This initiative aims to use local tools to enhance health information in the rural communities of Kenya, by implementing a reproductive health awareness programme whose aim is to provide information on various reproductive health issues to families and institutions living in rural Kenya.
This is executed mainly by medical students, medical professionals and volunteers who are interested to voluntarily carry out this course and they serve as teachers and facilitators of various awareness sessions. A key way of using local tools is teaming up with vernacular radio stations to reach out to respective communities through interactive vernacular FM-radio programmes. Other activities include use of films, papers and posters in the village shopping centers and localized audience at health centers, dispensaries and institutions such as high schools and church groups.
The main target groups are
- Phase 1, 2012 to 2014-Adolescents and teenage girls and boys i.e. those in high school and non-scholars. Awareness will be focused on reproductive growth and development, Sexually Transmitted Infections, sexuality and effects of drugs on reproductive health.
- Phase 2, 2015-2017- Young women in their reproductive age- Awareness will be focused on family planning, importance of antenatal checkups and nutrition while pregnant, other related health problems and complications during pregnancy and baby (Maternal health care).
Awareness sessions are not held simultaneously; the aim is to have at least awareness sessions every fortnight in either Nakuru or Meru. More sessions are likely to be held in Nakuru since most volunteers are students at Egerton University which is in Nakuru. Splitting of volunteers will therefore be easy and based on the target audience. This startup phase will help the team to learn, reflect and refine the implementation and gather feedback from participants for the fuller rollout of the programme.
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