You are here
New Releases
Report on Twitter Chat on International Day of the Midwife
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 “International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.” As the world grapples with the grave challenge being posed by the coronavirus that is sweeping the world, women continue to get preg- nant, and babies are still being born. Midwives as the primary caregivers are working tirelessly in communities, health centers, hospital wards and in women’s homes under difficult circumstances, often risking their own lives and well-being.
Report on Twitter Chat on Zero preventable Maternal Deaths
The WHO declared the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID19) a pandemic spreading to over 200 countries and territories in the world. In Kenya, the first case was reported on 13 th March 2020 and like many countries across the globe, the gov- ernment put in measures and interventions to curtail the spread of the virus and mitigating the socio-economic effects of COVID19 response. Some of the measures such as the nationwide dusk to dawn curfew has negatively impacted access to essential health services particularly emergency obstetric and newborn care.
Report on Twitter Chat for People with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities are likely to be disproportionately affected by COVID 19 due to a variety of barri- ers in accessing information on prevention of COVID 19 and hygiene practices and to various extends their dependence on physical contact with the environment and others for support.
Certain impairments may also dispose PWDs to risk factors such as respiratory conditions. As noted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Catalina Devandas, "People with disabilities feel they have been left behind. Containment measures, such as social distancing and self-iso- lation, may be impossible for those who rely on the support of others to eat, dress and bathe".
One of the gaps that has been noted is lack of information on the numbers of PWD that have been directly affected or impacted by COVID 19.
Safety and Dignity for Flood Survivors in West Pokot County, Kenya
UNFPA Kenya today joined the West Pokot Governor, Kenya Red Cross Society
(KCRS) and other partners during the handover of houses, dignity kits, mattresses and
other household items to flood survivors in West Pokot County.
The floods have displaced over 100,000 persons and claimed 116 lives, according to
reports from the Disaster Operations Centre. Many of the displaced households are
living in camps.
PRESS RELEASE: New UNFPA projections predict calamitous impact on women’s health as COVID-19 pandemic continues
More than 47 million women could lose access to contraception, leading to 7 million unintended pregnancies in the coming months.
KENYA GUIDELINES ON RMNH DURING COVID19
This Practical Guide for Continuity of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Family Planning Care and Services in the Background of COVID19 Pandemic in Kenya was developed in response to the new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID -19 is a serious highly contagious respiratory viral infection caused by a novel coronavirus recently named SARS-COV2. The outbreak started in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in mainland China and has since spread globally, infecting more than 1,925,000 people resulting in over 119,600 deaths, and occurring in 210 countries. This pandemic continues to pose grave danger to all populations, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa where overburdened health systems continue to struggle with scarcity of human and financial resources.
Boda for Zero Newsletter
On the 6th of February 2019 UNFPA KCO and the Boda Boda Association of Kenya (BAK) formed a partnership to create potential synergy in the delivery of Sexual Reproductive Health rights. The Boda Boda sector plays host to millions of young people in the country, having secured gainful employment for the otherwise unemployed youth and helped address one of the critical pillars of the demographic dividends. As appertains the fight against FGM, the sector not only provides the greatest direct reach to young people but equally opens up opportunities to reach out to millions of other young people as well as adults with messaging on FGM. They have more often than not christened themselves as being “moving bill boards” in view of their ability to pass messages through the reflector jackets that they don. It also provides avenues to address other closely related issues such as teenage pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, child marriages, safe motherhood, and family planning. Similarly, it provides an opportunity to strengthen surveillance on new incidences of FGM by providing relevant intelligence which is critical for response
UN H6 Joint Program on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health
T
he first phase of the program was in 2015 and 2016,
funded by the RMNCH Trust Fund with US$14 million,
and the second runs from 2017 to 2020, funded by a $6
million grant from the Danish Embassy.
One of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals
was that all countries would reduce maternal mortality by
75% by 2015. However, many developing countries, includ-
ing Kenya, did not meet this goal.
Under the UN’s Agenda 2030, effort is being made through
the Sustainable Development Goals to address the unfin-
ished business of the MDGs. Under SDG 3 (on Health and
Wellbeing), one of the main targets is Universal Access to
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The key indica-
tors include maternal mortality ratio, skilled birth attendance
and under five mortality.
Asili Newsletter Volume 2
After weeks of planning the D-day, 3rd of February 2020, was finally here. Filled with anticipation and excitement, Youth representatives from the 22 hotspot counties with high prevalence to Female Genital Mutilation, brought together by the UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel and the Youth Anti-FGM Network,
trickled into the Anti-FGM Board offices to kick off the 2020 Youth end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The Youth end FGM Caravan campaign was a six day mission set to traverse 4 counties namely, Samburu, Isiolo, Meru and Embu in a bid to involve the youth in accelerating the vision of H.E Uhuru Kenyatta to end Female Genital Mutila- tion by 2022. In line with the 2020 theme for the International Day of Zero Toler- ance for Female Genital Mutilation, ‘Unleashing Youth Power’: One decade of Accelerating Actions for Zero Female Genital Mutilation by 2030. The Govern- ment of Kenya supported by UNFPA took key interest in the execution of this Caravan to ensure the voices of the Youth in the campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation was heard loud and clear throughout the country.
Asili Newsletter Vol 1
On the 4th of June, 2019, His Excellency (H.E) President Uhuru Kenyatta made a firm commitment to put an end to female genital muti- lation (FGM) by the year 2022. The enactment of the Prohibition of FGM Act, 2011 was a key milestone in the campaign to end FGM in the coun- try. Despite the legislative and policy measures put in place to prohibit the practice, it still persists in certain communities.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to end FGM by 2022 on the 8th of November, 2019 at the High Level Elders Forum, at State House. The event convened cultural and religious leaders from communities with high rates of FGM. It was a milestone in the fight against FGM, as the leaders signed commitments to support the President's vision. During the occasion, the President directed the relevant government agencies to ensure that the law is enforced and that action be taken against all perpetrators.