Babies tend to get sick during odd times when you have as little as a hundred shillings in your pocket or when you have absolutely nothing. It can be an uphill task for a parent whose baby has fallen sick, at a time when there are no finances, to meet the medication costs or even…

In Kenya, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services are available in all public health facilities free of charge or at a minimal cost. Despite that, not all women receive the full benefit. A number of expectant women refuse to take the HIV test while others fail to return to the health…

I love going shopping in the 21st century. Yes, shopping has become so easy and fun. I however remember a time when large shopping was a nightmare because one had to carry wads of cash when buying presents for loved ones, particularly during the festive season. In my mind I can visualise this very tired…

Babies were born to breastfeed. However, sometimes a baby goes off the breast and refuses to breastfeed. Many mothers are usually not prepared for this possibility. Breast milk is considered the most beneficial, healthy and non-costly food for a new born. It has the perfect nutritional combo, for it fulfills all the dietary requirements of…

Mweni and John are a young couple from Kileleshwa, Nairobi, who had been unable to conceive for nine years. Mweni had blocked fallopian tubes. Having gone from doctor to doctor for help to no avail, she was referred to the Nairobi In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) centre and six months later, Mweni is now expectant. ‘It’s…

BCG is a live vaccine against Tuberculosis (TB). BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. It was named after two doctors who developed and introduced the vaccine in the 1920s. To date it remains the only available vaccination against TB. It is given to infants to help prevent the more serious forms of TB. The BCG Tuberculosis…

Incase you’re wondering what a butternut is, it is a type of a pumpkin that is shaped like a gourd and when fully grown, it shines forth a rich yellow color. The difference between a butternut and other pumpkins is that it is sweet and easy on the palate. Its soup is a delicacy you…

Getting ready for a new baby is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Washing your infant for the first time can seem quite intimidating and scary since you don’t want to harm him. Furthermore, knowing which baby care products to have when you bring your newborn home, may seem confusing. Be it soap, shampoo,…

While swimming at a club with my friends recently, they persuaded me to dive at the deep end of the pool. I flatly refused. This stirred a heated conversation that went beyond my fears to a discussion on drowning and other water accident ordeals. The stories were really sad. They brought back fresh memories of…