Reaching Remote Communities: Reflections from Kenya

Journey to Olderkesi: Reaching Remote Communities 

One of the most interesting parts of the visits were the few days we spent in an area called Olderkesi, along the Tanzanian border. It highlighted how remote many of the communities we support are.  It took hours of driving to get there, including across the Maasai Mara reserve.  

Human–Wildlife Coexistence in the Maasai Mara 

The landscape was greener than I had expected, due to recent rains. A mix of savannah and rolling hills with enormous views. We drove past many local people herding their cattle, goats and sheep out to pasture, as well as numerous wildlife (including giraffe, elephant, zebra, antelope and a lion). This really highlighted to me the daily reality of human-wildlife coexistence for these Maasai communities. 

A Women’s Health Dialogue Under an Acacia Tree 

We attended a women’s dialogue. More than 30 women of different ages gathered next to an Acacia tree. Many carried babies, although it was hard to tell quite how many, as several little ones were nestled quietly in their mothers’ laps.  

A nurse from the nearest health clinic lead the session. He was very engaging and kept a steady flow of information throughout the dialogue. He prompted discussion amongst the women, gradually moving from sharing information about the importance of vaccinations for children and attending ante natal appointments, to speaking about the benefits of skilled deliveries, and asking why so many women in the area chose to deliver at home, then onto the health benefits of spacing pregnancies and ending with an explanation of different family planning methods. 

The women sometimes disagreed with each other, showed embarrassment around certain topics (particularly the younger women) and laughed often. They remained attentive to what he was saying throughout the two-hour session. The dialogue ended with the women having a meal that had prepared by some local men.  After eating, the women slowly disappeared back into the landscape, returning to their homes and long list of jobs that would be awaiting them.  

As we travelled back, we carried those conversations with us. The dialogue deepened my understanding of the importance of providing health information, how big an influence social norms have, and how vital it is they are addressed in a culturally sensitive manner.   

Health access and distance 

The following day as we drove back to Nairobi, it took us over 4 hours in our car to reach the nearest hospital. This was a stark reminder of the reality facing any woman experiencing complications during labour or looking after a sick child. 

Implementing Programmes in a Complex Environment 

These visits offer a valuable opportunity not only to see the programmes in action, but to interact with the staff responsible for the huge task of implementing activities. As we bumped along for hours over terrible roads and tracks, we had the chance to reflect on some of the current and future achievements and challenges of the different projects.