Reduce Suffering in Kenya Via Health Care Services

(*Names have been changed to protect privacy.)

One afternoon, in Chodari village, Juju location, in CHAT’s Coast ecosystem, I joined a nephew’s marriage ceremony and I found myself surrounded by a group of young mothers. It’s in such moments that I feel the urgency to speak—to share the truth about family planning and why it matters. I began talking openly, encouraging the women to take control of their reproductive health.

That’s when I first met Amina*. She was 27, a mother of four, and she leaned in with curiosity and caution. “Mamaa, you are so bold,” she said in her warm coastal Swahili. “Do you also face our men with this same courage? Because they are the real challenge.”

I smiled. “I do,” I told her, “and sometimes they chase me away.” We both laughed, but I knew she was speaking from experience.

A few days later, we met again at the market. This time, Amina opened up more. “I feel ashamed sometimes,” she said quietly. “Ali* struggles alone, and I just keep giving birth with no rest. I should be helping.”

She confessed she was secretly using the three-month injectable. Her husband had refused to support long-term methods because of the misinformation he believed. I listened closely and promised to visit her home later.

When I visited them that evening, Ali met me with hesitation. “Spacing is your affair as women,” he said firmly, “but when problems come, you drag me in. I have to take control!”

I responded gently, “Baba, it’s not about control, it’s about support. When a woman is empowered, the whole family benefits.”

It took time, patience, and honesty and he eventually agreed to let Amina explore her options. I filled out a referral form and to Amina’s surprise, Ali agreed to accompany her to the clinic. “Let’s go,” he said simply.

That moment marked a turning point.

Today, Amina has a three-year pregnancy protection implant method and plans to switch to a five-year pregnancy protection method. She runs a small stall now and earns a bit of money. When we spoke on the phone recently, she said, “It feels good to be an empowered woman.” And Ali, who works as a palm wine tapper, smiles more these days. “We may not have much,” he told me, “but we plan better now. And that gives us peace.”

Stories like Amina’s remind me why I keep going despite the resistance, despite the challenges. Here on the coast, more women and families are finding strength through knowledge. I’m proud to walk with them on that journey.

"Education and family planning are the two most powerful tools for gender equality." – Malala Yousafzai- the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.

Through the generous support of GG, CHAT successfully;

• Disseminated behaviour change information (BCC) to 3,984 individuals over the last three months.

• Additionally, 1,003 family planning clients were provided with various contraception methods tailored to their preferences.

• 813 opted for long-term pregnancy protection methods lasting either 3 or 5 years, effectively reducing the risk of unwanted pregnancies.