Prudential Kenya MD Gwen Kinisu signs a project launch plaque /HANDOUT
More than 63,000 residents of Tana River and Makueni counties are set to benefit from a new initiative seeking to address health challenges linked to climate change.
Prudential Kenya, through its community investment arm Prudence Foundation, has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross Society to launch the Climate and Health Resilience Fund, a Sh12.91 million initiative targeting women and children.
The one-year programme seeks to strengthen community capacity to cope with climate-induced health issues, especially in arid and semi-arid lands, where prolonged droughts, floods and food insecurity have led to rising cases of malnutrition, waterborne diseases and poor maternal and child health outcomes.
The programme is expected to benefit approximately 14,048 children under five, 27,692 primary school children and 22,102 women of reproductive age.
It will focus on long-term resilience through education, health services and sustainable agricultural practices.
Prudential Kenya managing director Gwen Kinisu said there is need for sustainable solutions.
“Women and children bear the brunt of climate-induced health crises. This fund reflects our deep commitment to fostering long-term resilience and improving health outcomes in Kenya’s most vulnerable areas,” she said.
“We aim to reduce malnutrition among school-going children, improve vaccination coverage and ensure schools become hubs of climate resilience,” Kinisu said.
KRCS will implement the project in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The organisation will provide quarterly narrative and financial reports for transparency and accountability.
It will also deliver a range of community-based interventions, including first aid and climate-health education for school children.
KRCS will oversee the installation of water purification and rainwater harvesting systems in schools, the establishment of school kitchen gardens and the promotion of climate-smart agriculture.
“By working with schools, we will teach children how to identify and respond to climate-related health issues such as heatstroke, malaria and cholera. This training will empower them to become first responders within their communities,” said KRCS deputy secretary general programmes Joe Mbalu,
Community Health Workers, local leaders and government partners will also be engaged to integrate climate resilience into health and education systems.
