Safeguarding your baby It is a tragedy of immense proportions that thousands of unborn babies-about 40,000 to 50,000-risk being infected with HIV by their mothers every year, according to the Kenya National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme (NASCOP). The sad thing is that the unborn victims are as innocent as many mothers; most…

As usual, we have something for everyone. For babies who are still weaning, there is an array of dishes that will be a hit with mommy too since they are not so involving. These are quick recipes that require little or no cooking and are healthy too. Mocha float Kids are known to generally have…

Shampoo, sharp scissors, combs and hair brushes—all seemingly harmless things that – ‘ we use to enhance our beauty but which have the potential to put your 4-year-old into a fit of temper. Many of us recall going to the dreaded salon in our childhood, particularly if our hair was the ‘steel wool’ type. In…

My heart almost skips a beat on hearing Tom’s voice on the other end of the line. ‘Why are you using Meg’s phone, is she okay?’ I ask Tom as I sip my cup of coffee. It is the morning after the news of Megan’s HIV status and I am afraid she could have done…

We had just been introduced to each other and were now having tea. ‘Ah, so you are a doctor! I have a concern that has been disturbing my mind.’ I sat up and listened. This is a common line and quite frankly, as a doctor, I enjoy it, even in a social setting. It reminds me of my role in…

Teething may be one of the greatest nightmares mothers go through. The issue could seem even worse for first time mothers who may not understand what is going on with their bundle of joy let alone be able to handle them. When children are teething, they become sickly, whinny and look frustrated. By the time…

Tips to help your child have control over them You may be familiar with Kenya’s 8-4-4 education system that left many of us keen on following instructions without questioning and cramming with an obsession and later doing courses the universities picked for us and finally tumbling into the field — where you have some time to start thinking, so what do I…

It is hard to forget the chilling story of a mother and her four children whose lives were cut short by a fire at a village in Nyeri. Such events have led many to wonder whether the country is able to handle disasters. But what is more alarming is how unprepared most Kenyans are in the event of…