This June WiRED International’s community health worker (CHW) team of 20 people performed health services for almost 10,000 people in Kisumu, Kenya!
The need for health care is more critical than ever after the elimination of U.S. global Health programs by the Trump administration — especially in underserved regions like Kisumu where WiRED CHWs live and work. According to one report, “In Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, 60% of the population live in impoverished communities. In Kenya, 20.9% of the population lives in ‘absolute poverty’ – in Kisumu that number is three times higher.”
Since the program’s onset during the 2020 pandemic, WiRED’s 20-odd CHWs continue to do remarkable work where medical professionals are scarce and medical supplies of any kind are fast disappearing — particularly crucial to HIV/AIDS sufferers. Despite these challenges and the prevalence of endemic diseases, WiRED CHWs carry on with dedication, as evidenced in the outcomes they achieved this June.
The following list is all in a day’s work for WiRED’s 20-member paraprofessional CHW team. Their work includes:
Hosting group sessions about disease awareness, prevention and treatment
Talking one-on-one with people
Screening for illnesses
Treating common complaints
Providing simple medications to ease pain in the midst of stoppage of health funding programs, especially from the United States
Performing home visits and offering home care
Making referrals to clinics as needed
Android
Following up with patients to check on their recovery and ensure that they are taking any prescribed medications properly
Apple iOS
Taking WiRED-required continuing medical education to remain up to date with their skills.
Outcomes
WiRED initiated a new reporting system for our CHWs last March. The new outcomes procedure will record data on CHW home visits, referrals and follow-up and help us understand the direct interventions and level of care CHWs provide. The following include sample outcomes for June, noted by the CHW team.
HIV/AIDS
Editor’s note: With the availability of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), evidence of HIV has been fading in populations across Africa. HIV persisted, but at much lower levels, and, with the drugs, people were able to live near-normal lives. The supply of ARVs was abruptly halted at the beginning of the second Trump administration when it shuttered USAID and cut funding for PEPFAR, a program started in 2003 by President George W. Bush to address HIV in Africa. People who have HIV without ARVs to control the virus are beginning to manifest symptoms of the disease including rapid weight loss, fevers, extreme fatigue, sores and more; death is almost certain to follow. The topic of HV will become more important in the days ahead, as people once again face the devastating illness of HIV. Here are two related stories reported by CHWs.
During a group health session I raised awareness on HIV treatment and prevention stigma reduction among the residents of Obunga. Forty-one youths attended the health talk, which emphasized the importance of seeking early testing and counseling services as key to living with HIV. Our CHW team shared knowledge with the youths in order to reduce the increase of the infection rate among them. I referred 20 youths for voluntary testing for HIV and other STIs.
—CHW Steve Wonder Okello
During my health education outreach in my community, I came across a certain group of boda boda [motorcycle taxi operators] at Migosi. They were really confused about HIV myths and misconceptions. For example, if it was true that older people who were HIV+ were supposed to sleep with the younger generation for them to heal. I said that that wasn’t true because HIV has no cure and it can only be maintained with antiretroviral medication. I also advised them to always keep off sex or use condoms and also take PrEP for them not to be infected. After that deep conversation, I managed to refer six of them for HIV testing services at Migosi. They promised to maintain their status for healthy living. Also, during this month I reached out to 666 people with health education. I referred six people for HIV testing at Migosi and they all tested negative.
—CHW Lency Mmbone
Malaria
Malaria used to be the most killing disease in Kisumu. Today, the number of malaria cases for the community members has been reduced, thus making the community healthier. The improvement has occurred because the CHW team educates the people they serve on malaria prevention measures. This community education includes topics such as vaccinations, sleeping under treated mosquito nets, slashing brush in the compound and draining stagnant water. But we also urge people to seek early diagnosis and treatment of malaria.
—CHW Team General Report
Cholera
While educating my community, I came across a certain family suffering from diarrhea on and off, so they didn’t know what to do. I had to discuss with them and probe them more for me to understand the course of the diarrhea that was on and off. During the discussions, the family narrated that they usually use water that passes near their compound without knowing whether it was sewerage or water from underneath the ground. After our discussion I escorted them to Obunga dispensary where they were diagnosed with cholera and given medication. I followed up and found them safe and sound. Also, this month, I referred eight family members to Obunga dispensary who had signs of cholera. They were given medication for cholera and are faring well.
—CHW Bunnyce Atieno
Due to the fact that the community were not using latrines, treated water and proper hygiene management, cholera has been on and off in the community. The community members have been educated about water treatment, about good use of latrines (no open defecation) and about hygiene management, thus washing hands at five critical times. The CHWs provide their community members with aqua tabs [which contain chlorine to kill bacteria] for water treatment, perform community education on health issues on group discussion days and hold household health talks on a daily basis to enhance good health practices.
—CHW Team General Report
Tuberculosis
As I was doing health education in areas like Kanyamedha, Kombedu and Bandani, I came across three people who were coughing terribly. I called them aside, talked to them and counseled them on the importance of being screened for TB. After a long discussion, I referred them to the airport health center where they will be checked further. After 3 days I followed up and found out that two people had been screened for TB and were waiting for the results.
After 2 weeks I found out that one of them had TB and was being given TB drugs so that she wouldn’t spread it to other households members. Also, this month I counseled five other people on tuberculosis. Out of the five I found out that one of them was diagnosed with TB and she is now on TB drugs.
—CHW Carren Osomo
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
During my session, I had a one-on-one meeting with a certain married man who opened up about getting treatment for STIs for the second time. He claimed to be faithful to his wife, but thinks the wife is unfaithful. At that moment he was having some symptoms from previous infections, so I encouraged him to visit the hospital with his wife for medication. When they went to the hospital the results did show STIs, and the doctor advised them to be faithful to each other because the woman was at risk for infection in her womb. They were given medication and are still under medical treatment. Also, I referred two people suffering from STIs to Kuoyo dispensary where they were treated. They are still under medication, and as a result they are doing well.
—CHW Tracy Agatha Achieng’
Other Health Concerns
Child Growth and Development
When I was teaching about child growth development, I came across a young mother who was breast feeding. She had a problem because when she feeds her younger baby her breasts developed cracks, so as the baby breastfed, the mother felt pain and also sometimes blood used to come out of her breasts. I advised her that it is not good to breastfeed in that condition and she needed to see a doctor because she had a bacterial infection. I took her to Lumumba hospital where she got treated and now she is improving. During my monthly field work, I met another young mother who had a bacterial infection and was breastfeeding at the same time. I stopped her from breastfeeding the baby and took her to Lumumba hospital. I have been doing a follow-up and found out that she is responding positively.
—CHW Liz Adhiambo
Measles
I met a mother whose child was sick and she was using herbs to treat her child. To my surprise she was smoking weed (marijuana) and blew the smoke on her child’s mouth, nose and ears. Then she put some marijuana seeds into water and used the mixture (called “bhang”) to wash the baby. I asked her the meaning of that and her response was that the bhang is the only medication for measles. I advised to take her baby to the hospital for better treatment. She agreed to do that, and the child was checked. She is now responding to the medication well.
—CHW Imeldah Anyango
Nutrition
As I was going round in the community educating community members about health issues, I came across a lady who believed that feeding eggs to a child under five years is harmful. The woman was selling the eggs and buying mandazi [a form of fried bread] to feed the child, and the child became underweight. I talked to her about the 10 food groups and told her that eggs are vital to the child’s growth and health. The child is supposed to eat four items out of the seven food groups. As of now, after I followed up, the child is doing well and the mother is happy.
—CHW Milka Aoko Nyadiang’a
Drug Abuse
In my community I have encountered a lot of drug abuse among the underage youths. I met a father with a son whose behaviors did not please him. The father later discovered that his son has become involved in weed smoking with some big boys around his homestead. The father told me to advise and talk to his son for a better future. We all met and I talked to the son and advised him about the dangers of drug abuse. He promised to change and focus on his education. The father thanked me and he told me after two weeks that he is seeing some self-discipline changes in his son. The father thanked me for the help and also the entire WiRED organization for the better health results in the community because of the CHWs. There is a cry from all the community about drug abuse. Young boys and girls have been involved in abusing drugs and acting wrongly towards their parents. We CHWs need to teach the youth about the consequences of abusing drugs for their better future.
During the month of June 2025, 19 CHWs in Kisumu, Kenya, reached a total of 9,987 people with health services. Working 24 hours per week, each of the CHWs met with at least 34 patients a week, and the largest number seen in a week by a single CHW was 253, most of them in health training classes.
Top health concerns for the month of June in order of prevalence:
ed for health care is more critical than ever after the elimination of U.S. global Health programs by the Trump administration — especially in underserved regions like Kisumu where WiRED CHWs live and work. According to one report, “In Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, 60% of the population live in impoverished communities. In Kenya, 20.9% of the population lives in ‘absolute poverty’ – in Kisumu that number is three times higher.”
During a group health session I raised awareness on HIV treatment and prevention stigma reduction among the residents of Obunga. Forty-one youths attended the health talk, which emphasized the importance of seeking early testing and counseling services as key to living with HIV. Our CHW team shared knowledge with the youths in order to reduce the increase of the infection rate among them. I referred 20 youths for voluntary testing for HIV and other STIs.
During my health education outreach in my community, I came across a certain group of boda boda [motorcycle taxi operators] at Migosi. They were really confused about HIV myths and misconceptions. For example, if it was true that older people who were HIV+ were supposed to sleep with the younger generation for them to heal. I said that that wasn’t true because HIV has no cure and it can only be maintained with antiretroviral medication. I also advised them to always keep off sex or use condoms and also take PrEP for them not to be infected. After that deep conversation, I managed to refer six of them for HIV testing services at Migosi. They promised to maintain their status for healthy living. Also, during this month I reached out to 666 people with health education. I referred six people for HIV testing at Migosi and they all tested negative.
While educating my community, I came across a certain family suffering from diarrhea on and off, so they didn’t know what to do. I had to discuss with them and probe them more for me to understand the course of the diarrhea that was on and off. During the discussions, the family narrated that they usually use water that passes near their compound without knowing whether it was sewerage or water from underneath the ground. After our discussion I escorted them to Obunga dispensary where they were diagnosed with cholera and given medication. I followed up and found them safe and sound. Also, this month, I referred eight family members to Obunga dispensary who had signs of cholera. They were given medication for cholera and are faring well.
Due to the fact that the community were not using latrines, treated water and proper hygiene management, cholera has been on and off in the community. The community members have been educated about water treatment, about good use of latrines (no open defecation) and about hygiene management, thus washing hands at five critical times. The CHWs provide their community members with aqua tabs [which contain chlorine to kill bacteria] for water treatment, perform community education on health issues on group discussion days and hold household health talks on a daily basis to enhance good health practices.
As I was doing health education in areas like Kanyamedha, Kombedu and Bandani, I came across three people who were coughing terribly. I called them aside, talked to them and counseled them on the importance of being screened for TB. After a long discussion, I referred them to the airport health center where they will be checked further. After 3 days I followed up and found out that two people had been screened for TB and were waiting for the results.
When I was teaching about child growth development, I came across a young mother who was breast feeding. She had a problem because when she feeds her younger baby her breasts developed cracks, so as the baby breastfed, the mother felt pain and also sometimes blood used to come out of her breasts. I advised her that it is not good to breastfeed in that condition and she needed to see a doctor because she had a bacterial infection. I took her to Lumumba hospital where she got treated and now she is improving. During my monthly field work, I met another young mother who had a bacterial infection and was breastfeeding at the same time. I stopped her from breastfeeding the baby and took her to Lumumba hospital. I have been doing a follow-up and found out that she is responding positively.
I met a mother whose child was sick and she was using herbs to treat her child. To my surprise she was smoking weed (marijuana) and blew the smoke on her child’s mouth, nose and ears. Then she put some marijuana seeds into water and used the mixture (called “bhang”) to wash the baby. I asked her the meaning of that and her response was that the bhang is the only medication for measles. I advised to take her baby to the hospital for better treatment. She agreed to do that, and the child was checked. She is now responding to the medication well.
As I was going round in the community educating community members about health issues, I came across a lady who believed that feeding eggs to a child under five years is harmful. The woman was selling the eggs and buying mandazi [a form of fried bread] to feed the child, and the child became underweight. I talked to her about the 10 food groups and told her that eggs are vital to the child’s growth and health. The child is supposed to eat four items out of the seven food groups. As of now, after I followed up, the child is doing well and the mother is happy.
In my community I have encountered a lot of drug abuse among the underage youths. I met a father with a son whose behaviors did not please him. The father later discovered that his son has become involved in weed smoking with some big boys around his homestead. The father told me to advise and talk to his son for a better future. We all met and I talked to the son and advised him about the dangers of drug abuse. He promised to change and focus on his education. The father thanked me and he told me after two weeks that he is seeing some self-discipline changes in his son. The father thanked me for the help and also the entire WiRED organization for the better health results in the community because of the CHWs. There is a cry from all the community about drug abuse. Young boys and girls have been involved in abusing drugs and acting wrongly towards their parents. We CHWs need to teach the youth about the consequences of abusing drugs for their better future.