Kenyan Village-Based Medical Educators Program (KVME): targeting simple solutions
October 31, 2008
The KVME program, through partnership between volunteers in Kenya and the developing world, has establishing and conducting a training program for non-professional medical educators from villages in Kenya.
At present, there is a significant lack of understanding about a variety of preventable and manageable diseases (such as HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and diabetes) in Kenyan society. This problem is only heightened in non-urban village areas. KVME seeks to train senior members of village communities in Kenya to be basic medical educators covering key conditions appropriate to a Kenyan village context. Taking a culturally-sensitive approach, this would help in increasing understanding and hence reducing the burden of disease.
So far, progress has continued through work not only in Kenya but also remotely in Australia. On the ground, the GAPS Kenya office and the GAPS working partner Community Medicare Africa (CMA) have diligently prepared for the program through involving target communities in the program process. This work is crucial if communities are to take ownership of the KVME program in the future.
Meanwhile, a team of seven in Melbourne were in constant liaison. Their aim was to develop a curriculum which would derive maximal effect in the medical and sociocultural contexts of village communities surrounding Nairobi. The curriculum has targeted six key conditions selected to be targeted through simple health promotion and cheap and achievable basic interventions.
Soon, foreign and Kenyan volunteers in partnership will come together on the ground to conduct the trial program in May with the involvement of one pilot community. The culmination of work happening globally will be a program which hopes to turn around the health outcomes of the community and its people. KVME and its volunteers, in global co-operation, continue in the hope that future stages can work to change the outlook for many more communities at a time.
The KVME program is supported by a University of Melbourne grant. For more information email Director-in-Charge of Medical Development, David Liew at david.liew@gaps.org.au