It is only when things go wrong that machines remind you, that heeeey! “You don’t have to stop, we are powerful and have you covered” When COVID 19 pandemic struck, Stevo and his friends had to continue accessing their favourite pack of HIV self-testing kit at a convenience.
As a program, we are currently undertaking a twofold pilot project, on the use of vending machines to dispense the HIVST kits and online ordering of the HIVST kits.
In February 2021 and in collaboration with Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) the program rolled out four portable machines that are stationed in various organization. The programs primary target is men, therefore these machines were placed in organizations that have more men. The four vending machines have been placed at Naivas headoffice, Eastmatt Mfangano, Easmatt Tom Mboya and the fourth one, at the PS Kenya headoffice, giving our internal Stevo an experience of his life time. Have you collected your kit yet?? To note, these machines will be rotated to other organizations, we have had more organizations requesting to have the vending machines placed at their offices. Since the inception of this project, a total of 1360 kits have been distributed.
Currently, the machines dispense Oraquick and Insti kits. Client follow up is a self-initiation process on either calling 1190 or sending a whatsap message. The kits are knitted with the hotline numbers to contact.
Online ordering
The online ordering is yet another pilot project taking place in Kawangware in Dagoretti North targeting men aged between 20-34 years. Clients order through a whatsap number,the request reflects on a dashboard that was developed by AVIRO. Once the request reflects on the dashboard, a little cab rider collects the kit and delivers it to the client. Every client has a unique code as an identifier for confidentiality, this code is given to the rider while delivering to the client. Three days upon ordering, the client receives a message to confirm the receipt and usage of the ordered kit.
In conclusion, if future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it but an innovative one. Let’s embrace technology for continuity.
Story compiled by Paul Mutinda, Integrated Portfolio Assistant.