Talking Walls
Kenyan-Heart at work

The “Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls” are Yet another tool for imparting knowledge & information on How to Prevent Rheumatic Heart Disease.

The “Kenya-Heart Talking Walls” is an initiative of the Kenyan-Heart National Foundation that was launched on 16th February 2006. Due to its graphical nature, the Kenyan-Heart Talking walls have turned out to be a very effective Teaching Aid for both the Teachers who are patrons of the Kenyan-Heart Clubs and the Children.

Kenyan-Heart’s desire is to have a Kenyan-Heart Talking Wall in all Schools within the Nairobi Eastlands Project Area & subsequently to the rest of the primary schools in the country. So far KHNF has painted Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls in 19 Schools within the project area.

The Aim of the “The Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls” is to spread the message of Prevention of RHD through Early detection of a Strep-Sore-Throat followed by Prompt & correct Treatment of the same.

This Information is targeted at the School-going-Children, the Neighbouring Communities that come to the School plus the general public.

Symptoms of a Strep-Sore-Throat are Clearly Painted on a Conspicuous School Wall that will be Visible at All times for Students & Passers-by.

Since Rheumatic Heart Disease is a Disease of Damaged Heart Valves, we also Paint a Heart-Diagram on the same wall, to indicate where Heart Valves are located and the flow of Oxygenated and Deoxygenated blood into & out of the Heart. This Heart Painting has also become an Important Teaching Aid, for Schools.

Since it is Children from age 5-15 Years that are Most Vulnerable to acquiring Rheumatic Heart Disease, the “Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls” were born out of a need to Constantly Remind these Children while in School, the Symptoms of A Strep-Sore Throat & what to do, should they ever get those symptoms.

An Untreated Streptococcal Sore Throat is the one that triggers the deadly Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Kenyan-Heart Paints the Symptoms of A Strep-Sore Throat on the Most Conspicuous Wall in the School so that Children can Read & Remember them on a daily basis.

The “Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls” Initiative however is not limited to the School Community. Kenyan-Heart National Foundation’s goal is to expand this Initiative even to the outside Community and paint Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls in some of the Public Places especially Clinics.

The Information on the Kenyan-Heart Talking Walls has been narrowed to the Symptoms of a Strep-Sore throat as it is in the Primary Prevention stage of Rheumatic Heart Disease and also due to limited funding.
However with more funds, Kenyan-Heart National Foundation, hopes to also paint walls on the symptoms of Acute Rheumatic Fever & Rheumatic Heart Disease.

What do we do?
Below is a preview of some of our work