At least 551 households in Kisumu have benefited from USAID 4TheChild’s support worth Sh6,859,950.
The support include assorted range of productive business assets and bicycles targeting vulnerable households who ply their trades in tailoring, hairdressing, and fast-food vending to address income growth inadequacies.
USAID 4TheChild is a five-year (March 2021-March 2026) project implemented by Moi University College of Health Sciences, through the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), and in partnership with Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) and Make Me Smile Kenya (MMS-K).
The project aimed at increasing the use of quality county-led health and social services in five counties of western Kenya is funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a United States governmental initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and help save the lives of those suffering from the disease.
Some of the assets distributed include Energy Saving Jikos (180), Sewing Machine (72), Blow Driers (59), Classic Hair driers with stand (63), and 161 Outdoor Parasols (Large Umbrellas) among others.
A further reward of bicycles went to 29 volunteers comprising 13 Community Health Providers (CHPs).
The support follows their sterling performance in achieving set annual benchmarks like key project indicators on supporting beneficiaries’ Anti-Retroviral (ART) adherence.
During the distribution event presided over by Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o on October 18, Nyong’o said; “We shall continue to collaborate with our partners to facilitate seamless implementation and monitoring of the project through our County Delivery Committee (CPC).”
Suppressed viral load
George Okoth, Chief of Party said the project has impacted 55,279 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), and 14,501 Active Adolescents and Young Women.
He added that the project has led to 95 percent suppression of viral load attributed to the support of 6,351 children living with HIV in the county.
Okoth noted that the project has been providing business grants, business productive assets and business incubation to increase sources of revenue among vulnerable households.
In the years 2021-2024, the county benefited from Sh1,493,952,668 injected by the project with Sh380,789,794 set aside for the financial year 2025.
On his part, Prof Tenge Kwemu, the Principal of Moi University College of Health Services (MUCHS) stated that World Bicycle Relief (WBR) donates two bicycles with every purchase of a bicycle worth Sh30,000 by USAID 4TheChild.
“This follows an MOU inked between Moi University College of Health Services (MUCHS) and the World Bicycle Relief (WBR) to enhance their mobility in full realization of the project implementation,” Prof Kuremu said.
