PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; KENYA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Using radio and SMS to identify obstetric fistula and transport patients to hospitals offering free services.
Learn more about the Patient Identification Challenge and why identifying individuals in need of medical treatment and finding ways to make that treatment accessible reduces poverty.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
In Kenya, it is estimated that obstetric fistula (OF) occurrence stands at 3 to 4 women for every 1,000 deliveries. Most available literature states that each year, an estimated 3,000 new cases of OF are reported in Kenya with only 7.5% of these women able to access medical care for the condition. These statistics are problematic as they are mostly hospital based and not fully indicative of the magnitude of the problem. With a majority of births in Kenya taking place at home, there is less data for OF outside hospitals and in the rural areas where the problem is most rife.
The operational model consists of four major phases: awareness raising of the intervention via radio broadcasts and bulk SMS and identification of OF patients within Kericho County; connecting with beneficiaries in need of treatment and transporting them to a healthcare facility providing free treatment; treatment, rehabilitation and counseling of the women; and monitoring and evaluation of the pilot intervention to ensure achievement of objectives and responsiveness to ensure ristsks are addressed
The preferred method through which potential beneficiaries will contact Nena Foundation will be through sending an SMS to a number that would have been shared via radio and bulk SMS outreach. Once a person is identified via SMS or call, Nena Foundation will schedule a time to call the woman with OF to ascertain the exact extent of the condition. The Patient Transport Service represents a significant part of operations and will involve the transportation of patients to the healthcare facility offering free treatment: the Gynocare Fistula Women's Hospital in Eldoret. The woman will be contacted after the screening and informed of when her appointment is with sufficient time to communicate if the appointment date fits their schedule.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
120 people reached by the end of the pilot phase
1,000 people reached by the end of year 1
2,500 people reached by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Faith Sigei - Co-Founder, Medical Manager
Godwin Bett - Co-Founder, Operations and Finance Manager
Shalom Ndiku - Co-Founder