Case Report: Telehealth Initiative Project in Koibarak Community, Markawet West Subcounty, and Elgeyo Markawet County in Rural Kenya
Abstract
COVID-19 has worsened existing and exposed new healthcare challenges, especially in the weakest healthcare systems. Telehealth has been used to overcome some of these challenges, especially in African economies such as Kenya. World Vision Canada’s Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH) project has implemented the Telehealth Initiative to improve the well-being and reduction of life-threatening effects of COVID-19 on children and their families within targeted areas of rural Koibarak Community, the Marakwet West Subcounty and Elgeyo Markawet County in Kenya by June 2021. The Telehealth Initiative intervention has leveragedtechnology to spread preventative measures against COVID-19, distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) and facilitating Psychological First Aid services to all households. Overall, these efforts have resulted in a proactive COVID-19 response and improved access to healthcare services, as there were less cases of COVID-19 in these areas (cumulative 322) compared to the national average. Challenges arose, however, such as limited resources for COVID-19 testing, reporting and logistics. Other challenges include the rising COVID-19 case count that will continue to constrain the healthcare system, inadequate behaviour change, and the lack of COVID-19 resources available for school reopening.Future directions to address these challenges include health system strengthening, possibilities of upscaling the Telehealth Initiative, increasing local production of PPE, ensuring a functional vaccine rollout, and improvements to in-school precautions.