I had the privilege to meet Rose Omia, the Regional Marketing Coordinator for Marie Stopes on March 27th, 2019. Marie Stopes is a non-governmental organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and provides contraception, safe abortion, and post-abortion services. The services are offered through a network of clinics and mobile outreach clinics to enhance accessibility to as many people as possible.
Marie Stopes delivers services through its AMUA Clinics that offer high quality and affordable (subsidized prices) health services to women, young people, and communities’ regardless of anyone’s ability to pay. In order to empower and promote the well-being of the adolescents (ages 15 -19), services are offered to them free 3 days a week.
Through their network of mobile outreach clinics, Marie Stopes promotes freedom and choice by conducting monthly outreaches for 5 days in all the various counties they work. Many services such as permanent family planning methods like tubal ligation are offered by the mobile outreach team comprised of skilled nurses, a team leader, a care provider, a care assistant, drivers, and a doctor.
Marie Stopes works closely with each county government and partners (AFYA HALISI, KMET, DREAM girl, youth groups Amazon, Pambazuka) and also has a presence in county organized activities like World Contraceptive Day (WCD).
In order to achieve its mandate, Marie Stopes works closely with community health volunteers (CHVs) who assist with various responsibilities like mapping, mobilization and collection of data. Every activity the CHVs are involved in require different work tools and compensation is given ranging from smart phones, stipend, transport reimbursement and lunch allowance.