The WHO recommendation covers SC Johnson’s Guardian™ and Mosquito Shield™, devices that emit an active ingredient to repel mosquitoes from enclosed spaces such as homes, classrooms, and health facilities. Clinical trials in Kenya, Peru, and Indonesia showed the repellents can cut malaria risk by up to 33 percent, with Guardian™ providing protection for up to one year.

SC Johnson opened two high-speed manufacturing lines in Nairobi earlier this year, giving the plant an annual production capacity of 20 million units. The products are distributed at no profit through partnerships with ministries of health and organizations including The MENTOR Initiative, Society for Family Health Rwanda, and United to Beat Malaria.

“From day one, this has been a not-for-profit initiative driven by our commitment to combat diseases that threaten hundreds of millions of people,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson.

Kenya has made significant gains against malaria in the past decade, with deaths falling by 93 percent from 15,061 in 2015 to just 1,060 in 2023. Still, the country reported about 3.3 million malaria cases last year, and six counties in the Lake and Western regions continue to face some of the highest transmission rates in Africa.

The WHO endorsement and prequalification listing mean Guardian™ and Mosquito Shield™ can now be procured through international health channels, expanding their availability to vulnerable communities.

For Kenya, the milestone underscores its shifting role in the global malaria fight from being primarily an aid recipient to serving as a manufacturing hub for a product now recognized as a major innovation in disease prevention.

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Transparency and accountability took center stage as Titus Gitonga from Transparency International (TI) called on journalists to champion truth and integrity. He reminded participants that the stories they tell can shape a nation, fostering public trust and holding leadership accountable. Ambrose Kilonzo of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya spoke with deep conviction about empowering faith leaders to promote health at the grassroots level, leveraging their moral influence to inspire change within communities.

From the private sector, Zak Irungu of Global Compact Network Kenya(GCNK) reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to ethical business practices. His call to action was clear: combat fraud and abuse in the health sector, and in doing so, restore faith in healthcare systems.

AMWIK’s Executive Director, Queenter Mbori, and Lorna Sempele brought the focus back to the power of collaboration and transparency, urging all participants to work together for stronger, more accountable health governance. Their words were a reminder that only through united effort can meaningful progress be made.

Professor Silas Oriaso painted a sobering picture of county health communication departments as the workshop progressed, highlighting the resource challenges that hinder their effectiveness. Yet, despite these obstacles, there was a shared determination to overcome them.

One of the most pressing topics was transitioning from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA). Victoria Wachu from SHA addressed the complexities of this shift, calling for clear, empathetic communication to reassure the public and build trust during the transition.

The workshop concluded with powerful discussions on combating healthcare fraud. Participants left with a renewed sense of responsibility, recognizing that integrity and collaboration are the foundations of universal health coverage. Through collective action, they took a significant step toward a future where every Kenyan has access to quality healthcare, driven by transparency and shared purpose.

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This makes it urgent for the ongoing Maternal Health Bill debate to focus on ensuring dignified, respectful maternal care to improve health outcomes and uphold human rights.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, along with Nguvu Collective’s Change Leaders, is championing the fight against obstetric violence in Kenya, pushing for urgent reforms in maternal health care.

Senator Omtatah received the groundbreaking report on Obstetric Violence created by Nguvu Change Leaders, which holds significant relevance to the ongoing debate in the Senate on the Maternal, Child Health Bill, and Newborn 2023. The Bill is at a critical stage in the legislative process where further amendments can be proposed, debated, and final decisions made before it is either passed or rejected. The report’s findings could influence these deliberations, particularly in shaping policies aimed at improving maternal healthcare and addressing systemic issues such as obstetric violence.

“The report by Nguvu Collective reveals serious issues in our mental health facilities that must be addressed in the Maternal and Child Health Bill, 2023”, Senator Omtatah stated. “Its recommendation provides a strong foundation for amending the bill to ensure women receive a high standard of care, this is the legislative change we need”

Senator Omtatah’s encounters with the tragic consequences of obstetric violence further highlight the urgency of addressing this issue nationwide.

The report, “Towards Ending OBV in Kenya: Unveiling the Invisible Wounds of Obstetric Violence Through the Voices of Kenyan Women,” by Harriet Afandi, Deborah Monari, Josephine Mwende, and Ajra Mohamed, exposes the widespread abuse women face during obstetric care, including verbal abuse, neglect, forced procedures, and lack of consent. With 1 in 3 women affected, it calls for mandatory training, stricter patient rights enforcement, and the inclusion of respectful care in national policies.

“To achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and meet SDG Target 3.1’s goal of reducing maternal mortality, we must address obstetric violence (OBV). Dignified, respectful care is essential to realizing the right to health, as upheld by our Constitution and international treaties like CEDAW. Incorporating the OBV Report’s recommendations into the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Bill is key to fulfilling these commitments.” – said Nguvu Change Leaders.

With the Bill scheduled for a third reading, the Nguvu Change Leaders have submitted a memorandum proposing amendments to improve maternal health care. These include increased funding, mandatory skilled birth attendants, comprehensive training on respectful care, and integrating mental health and financial support for low-income mothers. The group emphasizes reforms that ensure holistic, patient-centered care, addressing women’s physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and economic needs.

Nguvu Collective believes this strategy will ensure all aspects of a woman’s maternal health needs are addressed. As the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Bill, of 2023, progresses, public hearings and engagement with lawmakers are essential. Citizens are urged to participate and advocate for dignified care for all women.

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What Inspired Deborah Monari to Start Her Petition?

Deborah Monari’s journey towards advocacy was fueled by a deep-seated commitment to protecting the health and future of women and teenagers from low-income households. Shocked by the national data from Kenya Health Information Systems, which reported 110,821 teenage pregnancies in the first five months of this year alone, Deborah saw the dire need to act. In Nairobi, 11,000 of these cases were reported, underscoring the urgent need for accessible reproductive health service.

The Impacts of the Nairobi City County Finance Bill 2023

The bill threatened to make contraceptives and family planning services unaffordable for many. If passed, services such as implant insertion and removal, IUCD insertion, and Depo-Provera injections will become chargeable, with costs ranging from KSh.150 to KSh.500. Post-abortion care will cost KSh.3000, further placing essential healthcare services out of reach for vulnerable women and teenagers.

Community and Stakeholder Response

Since initiating the petition, Deborah has witnessed a groundswell of support from the community and various stakeholders. Citizens, driven by a shared concern for the future of their families and communities, have rallied behind her call to action, emphasizing the critical need to protect accessible reproductive health services.

Personal Stories and Experiences

Deborah’s advocacy is also deeply personal. She has encountered numerous cases where young women’s futures were compromised due to a lack of access to contraceptives and family planning services. These stories highlight the broader societal implications if the bill were to pass, leading to a rise in unplanned pregnancies and jeopardizing the health, education, and future of many young women.

The Influence of a Nguvu Change Leader

As a Nguvu Change Leader, Deborah’s approach to advocacy is informed by her commitment to youth welfare and her experience in the healthcare sector. Her leadership has been instrumental in mobilizing support and raising awareness about the critical issue of accessible reproductive health services.

Effective Advocacy Strategies

Deborah has utilized various strategies to mobilize support for her petition, including leveraging social media, engaging community leaders, and fostering partnerships with like-minded organizations. Her call to action has resonated widely, demonstrating the power of collective citizen action in driving change.

A Message to Decision-Makers

Deborah’s message to decision-makers, including Hon. Sakaja Johnson and Hon. Kennedy Okeyo Ng’ondi, is clear: prioritize the health and future of women and teenagers by ensuring that family planning services remain free and accessible. The power to make a difference lies in their hands, and the community is urging them to act with compassion and responsibility.

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Deborah emphasizes the need for implementing support systems, advocating for stronger labor laws, and prioritizing the health of nurses.

Deborah actively prioritizes teamwork to mitigate burnout among her colleagues and ensures she takes personal breaks whenever feasible. Moreover, she passionately advocates for creating better work environments conducive to nurses’ well-being. Deborah articulates her stance, explaining, “Performing repetitive tasks often leads to feelings of stagnation, prompting us to question our career choice.” To counteract this, Deborah proactively pursues ongoing education in medical courses, keeping herself abreast of the latest advancements in nursing research and technology. This engagement not only keeps her job engaging but also fosters her professional growth.

She suggests a diversified strategy to comprehensively address lingering issues and advance nurses’ rights across the nation. She emphasizes the need for efforts directed towards lessening strain for nurses and guaranteeing improved care delivery. This includes hiring additional nurses and integrating nursing assistants into the workforce to address understaffing in public hospitals.

Moreover, she believes government-funded scholarship programs must be made easily available in order to assist nurses in pursuing advanced degrees in other specializations. In her opinion, this financial aid for postgraduate study and continuing short courses will enable nurses to increase their expertise, which will, in turn, improve the standard of service in healthcare systems across Kenya.

Deborah emphasizes the importance of implementing more support systems, such as free counseling services and wellness initiatives, to contribute crucially to the well-being of nurses. Advocating for stronger labor laws and regulations is essential, she argues, to prevent overwork and other forms of workplace exploitation for nurses. Deborah concludes that prioritizing the health of the nation’s nursing workforce is crucial and will undoubtedly contribute to a more efficient healthcare system.

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 “That was the lowest moment of my life,” said the CEO of Merck Foundation, an organization that raises awareness on infertility prevention, management, and male infertility.  

Today Merck Foundation is proud to have assisted many families unravel the taboo subject in many African societies.

Why is society so harsh on childless couples?
Because they perceive infertility as a condition that can’t be treated or prevented. Unfortunately, women suffer the most. It is considered to bring shame to the family, which is not the case. Bet it has to do with our obsession with kids.

Most people only know about infertility, but don’t exactly understand what it means…

There are two types of infertility; primary and secondary. Primary infertility is when a couple fails to conceive after at least one year of trying, without using birth control.

Secondary infertility is the inability to become pregnant or to carry a baby to term after previously giving birth to a baby. The two are caused by almost the same factors.

What are these causes of infertility?
Some African traditional, cultural, and religious practices combined with low-resource environments are linked with higher levels of non-genetic and preventable causes of infertility.

Untreated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unsafe abortions, and
female genital mutilation. Poor nutrition and exposure to smoking, leaded petrol, and other environmental pollutants may also lead to infertility. Among men, the major culprit is previous genitourinary tract infections, though it doesn’t apply to all cases.

Based on your experience, how can married couples enjoy their relationship even when they have no kids?
While most couples have a desire to have children, being unable to bear a child due to certain medical reasons should not hamper their relationship. They should know infertility is not a death sentence. It is a condition that can be prevented or managed.

Further, it should not be a blame game. They should work together to fight it. In fact, I tell couples, it should bring them closer. For example, if it is the wife with the problem, the husband should be supportive and accompany her to all the clinic visits.

When women have infertility issues, most men resort to remarrying.

In many cultures, women are solely blamed for failing to conceive. They are treated with a lot of disgust and in some cases, they even face violence. Most women are not aware that 50 percent of infertility cases affect men. And I agree, most men prefer to remarry, not knowing they are the ones with the problem.

On the other hand, women can’t get married again because of stigma. She will give up the fight. This is of course, unfair and incorrect.

I once met a man from a remote village in Uganda, who married 35 times, not knowing that he was infertile! We need to create a culture shift and sensitize communities about this issue. 

 Before walking down the aisle, couples go for HIV testing. Would you advise couples to go for fertility tests before committing to marriage?
 Fertility or infertility should not be a reason to commit or not commit to a marriage. Couples should support each other if they find out they can’t have kids. It is a shared responsibility.

Why is adoption not popular in Kenya especially for infertile couples?
Adoption is a great option. While Kenyans are warming up to adoption, the social perception needs to change. We have so many orphans and offering them that parental love is a welcome idea. 

 What are your thoughts on fertile couples who chose not to have kids?
 It is a personal choice. However, both parties should agree. Also, couples should not decide to have a child because of societal pressure.

There are women who swear by certain foods to determine gender/ single/multiple births; is this medically proven?
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight will boost fertility. I am not aware of any scientific literature supporting food to determine the gender of the baby or single/ multiple births.

 What do you consider your greatest achievement since the launch of the ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ campaign? 
 Merck Foundation is making history in many African countries which previously did not have fertility specialists or specialized fertility clinics before ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ intervened. We were the first to train the first fertility specialists in Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Niger, Chad, Guinea, and Zambia.  

We have more than 10 First Lady acting as ambassadors in Botswana, the Republic of Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Ghana, Niger, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea Conakry, and Zambia. 

This speaks volume about the work we are doing. I am really proud that we are all joining hands to break the stigma of infertility. 

Merck Foundation has also supported the establishment of the first-ever Public IVF centers in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Uganda.  The sky is the limit.

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