Kenya: Community Health Volunteers Lead Change
In rural Kenya, access to healthcare is often a daily struggle. Many families live miles from the nearest clinic, and medical staff are few and far between. In Garashi ward, one Public Health Officer is responsible for six health facilities spread across nine sub-locations—a daunting task that leaves many without consistent care. To help bridge this gap, World Renew works alongside Kenya’s existing health system to support families who might otherwise go without the essential care they need.
In Garashi, a remarkable transformation in pre- and post-natal health is underway, thanks to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program implemented by World Renew in partnership with our local partner, ADS Pwani. At the heart of this success are the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs)—local men and women, many of them parents, who have stepped up to bring lasting change to their communities.
These CHVs, trained by World Renew and ADS Pwani, have become the backbone of the initiative. Their dedication and passion have helped bridge the gap in healthcare access and education, especially for expectant mothers. Many having experienced the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth themselves, they were motivated to help others navigate these critical stages with better knowledge and support.
One such volunteer, 27-year-old Miriam, shared her reasons for joining the program and the impact it has had on her community. “I became interested in volunteering for the MCH project because I wanted to help my community better deal with these challenges. Before the MCH project, pregnant mothers would hardly go to the clinic. Most times, mothers would give birth at home and not know if their child had been born with an illness. This often led to the deaths of either the child or the mother, if she had complications during her home delivery.”
Beyond healthcare education, the program also addressed nutrition, a critical factor in maternal and child health. Families were taught how to grow kitchen gardens to combat malnutrition, especially among pregnant women and children under two.
Sabrina, a 26-year-old mother of two, shares her own experiences. “I also learnt about the kitchen garden, and I have planted a few tomatoes and vegetables in my kitchen garden. During my first pregnancy, because I did not have this knowledge, [and] I did not care about my nutrition. As a result, I was malnourished. After the teachings I learned how to set up my own garden [and] plant my greens, and it has helped me. These teachings have helped me be a better mother.”
Today, most mothers in Garashi are well-informed about what to do once they realize they are pregnant. The hope is that the CHV training program, as well as Maternal Child Health initiatives, will be extended to other regions in Kenya, bringing the same life-saving knowledge and support to more women and children.
Kenya: Community Health Volunteers Lead Change
In rural Kenya, access to healthcare is often a daily struggle. Many families live miles from the nearest clinic, and medical staff are few and far between. In Garashi ward, one Public Health Officer is responsible for six health facilities spread across nine sub-locations—a daunting task that leaves many without consistent care. To help bridge this gap, World Renew works alongside Kenya’s existing health system to support families who might otherwise go without the essential care they need.
In Garashi, a remarkable transformation in pre- and post-natal health is underway, thanks to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program implemented by World Renew in partnership with our local partner, ADS Pwani. At the heart of this success are the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs)—local men and women, many of them parents, who have stepped up to bring lasting change to their communities.
These CHVs, trained by World Renew and ADS Pwani, have become the backbone of the initiative. Their dedication and passion have helped bridge the gap in healthcare access and education, especially for expectant mothers. Many having experienced the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth themselves, they were motivated to help others navigate these critical stages with better knowledge and support.
One such volunteer, 27-year-old Miriam, shared her reasons for joining the program and the impact it has had on her community. “I became interested in volunteering for the MCH project because I wanted to help my community better deal with these challenges. Before the MCH project, pregnant mothers would hardly go to the clinic. Most times, mothers would give birth at home and not know if their child had been born with an illness. This often led to the deaths of either the child or the mother, if she had complications during her home delivery.”
Beyond healthcare education, the program also addressed nutrition, a critical factor in maternal and child health. Families were taught how to grow kitchen gardens to combat malnutrition, especially among pregnant women and children under two.
Sabrina, a 26-year-old mother of two, shares her own experiences. “I also learnt about the kitchen garden, and I have planted a few tomatoes and vegetables in my kitchen garden. During my first pregnancy, because I did not have this knowledge, [and] I did not care about my nutrition. As a result, I was malnourished. After the teachings I learned how to set up my own garden [and] plant my greens, and it has helped me. These teachings have helped me be a better mother.”
Today, most mothers in Garashi are well-informed about what to do once they realize they are pregnant. The hope is that the CHV training program, as well as Maternal Child Health initiatives, will be extended to other regions in Kenya, bringing the same life-saving knowledge and support to more women and children.
