#SRHRNiMimi

We are solving lack of access to information and misinformation about SRHR.

"A new report by the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH) finds that women and girls in Kenya lack access to comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) despite the country’s constitutional framework guaranteeing reproductive health and access to such information.

The report, titled Access to SRHR Information by Women and Girls in Kenya: An Assessment of Nairobi, Bungoma, Homabay, Kericho and Kilifi Counties, was launched by the Center and TICAH on June 17 at a virtual event featuring prominent reproductive rights advocates, health care workers, youth advocates, and other leading voices.

Based on interactions with women and girls, health service providers, and government officials in the five counties, the report finds:

• Lack of knowledge exists among women and girls about menstruation, contraception, safe abortion, sexual gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and Kenya’s constitutional provisions on SRHR.
• Knowledge gaps limit the ability of women and girls to claim their sexual and reproductive health and rights from the government and health facilities.
• The lack of access to SRHR information contributes to low uptakes of contraceptives; increased rates of unintended pregnancies; unsafe abortions; increased incidences of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; and sexual and gender-based violence including rape and sexual exploitation."

Homa Bay County leads in prevalence and incidences of HIV, STIs and teenage pregnancies. Their adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected.  This shows that there is indeed a gap of access to information. Growing up in Homa Bay, I watched in sadness as all my cousins whom we grew up with in the village dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancies. The cycle of lack of information and misinformation on SRHR and contraceptives if not stopped is likely to continue for some of them since most of their children are approaching teenage and live in absolute poverty.

My solution is a campaign dubbed #SRHRNiMimi It is inspired by the power of Social media campaigns before like the #metoomovement and #blacklivesmatter. We will roll out the campaign on social media, then mainstream media by using social media influencers and public figures whom we can access. This will have a snowball effect and other people will embrace it. We are going to go to schools within Homa Bay county teaching them on SRHR and demystifying myths and misconceptions around them. We will then train #SRHRNiMimi teachers and peers in each school so that the campaigns go on and ensure sustainability. The education will be accompanied by branding and publicity tools such as tshirts, wristbands, water bottles in school labelled #SRHRNiMimi.

We are hoping that at the end of our project, teenagers and adolescents in school will have learnt about their SRH Rights and are able to make more informed choices.

My solution serves adolescents in school in Kenya. AGYW and Kenya are considered vulnerable populations thus are underserved. They are also disproportionately affected by HIV, STIs and bear the burden of teenage pregnancies'. Education is empowerment. Lack of knowledge is fatal. A wise man once said that 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance'. Indeed, lack of the right information on SRHR has been very costly to the people of Homa Bay and if they can get it, they will be able to make right choices.

We have worked with adolescents in HIV care and treatment in Homa Bay. We have a  good rapport with the people of Kanyadoto ward where we intend to implement the project since we have run projects distributing sanitary towels in schools in our fight against period shame and poverty. We have a working relationship with the political and religious administration.  There is good will from the elite in the community and this project will be embraced as nothing goes against the culture.