SWAP wants to see healthy Kenyan self reliant communities. SWAP works with HIV support groups and community self help groups building their capacity through training on business skills, microcredit, health and behavioral change and engages them as vendors of health and hygiene products in a sustainable way. Underserved and vulnerable communities will have increased access to services and products and the interventions improve the health and income of the group members and make them self reliant. SWAP uses a unique behavioral change technique of "education through listening", which is an interactive way of communicating and building on positive practices. The groups use existing community structures to sell and promote their products addressing an overwhelming demand and improving health.

Solution

SWAP operates in an area with high burden of disease and through its interventions will reduce diarrhea,malaria, malnutrition which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the area. The SWAP model captures a cycle where the HIV support groups are able to generate an income while promoting behavioral change. SWAP's interventions are conducted through a community egagement technique, Education through Listening(ETL) which is a person centred way of communicating and giving feedback to promote behavioral change. This method started with SWAP and is now used in 5 different countries. SWAP's research continues to do effectiveness studies and inform the program about what works well. Research findings showed a 10% reduction of diarrhea 2 years after baseline and a reduction of anemia of children between 6 to 35 months from 66.35% to 39% after only one year. Further 90% of the children under five year confirmed sleeping under a mosquitonet. The HIV support groups are now recognized by the local leaders and become useful members of the society. It has reduced stigma and improved their health and income.

Example

The aim of the organization is to reduce diarrhea, malaria and malnutrition and improve income and health of HIV support groups and the community at large. SWAP works with currently over 900 HIV groups and community self help groups who have been trained on safe water, behavioral change, business skills and who have access to microfinance services of savings and loans. SWAP has a research wing doing various effectiveness studies to assess the health and economic impact of its interventions. SWAP further responds to cholera outbreaks and other disasters. SWAP has it headquarters in Nyanza Province and has opened 9 satellite offices with another provincial office in Western Province and has employed 45 Kenyan staff. The products promoted and sold by the community vendors door to door and at community gatherings, schools, clinics and public functions are household water treatment, safe water storage vessels, soap, mosquito nets, repellent, skin infection treatment, fortified flour and food supplements, sanitary pads, diapers, improved stoves and solar lamps. SWAP has recently launched a SWAP model village where raw water from the river after filtration is sold to the community, health education is offered in a community hall on various health topics, a baby and family care centre is operational where an HIV support group of entrepreneurs sell health and hygiene products, a traditional kitchen is set up with improved cook stoves and a dry ecofriendly toilet with hand washing facilities for demonstration. SWAP collaborates with various partners including the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and is member of HENNET, a National Health NGO network organization.