical role as a bridge between healthcare providers and the communities we serve. To enhance their skills and knowledge, we conducted two quarterly training sessions focused on Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) and Data Management and Reporting. These sessions equipped YHAs with the latest knowledge and tools to effectively diagnose and manage common childhood illnesses, including malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea. Additionally, we trained 27 YHAs on a new YHA mobile application designed to streamline data collection and reporting. This app allows YHAs to collect patient information efficiently during outreach clinics and submit data electronically, ensuring timely and accurate reporting. By investing in YHA training and development, we are empowering them to become active participants in improving community health outcomes.
Strengthening Infrastructure:
The Tchundwa Medical Centre, located on Pate Island, is being comprehensively equipped to enhance its capacity to serve the community. This includes essential drugs, medical equipment, and up-to-date technology. The upgraded facility will provide a wider range of medical services, including outpatient consultations, laboratory testing, chronic disease management, and basic emergency care. The expansion of services at Tchundwa Medical Centre will reduce the burden on Lamu County Hospital, the main referral facility in the region, and improve access to quality healthcare for residents of Pate Island and surrounding communities.
Antonate of Safari Doctors with Said of Donkey Sanctuary, conducting an outreach in Manda Maweni
Safari Vets Program:
Our dedicated team of veterinarians provided essential care to 3,241 animals in remote villages during Q3 2024. This included vaccinations to protect livestock from deadly diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, PPR, and CBPP. We also treated animals for common illnesses and injuries, performed parasite control measures, and provided deworming medication. Healthy animals are essential for the livelihoods of pastoral communities in these regions. Livestock provide food, milk, and income, and their health is directly linked to the well-being of human communities. By ensuring the health of animals, the Safari Vets program contributes to the overall health and prosperity of the communities we serve.
School Health Program:
Engaged 13 schools, reaching 650 students and 26 teachers. Our interactive sessions covered a wide range of topics critical for young people’s well-being, including sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, preventing violence, the dangers of drug use, and environmental health. We used engaging games, activities, and discussions to foster a safe space for students to ask questions and learn about these important issues. In partnership with Pwani University, we are developing a comprehensive school health program protocol to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of this initiative. This protocol will outline key learning objectives, age-appropriate teaching methods, and strategies for monitoring and evaluation.
Tana River County Collaboration:
We held a productive meeting with the Tana Delta Sub County Department of Health to discuss potential site changes for our outreach clinics in the Kipini area. Despite the challenges of overlapping services with another organization, we reaffirmed our commitment to partnering with Tana River County and explored ways to adapt our activities to meet the unique needs of the communities. We also discussed opportunities to establish youthfriendly health services and implement a comprehensive school health program in the region.
Pwani University Partnership:
Our collaboration with Pwani University continues to grow as we have initiated the process of formalizing our partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration will strengthen our research capacity, provide valuable academic insights, and enhance the sustainability of our programs. We are also working closely with the university to develop a study protocol for the school health program, which will involve data collection and analysis to measure the program’s impact in Lamu, Garissa and Tana River counties.
Data Driven Impact:
Safari Doctors is committed to data-driven programming to ensure our interventions are effective and meet the specific needs of the communities we serve. During Q3, we completed two critical baseline assessments:
Youth Health Ambassadors Baseline Assessment: This assessment evaluated the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of our YHAs, providing valuable insights to inform future training and development programs.
School Health Program Baseline Assessment: This assessment gathered data on students’ knowledge and attitudes related to sexual and reproductive health, gender, violence, and other key topics. The findings will guide the development of targeted interventions and educational materials for the school health program. Report
Key Achievements:
Increased Patient Reach: We observed a significant increase in the number of patients served in Lamu, Garissa, and Tana River counties, demonstrating the growing need and impact of our services.
Youth Engagement: Our YHAs played a crucial role in community engagement, maternal and child referrals, and data collection, contributing to the success of our programs.
Strengthened Partnerships: We continued to collaborate with county governments, community health workers, and other partners to strengthen healthcare delivery and community engagement.
Successful Vet Outreaches: The Safari Vets program expanded its reach, providing essential veterinary care to animals in remote areas and contributing to community health through rabies prevention.
School Health Program Progress: The school health program made significant strides in educating young people about important health issues and empowering them to make informed choices.
Challenges and Looking Ahead:
We faced challenges such as family planning commodity stockouts, drug shortages, and insecurity in certain areas.
However, we remain committed to overcoming these obstacles and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. In
Q4, we will focus on:
Strengthening partnerships with county governments.
Restructuring the outreach model for increased efficiency.
Expanding specialized medical camps.
Continuing YHA training and development.
A huge thank you to our #JourneyForChange family!
We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated donors, volunteers, and stakeholders. Your unwavering support makes our work possible. We urge you to continue this journey with us as we strive to create healthier communities
and a brighter future for all. Together, we can make a lasting difference. A huge thank you to GCC, IZUMI, Segal Family Foundation, Partners For Equity, Crown Family Philanthropy, Pulte Family Charitable Foundation for continuing our wonderful partnership.
