Community Health Volunteers Lead Change

In rural Kenya, access to health care 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 sublocations—a daunting task that leaves many without consistent care. To help bridge this gap, World Renew works alongside Kenya’s 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 care is under way, thanks to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program implemented by World Renew in partnership with their local partner, ADS Pwani. At the heart of this success are the community health volunteers (CHVs)—local men and women, many of whom are parents—who have stepped up to bring lasting change in their communities.

The CHVs trained by World Renew and ADS Pwani have become the backbone of the initiative. Their dedication and passion have helped to bridge the gap in health-care access and education, especially for expectant mothers. Many of the CHVs, having experienced the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth themselves, have been 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 on her community. 

“I became interested in volunteering for the MCH project because I wanted to help my community better deal with these challenges,” Miriam said. “Before the MCH project, many pregnant mothers would not go to the clinic. Most often, the mothers would give birth at home and not know whether their children were born with an illness. The lack of education could often lead to the death of a child—or, in other cases, to the death of a mother if there were complications during the home delivery.”

Beyond health-care education, the program also addresses nutrition, a critical factor in maternal and child health. Families are taught how to grow kitchen gardens to combat malnutrition, especially among pregnant women and children under age 2.

Sabrina, a 26-year-old mother of two, shared from her experience. “I learned about the kitchen garden, and I have planted a few tomatoes and vegetables,” she said. “During my first pregnancy, 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.