19 local organizations to watch: Afya Research Africa

📋 What they do Afya Research Africa started as a research center but after seeing the obstacles that rural communities in Kenya encountered in accessing quality health care, it began offering health services directly in 2013. Since then, it has set up 25 health centers, known as Ubuntu-Afya kiosks, that are situated in underserved rural and peri-urban areas. These offer primary care services across sexual and reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health, noncommunicable diseases, vaccines, and more. 👀 Why we’re watching Dr. Samson Gwer, the founder and executive director, is a medical doctor who trained in the United Kingdom and later returned to help his fellow Kenyans. Afya is also an example of an organization that integrates primary care with technology and research. For instance, all of its kiosks use their STONE-HMIS technology, a digital health information system that integrates community and patient health data into one software system. 🏢 Country of operation Kenya. 🗓️ Founding year 2009. ➕ Leadership Dr. Samson Gwer, founder and executive director. 📊 Impact snapshot • Afya’s kiosks serve over 550,000 individuals across Kenya including over 227,000 women and children. • It has produced over 20 academic publications. • The organization provides noncommunicable disease and disability care to approximately 20% of the visitors to its kiosks. For example, Afya told us that it has provided asthma treatment for children who have been mistreated for pneumonia and tuberculosis elsewhere, epilepsy treatment for individuals who have been misdiagnosed to have cerebral malaria or meningitis, and hypertension management and mental health support for expectant mothers. • Afya receives funding from Pfizer, Grand Challenges Canada, USAID, and others. 💡Insider scoop Ubuntu-Afya kiosks are defined by community co-ownership and implemented in partnership with community self-help groups, or SHGs. These SHGs, mostly comprised of women, develop and manage the kiosks and recruit health workers. The SHGs gain 49% share of dividends from any positive cash flow. Fifteen of the kiosks are co-owned with county governments. The remaining 10 are run privately with the SHGs, sustaining themselves with revenue from health and financial services. With this hybrid approach, 80% of the kiosks are able to cover their operating costs within 18 months after startup, according to Afya. Over the next three years, the group said it aims to launch 20 more locations across Kenya. ➡️ Follow 🌐afyaresearch.org