Research
Services Provided to Households Enrolled on OVC Intervention programmes in Kisumu County, Kenya
Understanding the magnitude and sociodemographic characteristics of OVC crisis in sub-Saharan Africa and Kenya can provide foundation for building programmes of appropriate design and scope. In analysing services provided to OVC households enrolled on intervention programmes, in Kisumu County, Kenya, Evaluative and Survey research designs were used to collect data through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and observation checklist from 384 caregivers. Six Key informant interviews were administered to directors, children officers and social workers. The study found that OVC households enrolled on both the government and Non-government programmes considered Education to be the most needed OVC service. Shelter was the least provided service with (0%) respondents enrolled on the government programme and 49(21.6%) respondents on the NGO programme reporting to have been provided with shelter. The study recommends that OVC programmes should prioritize shelter for OVC to feel safe and able to take advantage of other services provided to them.
Enhancing Disaster Preparedness using Murphys Law
Murphy’s Law is commonly expressed that ‘if anything can go wrong it will’ and is believed to have been founded between 1940 and 1950. This law has been associated with many problems and failures. Murphy’s Law can at times be seen as a threat of impending dangers and disasters since disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. Disasters can include workplace violence, fires, arson, and flooding, drought, terrorist acts, hazardous material spills e.t.c. Murphy’s Law can be a reminder for a holistic and integrated approach to disaster preparedness and mitigation so that communities participate in the process using local materials and being part of the process. This makes the communities resilient. At work place, implementing a continuous programme of testing and role-playing, safety and security professionals involved in contingency planning can dramatically improve their organizations chances of cutting loss when a disaster strikes. Strategic planning and contingency plans have come about so that Murphy’s Law does not prevail. However, Murphy’s Law can prevail if there is no disaster preparedness, mitigation and when contingency plans are filed away in cabinets and forgotten.
