August Report 2011

SWEET MOTHER INTERNATIONAL - KENYA, COAST REGION

Coast Youth for Change in collaboration with Sweet Mother International is implementing the campaign to Save African Women from Pregnancy Related-Deaths (SAVE) in Kenya, Coast.

Kenya is one of eight countries in Africa that have made the little progress in reducing maternal deaths.

An estimated 7,700 women die each year from preventable and treatable causes during pregnancy and childbirth . Many more suffer injuries such as obstetric fistula.

In July 2010, Human Rights watch advised that the Government should expand family planning services and improve emergency obstetric care. Source: Standard Newspaper 6, Sep 2011.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Among the programs successfully implemented by the Sweet Mother International (SMI) Team include:- :

YOUTH EMPOWERING TALK:

Harry Mwailengo addressing young people at the workshop

 The Ministry of Youth Affairs-Taita District, MP Wundanyi Office and Youth Empowerment fund organize a one day sensitization workshop on  5th August 2011 at Wundanyi County Council hall. The Workshop was attended by more than 800 youths.

Harry Mwailengo, Sweet Mother International-Kenya, Coast Coordinator was given a chance to make a presentation. On his presentation Mwailengo, urged youth to take active role community development projects especially on income creating activities. He pointed out that there is a need for capacity building programmes to empower the young people on social and economic aspects of life. He stressed the importance of empowering girl child as a way to eliminate gender based violence.

Being  a champion in addressing the needs of young people for schooling, skills, youth-led initiatives  and employment he encouraged stakeholders to create avenues where many school leavers can acquire knowledge or skills to become entrepreneurs and make their own way.

Young people at the workshop listen to Harry Mwailengo Presentation

MATERNITY WARD CLEAN UP ACTIVITY

During the International Youth Day on 12th August 2011, SMI team carried out Maternity Ward Clean up exercise at the Mbale Health Centre. The Doctor in charge Dr. Basil and the Public Heath officer Madam E. Karani thanked the team for their noble work.

SMI team clean a maternity ward

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES

The team has proposed the following activities:-

1.       Train 20 girls peer educators in life skills, girl child empowerment and HIV/AIDS education, since HIV prevalence in young women (age 15-24) is four time as high as for young men, according to the Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey 2007 (KAIS)

2.       Train 40 Community Health Workers on diarrheal diseases , malnutrition, family planning, clean water and sanitation as they contribute to pediatric diseases.

3.       Procure and distribute free, insecticide-treated mosquito nets to pregnant women and children under one year.

The SMI Team are hopeful that kindhearted people will help. Assistance is needed to undertake the above mentioned trainings.   At the moment, Harry Mwailengo the SMI Kenya-Coast Coordinator and his team are using their own resources to implement the activities. ( If you have the means, please help this cause.)

Thank you for taking your time to read this report. Together, we can make the world a better place.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Harry Mwailengo

SMI Cordinator, Kenya-Coast Region. 

Email: cy4cgroup@yahoo.com