Over 63,000 residents of Makueni and Tana River counties are set to benefit from knowledge and tools to navigate health challenges brought about by climate change.
Prudential Kenya, through its community investment arm, Prudence Foundation, has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross to launch an initiative aimed at addressing climate-related health challenges among children and women in the two counties in a sustainable way.
The $100,000 (Ksh12.91 million) initiative, dubbed the Climate & Health Resilience Fund, will be channeled towards strengthening community capacity to cope with climate-induced health challenges in Makueni and Tana River counties, where extreme weather patterns continue to drive recurring droughts, floods, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks.
These conditions, typical in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), have seen significantly rising cases of malnutrition, waterborne diseases, and poor maternal and child health outcomes.
An estimated 14,048 children under five, 27,692 primary school children, and 22,102 women of reproductive age are expected to benefit from the flagship program, which focuses on building long-term resilience in the most climate-affected communities.
Speaking during an event to launch the project in Hola, Tana River County, Prudential Kenya’s CEO and Managing Director, Gwen Kinisu, said: “Through the generosity of our Prudence Foundation, which has contributed $100,000 to this initiative, we are taking a bold step forward. This fund will drive a project designed to address climate-related health challenges sustainably, focusing on education, empowerment, and community resilience.”
She added: “Women and children bear the brunt of climate-induced health crises, and this fund reflects our deep commitment to fostering long-term resilience and improving health outcomes in some of Kenya’s most climate-vulnerable areas.”
Other partners in the one-year project include the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) will provide quarterly narrative and financial reports to track progress and ensure accountability. It will also deliver a range of community-based interventions, including first aid and climate-health education for school children.
KRCS will further 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 to identify and respond to climate-related health issues such as heatstroke, malaria, and cholera. They will also receive basic first aid training, empowering them to be first responders in their communities,” said Joe Mbalu, Deputy Secretary General- Programmes, Kenya Red Cross Society.
Additionally, KRCS will mobilize mother and youth groups to champion health, hygiene, and climate-resilient practices. The project will also support schools in developing and implementing climate-resilience plans to ensure continuity during climate crises.
Facilitated through the Prudence Foundation, the project will also engage Community Health Workers (CHWs), local leaders, and government stakeholders to integrate climate resilience into health and education systems.
“We aim to reduce malnutrition rates among school-going children, increase vaccination coverage, and ensure that schools become hubs of climate resilience,” said Gwen Kinisu, CEO and Managing Director, Prudential.
Statistics show that an estimated 2.1 million people in Kenya’s ASAL counties faced acute food insecurity last year due to prolonged droughts, leaving children at heightened risk of malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition—or stunting—among children under five remains alarmingly high at 18.3% in Tana River and 17.6% in Makueni.
The Prudential Climate & Health Resilience Fund builds on the company’s previous contributions to humanitarian and health efforts in Kenya, including the REACH Initiative and the MAM flood donations.
By prioritizing community-level preparedness, sustainable service delivery, and behavioral change, the project aims to enhance Kenya’s capacity to adapt to climate threats.
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