The History and Culture of Abakhero People Of Western Kenya

It is worth noting that cultural research is a tedious undertaking that Africa has not performed well in the development of creative cultural industries. This may be attributed to lack of a strong human, financial, and material resource base that is required to facilitate the support and full development of the culture sector. Oral traditions are a very important source of African history and culture which should be documented and preserved as death of knowledgeable old people is a great loss to the source hence the reason for the researcher to write and publish oral books. Also, compiled by him but not produced due to financial constraints are a number of historical and cultural volumes. In an effort to strengthen the bond and unity among the Bakhero people, the researcher initiated community meetings planned and held in the regions on rotational basis where the members are invited to attend in large numbers. In the old days, the Bakhero clan get-togethers were greater occasions than even Christmas celebrations. The whole extended family members gathered at least once a year to make merry for solidarity. The members met every December, rotating from one family to another and interacted with relatives. The family was united and strong. The people drunk beer and ate as women sang and danced. The process of assimilation of the Bakhero was accelerated from the late 1800s, by which time the community was surrounded by the Luo speaking people in Siaya District and in the process Bakhero people were assimilated. The arrival of the Missionaries in East Africa in the early 1900s also influenced the assimilation process in Kenya, which served as the last phase of Bakhero assimilation by larger communities. The aim of clan research was to examine and unravel the past history patterns, kinship ties, cultural practices of Bakhero people to come up with written reference materials to promote culture and enhance its contribution to community empowerment.  Researcher’s journey on this research project started in 2001 when he began gathering vital information on the Bakhero clan. Through these meetings, the Bakhero people of East Africa have come together to establish their roots in the spirit of clan discovery. The research used both primary and secondary data to test the hypotheses developed in the research. Primary data was collected using visits and oral interviews while secondary data used in the research was obtained from books and journals. Respondents were chosen from the Bakhero of Siaya, Busia, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, Migori, Kisii, and Kakamega Counties in Kenya and those of Uganda and Tanzania. The objectives of the research led to some predicative relationships whose provisional conjecture was either to confirm or unconfirmed researcher’s insightful logical thinking in the light of some established facts such as determining the historical background of Bakhero People and their migration to their first settlement in East Africa, assessing an extent at which the cultural and traditional practices have supported the Bakhero community to this date

Accessibility, availability and affordability of anti-malarials in a rural district in Kenya after implementation of a national subsidy scheme

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Poor access to prompt and effective treatment for malaria contributes to high mortality and severe morbidity. In Kenya, it is estimated that only 12% of children receive anti-malarials for their fever within 24 hours. The first point of care for many fevers is a local medicine retailer, such as a pharmacy or chemist. The role of the medicine retailer as an important distribution point for malaria medicines has been recognized and several different strategies have been used to improve the services that these retailers provide. Despite these efforts, many mothers still purchase ineffective drugs because they are less expensive than effective artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). One strategy that is being piloted in several countries is an international subsidy targeted at anti-malarials supplied through the retail sector. The goal of this strategy is to make ACT as affordable as ineffective alternatives. The programme, called the Affordable Medicines Facility - malaria was rolled out in Kenya in August 2010.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In December 2010, the affordability and accessibility of malaria medicines in a rural district in Kenya were evaluated using a complete census of all public and private facilities, chemists, pharmacists, and other malaria medicine retailers within the Webuye Demographic Surveillance Area. Availability, types, and prices of anti-malarials were assessed. There are 13 public or mission facilities and 97 medicine retailers (registered and unregistered).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average distance from a home to the nearest public health facility is 2 km, but the average distance to the nearest medicine retailer is half that. Quinine is the most frequently stocked anti-malarial (61% of retailers). More medicine retailers stocked sulphadoxine-pyramethamine (SP; 57%) than ACT (44%). Eleven percent of retailers stocked AMFm subsidized artemether-lumefantrine (AL). No retailers had chloroquine in stock and only five were selling artemisinin monotherapy. The mean price of any brand of AL, the recommended first-line drug in Kenya, was $2.7 USD. Brands purchased under the AMFm programme cost 40$0.5, a fraction of the price of ACT.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>AMFm-subsidized anti-malarials are considerably less expensive than unsubsidized AL, but the price difference between effective and ineffective therapies is still large.</p

Does Anti-malarial Drug Knowledge Predict Anti-malarial Dispensing Practice in drug outlets? A Survey of Medicine Retailers in Western Kenya.

Background Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, where it is the fifth leading cause of death in both children and adults. Effectively managing malaria is dependent upon appropriate treatment. In Kenya, between 17 to 83 percent of febrile individuals first seek treatment for febrile illness over the counter from medicine retailers. Understanding medicine retailer knowledge and behaviour in treating suspected malaria and dispensing anti-malarials is crucial. Methods To investigate medicine retailer knowledge about anti-malarials and their dispensing practices, a survey was conducted of all retail drug outlets that sell anti-malarial medications and serve residents of the Webuye Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in the Bungoma East District of western Kenya. Results Most of the medicine retailers surveyed (65%) were able to identify artemether-lumefantrine (AL) as the Kenyan Ministry of Health recommended first-line anti-malarial therapy for uncomplicated malaria. Retailers who correctly identified this treatment were also more likely to recommend AL to adult and paediatric customers. However, the proportion of medicine retailers who recommend the correct treatment is disappointingly low. Only 48% would recommend AL to adults, and 37% would recommend it to children. It was discovered that customer demand has an influence on retailer behaviour. Retailer training and education were found to be correlated with anti-malarial drug knowledge, which in turn is correlated with dispensing practices. Medicine retailer behaviour, including patient referral practice and dispensing practices, are also correlated with knowledge of the first-line anti-malarial medication. The Kenya Ministry of Health guidelines were found to influence retailer drug stocking and dispensing behaviours. Conclusion Most medicine retailers could identify the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, but the percentage that could not is still too high. Furthermore, knowing the MOH recommended anti-malarial medication does not always ensure it is recommended or dispensed to customers. Retailer training and education are both areas that could be improved. Considering the influence that patient demand has on retailer behaviour, future interventions focusing on community education may positively influence appropriate dispensing of anti-malarials

Additional file 1: of Effects of HIV-1 infection on malaria parasitemia in milo sub-location, western Kenya

Table S1. Expressions age, sex, malaria parasitaemia and density against HIV status

Does anti-malarial drug knowledge predict anti-malarial dispensing practice in drug outlets? A survey of medicine retailers in western Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, where it is the fifth leading cause of death in both children and adults. Effectively managing malaria is dependent upon appropriate treatment. In Kenya, between 17 to 83 percent of febrile individuals first seek treatment for febrile illness over the counter from medicine retailers. Understanding medicine retailer knowledge and behaviour in treating suspected malaria and dispensing anti-malarials is crucial.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate medicine retailer knowledge about anti-malarials and their dispensing practices, a survey was conducted of all retail drug outlets that sell anti-malarial medications and serve residents of the Webuye Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in the Bungoma East District of western Kenya.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most of the medicine retailers surveyed (65%) were able to identify artemether-lumefantrine (AL) as the Kenyan Ministry of Health recommended first-line anti-malarial therapy for uncomplicated malaria. Retailers who correctly identified this treatment were also more likely to recommend AL to adult and paediatric customers. However, the proportion of medicine retailers who recommend the correct treatment is disappointingly low. Only 48% would recommend AL to adults, and 37% would recommend it to children. It was discovered that customer demand has an influence on retailer behaviour. Retailer training and education were found to be correlated with anti-malarial drug knowledge, which in turn is correlated with dispensing practices. Medicine retailer behaviour, including patient referral practice and dispensing practices, are also correlated with knowledge of the first-line anti-malarial medication. The Kenya Ministry of Health guidelines were found to influence retailer drug stocking and dispensing behaviours.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most medicine retailers could identify the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, but the percentage that could not is still too high. Furthermore, knowing the MOH recommended anti-malarial medication does not always ensure it is recommended or dispensed to customers. Retailer training and education are both areas that could be improved. Considering the influence that patient demand has on retailer behaviour, future interventions focusing on community education may positively influence appropriate dispensing of anti-malarials.</p