Kenya: Lwala Healthcare Project

3rd Annual WASH Tournament

The 3rd Annual WASH Tournament was held in August at Lwala Primary School. Over 900 people attended the 6-day sports tournament. In order to play in the tournament, team members were required to complete a 4-day WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) training and show proof during follow-up of a latrine and hand-washing station at their homes. This year, approximately a dozen men’s soccer teams, 4 women’s soccer teams, and several women’s volleyball and net ball teams participated. Aside from the sports competition, there were a variety of health education and mobilization activities that were organized and staffed throughout the week at the tournament. Community members sold locally made soap while WASH items like biosand filters, t-shirts, and soap were being raffled off. Lwala Community Alliance staff set up tents for HIV testing and counseling, education on family planning, and treatment of minor injuries.Youth focused outreaches were conducted at the tournament, reaching a total of 400 youths with sexual and reproductive health information and contraceptives. In addition, mobilization meetings were conducted for the Closing the Gap program to create demand for LTM; 608 people were reached and 47 clients were given long-term family planning methods. All in all, the tournament was a big success!

Evelyne Adhiambo

Evelyne Adhiambo was a single mother of one at the age of 17, and even though she had no plans of having a second child in the near future, she had no idea how she was going to manage that. “I only knew about condoms and pills,” says Evelyne. “This was risky because sometimes you can forget to take the pills or use condoms which increase the chances of getting unwanted pregnancy. I was always scared.”

Like countless other Kenyan women, Evelyne had no impression that other long-term methods of family planning were available in health centers. She didn’t know that she could access family planning education through counseling and also receive a contraceptive of choice for free at her nearest health center. “I was so surprised when I was approached by one lady from Lwala Community Alliance who told me after a very long talk that I can visit their health center for family planning services,” she recounts. “I was even more surprised when she told me that regardless of the method you choose, it was all for free and you did not have to spend any money. I didn’t believe it. I just kept on wondering why the Lwala Hospital was offering this for free.”

Evelyne did not visit the hospital immediately as she didn’t think the lady was passing the right information to her despite the fact that they had a lengthy conversation on this. It wasn’t until Evelyne visited Lwala Community Hospital to have her child immunized that she saw posters and drawings on the walls informing of the family planning services available at the clinic. “I still wasn’t convinced until I sat in front of the nurse who was very knowledgeable about the family planning methods,” she recalls. “They were all very kind to me and explained all the methods. I chose Jardelle, which is a 5-year method of family planning. I am very happy with this method. Thanks to that lady who first informed me on this amenity, and thanks to these wall paintings and posters.”