Reduce Suffering in Kenya Via Health Care Services

*Not their real name

On a sunny afternoon in Bulapesa, a suburb of Isiolo town, Madina, a dedicated CHAT partner and dedicated community own resource persons (CORP), visited the household of a TB patient. As she sat down with the patient’s wife, *Halima, a married mother of three, she noticed something more than just concern for her husband's health.

"Halima," Madina began after attending to the TB patient, "have you ever thought about family planning?" Surprised, Halima hesitated before answering. "I’ve heard of it, but we’ve never really discussed it at home. My husband... well, he’s always been unsure."

Madina nodded, understanding the cultural sensitivities- especially with the Muslim communities around the topic. "I understand," she said gently. "But family planning is not just about preventing pregnancies. It's about giving families like yours the chance to thrive. With limited resources, it’s important to space children and eventually have a manageable family size."

Halima listened intently, curiosity slowly replacing the doubt in her eyes. "What do you mean? Isn’t family planning for women who don’t want more children?" Madina smiled. "Not at all. It’s for every family, no matter the size or stage. Think about your situation. Three children already, a husband who's recovering from TB, and the challenges of providing for everyone. Family planning gives you the power to make informed choices – for the health of your children, your husband, and yourself."

Halima glanced at her husband, who had been quietly listening. "Is this really something we should consider?" she asked him. Her husband, looking thoughtful, nodded. "If it helps ease the burden on you, Halima, maybe we should learn more."

With that, Madina shared stories of other women she had helped, families who were healthy and happy because they embraced family planning. "These are not the old days," Madina explained passionately. "Life has been tough, and as women, we must be enlightened and empowered."

As Madina prepared to leave, Halima expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Madina. You've opened my eyes. This will make a huge difference for my family." Madina smiled warmly: “It’s in my blood, Halima. Wherever I go, I can’t help but speak to women about the importance of family planning.” As she bid them goodbye, Madina referred Halima to the referral hospital, where she later received a five-year pregnancy protection method of contraception.

"Family planning is about more than just contraception. It is about helping people to make informed choices about their reproductive health and their lives."

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Thanks to the generous support of GG, CHAT successfully shared behaviour change information (BCC) with 6,179 individuals over the past three months. Additionally, 1,466 family planning clients received various contraceptive methods of their choice, with 991 selecting long-term options that provide protection for either 3 or 5 years. This effectively helps reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancies.