The location of Valine's home meant that reaching the nearest health centre was challenging. Seasonal weather often made the journey even harder, her village often became completely cut off due to a nearby river flooding. This meant that Valine's children were not immunised, and she had never attended antenatal care (ANC) clinics during any of her pregnancies, or used any form of family planning methods.

With support from CHASE Africa, our partner, Dandelion Africa, introduced a Backpack Nurse (BPN) outreach site near to Valine’s home. For the first time, she could access healthcare services conveniently. Her youngest child is now fully immunised, and she attended all ANC clinics during her most recent pregnancy. She has also chosen a longer-term three-year contraceptive method, giving her more choice over her family’s health and wellbeing.

“Having the Backpack Nurse site nearby has changed my life. I no longer worry about how to cross the river to reach the clinic, or miss out on essential healthcare. My children are healthier, and I feel more confident to make decisions about my family’s future.”

Valine Nareno, Young Mother, Salabani village, Marigat, Kenya