About the project
The problem
Since 12 March 2020 when Kenya reported the first case of COVID-19, Nairobi County has been reporting very high rates of infection. According to the Ministry of Health of Kenya, the high rates of infection are attributed to inadequate adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines.
Our intervention
Live Healthy Initiatives with funding from USAID under the IMA Afya Jijini Program designed a 3-month project to support Nairobi’s low-income areas.
The aim of the project was to increase the uptake of desirable hygiene practices & behaviors for the prevention & control of COVID-19.
Our approach used social and behavior change communication (SBCC) to accelerate hygiene promotion and knowledge for prevention and control of Covid-19 among community health workers, communities, and households.
Implementation
Interactive activities were led by the community’s Public Health Officers, Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), & hygiene champions. LHI staff provided oversight and facilitation.
Project activities
Recruiting 120 SBCC promoters through County Public Health, Community Strategy & Promotional Health Offices 
2-day training of promoters by respective sub-county health teams & supervised by County WASH Cord, HPO, & CCSCC. 
Community COVID-19 surveillance for early detection, prompt notification, & referral of suspected cases using MOH Form 100. 
Institutional sensitization & demonstration on proper hygiene practices 
Child-friendly awareness and behavior change campaigns on COVID-19 
Participatory community health dialogues & action days to prevent & control COVID-19 
Household-level sensitization and demonstration of proper hygiene practices. 
Supporting public centres & health facilities with handwashing facilities/equipment. 
Supporting communities & institutions with IEC materials on hygiene and sanitation 
Installing hand-washing facilities at health facilities 
COVID-19 surveillance and hygiene messaging at market centres and eateries 
Community sensitisation at waiting bays of health facilities 
Dissemination of COVID-19 and hygiene messages through road-shows & community radios in informal settlements.