Progress Despite the Pandemic

As with the rest of the world, Grounds for Health programs in Kenya and Ethiopia were slowed dramatically at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic while governments and NGOs alike rushed to assess the situation and determine the appropriate response.

In Kenya our program has since rebounded and has even expanded, scaling up to five more health facilities in Nyeri County. For the first time, all eight sub-counties have at least one facility that provides screen and treat services.

We want to highlight the story of expansion in Kenya, as it is an example of how we will continue our important work amidst the pandemic and is also a testament to our longstanding relationship and reputation with the local ministry of health.

In July 2020, the Nyeri County Department of Health approached our Kenya program to support a VIA and cryotherapy training for healthcare workers. Thankfully they recognize that although the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, cervical cancer continues to kill and affect women and communities.

Grounds for Health was asked to assist with developing this training curriculum, lead the training itself, and use our skilled nurses as preceptors. Of course, the main challenge was how to do a skills training in the middle of the pandemic and ensure the safety of everyone involved! After much deliberation, we came up with a “new normal.”

The initial classroom training included 28 participants and 4 facilitators. They were socially distanced over a large hall with universal masking, proper ventilation, and available hand washing stations and hand sanitizer. After the classroom portion was complete, healthcare providers returned to their health centers and preceptors visited them on pre-determined screening days to practice their VIA and cryotherapy skills. Community health volunteers provided education, mobilized women to attend the screening days, and ensured that everyone observed proper COVID-19 prevention practices.

When all was said and done, 28 new healthcare providers were certified in VIA and cryotherapy, 775 women were screened, 81 treated, and no one in the group experienced any COVID-19 symptoms!

In addition to our successes in Kenya, we are happy to report that in Ethiopia, our program is also seeing a rise in numbers of women screened and treated after the initial downturn. We are also preparing for the launch of six Centers of Excellence for cervical cancer prevention in Sidamo, SNNP, and West Guji.

As you may have heard, Ethiopia is experiencing an escalation in civil unrest and military intervention, particularly in the northern part of the country. We are relieved to report that our staff members and programs are safe and well. We wish the country a swift and peaceful resolution.