The brothers who save lives in rural Kenya
Lwala Community Alliance was founded in 2007 by the brothers Milton and Fred Ochieng, who grew up in rural Kenya. Performing well in school, they won scholarships to continue their studies in the US. Their neighbors helped the brothers collect the money needed to cover their travel expenses. During their time in the US, both of their parents died of AIDS. The brothers decided to return home to build a hospital, to thank their village for their help, and at the same time, contribute to an improved health care system.
In 2012, Lwala initiated a Community Health Worker Programme, where they recruit and educate traditional birth attendants (women who have assisted during home births). The educated women make home visits in the villages. They make sure the women give birth at hospitals or health centres, follow up to ensure that the children are vaccinated, educate families in nutrition and sanitation, diagnose and refer cases, and sometimes treat simple health conditions such as malaria or diarrhoea.
As a consequence of the successful results Lwala has accomplished with their methods, the health ministry in Migori, western Kenya, asked them to expand their model to the entire area of Migori, with one million inhabitants. Social Initiative supports Lwala in its expansion.
In 2023:
