International Development Week: Highlighting Red Cross Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Kenya



This week, February 2-8, is International Development Week; an opportunity to explore how Canadian Red Cross efforts are making a difference around the world.
 
We want to highlight the story of Mercy Chesitoi, a young woman trained as a Community Health Worker in Kenya, as part of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health project under the Kenya Red Cross Society. It’s funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.
 
Mercy has been a Community Health Worker since 2009 under different programs in the Nyangaita region of Kenya. As a first-time mother, Mercy never received counselling on child upbringing or sought any antenatal care for checkups or information on her pregnancy. Because of this, Mercy lacked adequate knowledge and skills in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH).
 
When Mercy was first recruited to be a Community Health Worker, her lack of knowledge made it difficult for her to provide services to women and children in the community. So in 2012, she was able to enroll in the Red Cross MNCH project. As a part of this project, Mercy learnt about the importance of having four antenatal visits during pregnancy, having an individual birth plan, the importance of skilled delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, family planning and hygiene.
 
Mercy has benefited tremendously from the trainings offered to the Community Health Workers in the region. She gained valuable skills which she has not only passed on to other women, but is applying in her own life as a mother and setting an example in her community with the recent birth of her baby Phoebe.
 
Read more about the work of the Canadian Red Cross on improving the health of mothers, newborns and children.
 

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