Tessie Musalia. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]
Ladies in Africa have performed an integral function in advocating for gender equality and pushing for accessible healthcare.The ladies have devoted their lives to creating optimistic change inside their communities by means of their native organizations. In commemoration of Pan African Ladies’s Day, we flip our highlight in direction of these trailblazers breaking and rewriting historical past.Tessie Musalia, the Managing trustee of the Mudavadi Memorial Basis Belief Fund has made vital strides in advancing ladies’ schooling and maternal well being by means of the muse, which was established in 1997.Because the patron of Ushiriki Wema, she has championed advocacy efforts for maternal well being, the aged, and inclusivity for differently-abled people in society. Her ardour for addressing urgent points going through Kenyans displays her dedication to making sure that each particular person leads a dignified life.”Dignity is the beacon that guides our humanity,” Mrs Musalia passionately asserts.Tessie’s dedication to her mission is evidenced by her collaboration with the non-public sector, goodwill people, donors, and organisations, all working collectively to positively affect the lives of numerous Kenyans. By way of these partnerships, she ensures that her imaginative and prescient for a extra dignified society turns into a tangible actuality.Marking one other milestone within the struggle for girls’s well being and gender equality is Nazi Mwambura Kivutha, Shina Basis Chairperson. Her efforts have seen Household Planning being factored into the price range allocation within the Makueni County authorities.“Makueni County now stands as a beacon of pleasure, the place our unwavering SMART advocacy yielded a rare feat – securing budgetary allocation for Household planning, alongside complete reproductive well being and youth help,” her phrases rang out confidently.Within the Monetary 12 months 2016/2017, the county allotted Sh20 Million, and within the Monetary Yr 2021/22 Sh16,289,910 was allotted.Christine Mvurya, by means of her Fanikisha Basis, has been relentless in her pursuit to scale back early and unintended pregnancies amongst adolescents and younger individuals and strengthen information and follow of Menstrual Hygiene Administration for women and girls in Kwale County.
Christine Mvurya. [Courtesy]
“By way of formidable partnerships with Kwale County Well being Division and invaluable help from Jhpiego AFP, Fanikisha has ignited a fireplace of high-level advocacy and engagement. We confronted obligation bearers head-on, from county authorities management to revered non secular and native figures, compelling them to acknowledge household planning as a pivotal developmental trigger,” she stated. In 2019, Fanikisha spearheaded the formation of the Kwale County Multisectoral Taskforce, chaired by the County Commissioner, bringing collectively key authorities ministries, departments, and stakeholders to guide the implementation of the county motion plan on the mitigation of teenage pregnancies.Kwale’s teenage being pregnant has since diminished to 14.8 per cent from 24 per cent within the 12 months 2022.Sarah Tunai, the Patron and Chairperson of Olalmalang Ladies’s Initiative (Ollwi C.B.O), has been a driving pressure in reshaping insurance policies and attitudes surrounding ladies’s well being in Narok County. By way of her group, she has been on the forefront of making certain a discount within the fee of teenage pregnancies in Narok County.“I took up the mantle and spearheaded the creation of a dynamic multisector working group aimed toward confronting this problem head-on, alongside the collective efforts of different stakeholders. At present, I stand proud to witness the outstanding transformation we have achieved, as teenage being pregnant charges in Narok have declined from 40 per cent in 2014 to an inspiring 28 per cent as per the KDHS 2022 report,” she acknowledged.Regardless of prevalent retrogressive cultural practices and excessive ranges of illiteracy locally, Sarah’s tireless efforts have enabled numerous ladies within the distant county to make knowledgeable selections about their our bodies and empowered them to take cost of their reproductive well being.Fardosa Osman, the Fountain of Hope Government Director and former First Woman of Garissa County on her half is keen about championing optimistic well being, schooling, and neighborhood resilience outcomes for hard-to-reach and marginalized communities and giving voice to weak populations.”Born and bred in Garissa County, I skilled first-hand the challenges of rising up in a marginalized, hard-to-reach neighborhood the place ladies are most weak and haven’t any voice, and I made a decision I have to do one thing, that is why I began the muse,” she stated.Fardosa is a acknowledged vitamin and youngster spacing champion, a literacy and numeracy ambassador, and an advocate for girls’s empowerment and gender fairness. Priscila Oparanya, a passionate advocate for healthcare entry, has devoted her life to making sure that underserved communities have equal entry to high quality care.
Priscilla Oparanya shares a second with HirumbiPrimary College pupils, Kakamega. [Mumo Munuve, Standard]
Because the Director of Contact a Life Basis, Priscilla and her workforce have efficiently recognized gender Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Well being (ASRH) champions, developed their phrases of reference, and performed sensitisation classes on teenage pregnancies. In consequence, the speed of teenage pregnancies in Kakamega County has decreased considerably, from 23.6 per cent to fifteen per cent.“By way of unyielding willpower, we solid a outstanding bond, signing an MOU that unlocked the ability of pro-bono legal professionals, now fiercely defending the harmless,” stated PriscilaHaving recognised the importance of unique breastfeeding, Contact a Life advocated for the procurement of breastfeeding nook gear for Malava, Likuyani, Matungu, and Kakamega Stage 5 referral hospitals. This initiative helped cut back absenteeism amongst well being staff and promoted unique breastfeeding for six months, making certain the well being and well-being of infants.”Celebrating their achievements, we should grasp the would possibly of advocacy and again native women-led organisations. Collectively, we forge a world the place healthcare is common, and gender equality thrives for generations to return,” stated Dr Stephen Mutwiwa, Jhpiego Nation Director.
