LVCT Health Stakeholders group photo in Sarova Panafric Hotel Nairobi.

LVCT Health, which advocates for equitable health for everyone and ensures accountability in urban health, conducted a workshop and exhibition dubbed “ARISE”, that showcased the experiences of the Persons with Disability, marginalized and vulnerable members of the community, specifically from informal sectors.

Among the issues discussed included; raising the voices of the vulnerable and marginalized, responding to mental health, teenage pregnancy, and building and improving infrastructure used by the vulnerable and marginalized members of the community.

The ARISE close out event is one of the kind with thought-provoking images and stories highlighting points of marginalization, vulnerability, and priorities.
Raising the voices of the vulnerable and marginalized, Persons with the Disability especially in the informal settlements. The research study shows the need for good infrastructure in the informal settlements. The research was conducted since 2019.

The workshop also included the journeys of people with disabilities, giving special attention to specifically the challenges they face. Burden of caring for themselves and their dependents such as their children, access to and affordability of health care services , as well as the experiences of discrimination and social stigma.

“We have been working with the vulnerable members of society even in giving them bursaries. It is good for ARISE presence in informal sectors like Viwandani for the benefit of the communities.
There is a need for leaders to engage with their people to know their needs regularly.” Said Aron Kang’ara mca viwandani.

Photo Exhibit showing experience of Marginalised and Vulnerable in the Community.

LVCT Health ensures the vulnerable and most marginalized members of the society, including the young people, make informed choices for healthy lives supported by research and health systems.
It has also urged the policy actors to take up measures of ensuring the vulnerable and marginalized are involved.

“We conducted research from 2019 finding out who are vulnerable in the urban setting.We found out that, the elderly people, Persons witht disability and the teenage with pregnancy were more affected.
My call to the government and non-governmental organization is to look into the needs of the vulnerable and marginalized when giving out resources.
The project was funded by UK research and innovation, and it is now coming to an end. There is a need to focus on this group. Programs implemented by countries and administration should focus on the research we have done.” Said Dr. Lillian Otiso Executive Director LVCT Health.

The information was collected using Photovoice, a participatory research approach, as part of work undertaken by the ARISE consortium.
Photovoice participants were identified with the support of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) who had a deep understanding of the Korogocho and Viwandani communities.