Tatu City, the first operational mixed-use Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on Nairobi’s doorstep, has announced a partnership with AAR Healthcare in a comprehensive three-year school deworming programme aimed at improving the health and well-being of children in six government primary schools in Kiambu County.
The initiative is part of Tatu City’s broader Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) strategy, benchmarked on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focused on four key pillars: Community, Health, Education, and Conservation.
Angela Muthoga, Sustainability & Corporate Partnerships Manager at Tatu City, emphasised the importance of addressing worm infections among children, stating, “Children are most vulnerable to worm infections, which affect their health and hinder their ability to learn and thrive in school.
By partnering with AAR Healthcare, we aim to tackle this issue head-on and ensure that every child in our community has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”The initiative falls under AAR Healthcare’s flagship ESG programme, Trees for Health (T4H).
“At AAR Healthcare, we believe environmental well-being is closely linked to human health.
Through our Trees for Health programme, we aim to promote both environmental conservation and community health. By partnering with Tatu City, we can extend our reach and make a meaningful impact on the lives of children in Kenya, “ added Gertrude Nyanzi,ESG coordinator at AAR HealthCare.
In addition to the school deworming programme, Tatu City and AAR Healthcare will collaborate on other health initiatives, including basic health education, menstrual hygiene, outreach programmes and career talks. Together, they will promote a culture of health and wellness within schools and surrounding community.
Tatu City’s comprehensive ESG strategy also includes a school meals programme which provides high-nutrition meals to 2,000 children daily in government primary schools in and around Tatu City.
Starting in 2016, the meals programme has served more than 1.8 million meals, resulting in quadrupled enrolment, increased student nutrition, and higher academic scores.