As with any non-profit organization, K-MET spends considerable time and energy on raising funds to continue its projects. Unfortunately, funding for reproductive health programs is especially vulnerable to changes in the political climate, domestically as well as internationally. This precarious situation has forced K-MET to take the issue of sustainability very seriously, and while “Ensuring Project Sustainability” is the last step, it is perhaps the most crucial and starts from planning as well. Building a creative sustainability plan into every project is therefore an essential part of the K-MET framework.

K-MET RLF was conceptualized after a visit by Mr. John Taylor, Wellsprings Advisor in 2002 when K-MET hosted twenty-one donors and or Representatives by a trip organized by PPFA-I.

The network providers expressed their interest in improving the quality of RH services at the various clinics but lacked the necessary resources. Mr. Taylor further discussed this with PPFA-I and it was agreed that RLF was the most feasible and sustainable way to offer support to the Network

In 2004, K-MET introduced Revolving Loan facilities (Microfinance) for Private Network Providers as one of its Sustainability strategy. The loans are being made available to the providers to enable them to make small improvements to their clinics and services as part of quality control. Loans have been used for a variety of activities such as purchasing beds for patients, drugs, lab equipment, painting or renovation.

In addition to the Revolving Loan program, K-MET has also recently introduced series cost-sharing programs to ensure that a portion of K-MET's programs are self-sustaining. In all these trainings the participants cater for their transport, accommodation and 50% of the tuition.

Loans are also made available to CBSPs as incentives for them to continue their essential work as volunteers in their villages and help to alleviate poverty within their communities. These loans are typically used to expand and improve the quality of RH services offered and also improve their living standards and the OVCs left behind. A number of the CBSPs have started some small businesses and food security projects including poultry, pig rearing and fish ponds. The community has been actively involved in the care of OVCs especially during the feeding days when they mobilize resource and assemble in one venue to feed the OVCs on selected days when K-MET team joins them to offer the Technical assistance /education on how to prepare nutritious food and offer the nutria-flour supplements.

By  2008 K-MET had disbursed loans totaling to Kshs 21,858,000 to 31 PPs and 352 CBSPs. Of this amount, Kshs 13,445,000/- (US$168,063) was lent to private healthcare providers while CBSP received Kshs 8,413,000/- (US$121,000).

The Impact of K-MET revolving loan

Monica!! This loan has changed my life -----

When I became a proud member of the K-MET Revolving loan, I borrowed Kshs. 200,000, and then went for a 3 months course in entrepreneurs at a nearby college in town. Among the other things in this college I picked two principles of running business namely:

•  Begin to dream Kingdom dreams – “Big Dreams”

•  Start duplicating oneself

To me that meant that I had to change the rules of the game. I had been running a self centered rural medical practice for twenty years. I worked so hard but things never changed much. So I relocated to Kakamega town from Kiboswa shopping centre with a carefully prepared business plan complete with capital expenditures and profit projections. With a better premise, I started to focus on cooperate clientele and at the moment I am providing services to three big cooperate clients in town with a daily client flow of 20-30 from the previous less than ten!!

For more integration at the facility I have introduced the following services;

Laboratory, VCT, Pharmacy, Well mothers and babies clinic, Marriage and youth counseling and Sexual and Reproductive health services

I have now embarked on Total Quality Management (TQM) training for all the staff at the facility

We are learning to go for the ship at high seas rather than waiting for it to dock”

The image of the clinic is changing for better and I am changing with it!

Thanks to K-MET AND long live k-MET!!!

This loan is my husband

Yuanitta at her small stall at the Market

My husband died four years ago from an illness I later learnt was HIV-Aids related. Left helpless with 12 orphans, I was unable to cope with and my small business (selling cereals) I had which we depended on for our livelihood also closed due lack of funds. The situation was worse for my children whenever I was down with an opportunistic infection. I had heard of an organization called K-MET that was working closely with a women group in Rongo to assist members of the community. After joining the group I was advised to go for HIV test after being counseled, which later confirmed that I was HIV positive. I thank GOD for K-MET and the women for the support; I was put on nutrition supplement by K-MET (baba uji) for some time. After fully recovering I actively participated in group activities, trained as a Community Health Worker and joined the K-MET revolving loan project. It's a long story and in short, I can say that the loan has made a difference in my life and children. My business is back on track and guess what I have employed someone to help me run it. I'm also able to pay school fees for my children. This loan is my husband she said. GOD bless Yuanita Otieno - Rongo CBSP.