When essential healthcare is too far away or too expensive to reach, women and children are often forced to go without. Through funding from CHASE Africa, mobile Backpack Nurse clinics run by local partner Kalyet Afya Foundation are bringing family planning and immunisation services directly into remote communities.
Faith’s story shows how accessible healthcare can transform daily life for mothers and give children the best possible start.
Long journeys and missed care
Faith lives in a village near Nakuru in Kenya with her husband and baby son, Brandon. Before the Backpack Nurse clinics reached her community, accessing healthcare meant long walks, transport costs and hours spent waiting.
Before Kalyet Afya Foundation started coming here, getting healthcare was a real struggle.
The nearest public hospital and health centre are about five kilometres away. Reaching them means walking for over an hour or paying 500 shillings for transport. During my pregnancy, attending antenatal care was especially difficult. I missed several appointments because of the cost and long queues when I arrived.
Faith at a vaccination appointment with her son
After Brandon was born, the challenges increased. Faith worried about keeping her child protected and about her own health.
After giving birth to Brandon, it was even harder to access services. I worried about my baby missing his vaccines because we couldn’t afford regular travel. Additionally, although I was exclusively breastfeeding Brandon, my menstrual periods had already returned and I knew I could get pregnant again. I urgently needed family planning.
Healthcare arrives in the village
A visit from a Community Health Promoter changed everything. Faith learned that free services were now available close to home through Kalyet Afya Foundation’s mobile clinics.
One day, after I had delivered Brandon, a Community Health Worker visited our home. She told me that Kalyet Afya Foundation was offering free services right in our village, including family planning and immunisation for babies. This news was a big relief, and I decided to go and see for myself.
At the mobile clinic, I met Dr Emily Rugut, a Ministry of Health Nurse. She spoke with me kindly and openly. I felt safe asking questions, something I couldn’t do at the hospital because of the crowd and rush.
Patients at one of KAF's outreach clinics
Confidence, control and healthier futures
Through the Backpack Nurse clinics, Faith received a long-term family planning method and Brandon received his vaccinations. They continue to attend every clinic held in their village. The impact on Faith’s life has been profound.
Today, I feel more in control of my life. I can plan for my future without the stress of surprise pregnancies. Brandon is growing well and hasn’t missed a single immunisation appointment since that first clinic visit. no longer have to choose between buying food and paying for transport to a facility. Now, services are brought directly to us and I feel lucky, because I know many mothers in other places still struggle like I used to.
Faith now encourages other women in her community to attend the clinics and take charge of their health.
"If this project had not come, I would have continued postponing care for both myself and Brandon. Maybe I would have had another child before I was ready. Now, I talk to other women in the village and encourage them to visit the Kalyet clinic. I may not be a doctor, but I feel proud to be doing something important for my community."