Women on the Front Lines
Nov 18th, 2007 by Mark Rolfe
After a week in Kenya, on Thursday I attended a number of different institutions and discussions. Perhaps most moving and concerning was that involving a group of lawyers who researched and discussed violations against women in the Kenyan Healthcare system in a report entitled Failure to Deliver (PDF). Over a hundred women were interviewed about their experiences in the healthcare system, and the stories were frightening. They reported being hit, yelled at, bitten and ridiculed by healthcare workers for being pregnant. Those at highest risk were those also infected with HIV. Such discrimination and abuse was sobering, and although it is likely linked to the poor working conditions of the healthcare staff (underpaid, twenty hour workdays, hundreds of patients, poor facilities, lack of supplies), such behavior is intolerable and demands attention and support.
We also visited a group called WOFAK (Women fighting AIDS). They are doing front-line work by providing care, support, job training and referrals for thousands of women and girls who are living with HIV/AIDS. Again they struggle with lack of resources, staff and discrimination against women, but are committed to their work and are excited about a facility that will be built by the Italians in the year to come.
I am so impressed by the work being done by these organizations, but feel overwhelmed by the task facing them. I am excited to return to the states to advocate for continued support and increased funds for the work being done in East Africa. This epidemic is far from over, and the socioeconomic issues continue to fuel this fire. The staff of PHR and HERAF have been inspirational in their work. I look forward to working with them in the future. There’s much work to be done!