Dr. Ogada’s Dream
Nov 17th, 2007 by Pat Daoust
Inspirational, motivational, phenomenal…..are a few of the words shouted out by participants on Thursday afternoon when asked by the facilitator to describe their experience at the 1st annual HERAF conference. She paused, looked at the group and said: “and so are all of you!”
For 2 days our HAA delegation has had the privilege of sitting alongside 70 health care workers who traveled from across Kenya to address a shared vision: a country where “health is recognized as a fundamental human right with access to equitable, affordable health services for all.” The passion and commitment we witnessed to reaching this goal was remarkable.
We listened and learned as they challenged one another, confronted their government leaders and questioned policies that fail to promote human rights…. including the US policy that prohibits a person with HIV to freely travel to the US!
We discussed human resource shortages: inadequate government funding needed to build strong health care systems, stigma and discrimination within the healthcare work place and gender inequity. These barriers to the fulfillment of HERAF’s vision and the challenges ahead were candidly acknowledged, but I could not help note that the resolve for change was unwavering.
Of the many excellent presentations made there was one that resonated deeply for me…. “The Right to Health: Influencing the Gender Agenda in the Kenyan Health Care Setting,” given by Dr Peninah Ogada. Dr Ogada is an older woman who described herself as “recycled material.” Widowed at a young age in rural Kenya, she dedicated herself to her children’s well-being and education. She farmed, sold portions of her crops for money and worked hard to make ends meet. She recalled the many times she had to travel miles, often on foot, to the closest health clinic with a sick child, wait in long lines, pay fees she could not afford and then was frequently treated disrespectfully by those who called themselves “caregivers.”
Dr. Peninah Ogada speaks at a session of the HERAF conference.
Once her children were raised Dr. Ogada decided it was now time to take care of herself. She returned to school in spite of many community members questioning and discouraging her. Her mission: challenge the manner in which health care workers and the entire health system treat women. Dr Ogada eventually earned a PhD and is now a professor at the University of Nairobi. Her message to the physicians, nurses, health officers and policy makers in the room and beyond was clear: create a health care system that recognizes and respects the vital role women play in creating a future Kenya. She spoke for the women of Kenya:
…..make it a one stop shop that is comprehensive, empathetic, sensitive and answering to my needs so that you recognize the many roles that I have.
The multiple jobs I have to do: clean, cook, farm, raise children, care for the elders, will not allow me the luxury of time to waste.
Women are health providers in their own homes as well as their community, and therefore their health comes last. So when you see me go down, it means that it is really serious and somebody should attend and recognize the urgency that forces me to come, because I wouldn’t come otherwise.
If you are going to take care of me and encourage me to produce the next generation, for crying out loud change the traditional mindset and teach me to appreciate myself as part of health service delivery.
Social justice requires that I am a normal, bona fide, healthy wholesome Kenyan.
I’m not asking for a favor – if anything I should be praised, recognized, thanked . As a woman I am creating the future of Kenya. Thank you.
I will carry these words with me as I travel home to the states. Working with all of you, the HAA team will share this message and advocate for initiatives that will help Dr. Ogada’s dream come true for a health care system that provides quality, well-integrated services and care that is sensitive and respectful to women.