Health Week at Kenyatta University (KU) is one of the important events on the calendar for students. Other than free testing and screening available for various conditions from renowned hospitals and brands, they also get to sit in and listen to a number of health dialogues delivered by invited experts and professionals. Hundreds of students gather to attend this event each year. RESPEKT was a proud partner of the SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) theme for this year’s edition that was attended by students and staff from different departments and fields, with a good number attending an SRHR event for the very first time, and for many it being their first time.
We began our Speaker Series with a few energizers to break the ice and of note was the Take a Stand exercise that prompted the audience to evaluate their positions and stands on various issues related to our topics for the day. It was interesting listening to and discussing all the different views and arguments brought up by the participants in a bid to let their voices be heard. Most of them noted that it was their first time confronting these issues and did not consider the information they had enough to competently make a decision.
The first session was on Understanding Reproductive Laws in Kenya that was facilitated by former National Officer for SCORA (Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV & AIDS) and RESPEKT Volunteer, Andrew Githiria. The session was enlightening and well received and elicited a very constructive discussion among the audience. Priority for question and answer (Q&A) was given to non-RESPEKT members and non-medical students so as to enrich the discussion, exploring all legal, medical, cultural and religious implications and aspects of these laws and policy documents in SRHR. It was eye opening to note that the government has no shortage of policy documents or guidelines on Reproductive Health and that focus should now turn to implementation.
The next session was on Understanding Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). This session was covered by SCORA Local Officer, Faith Nyagichuhi Mararo, a RESPEKT Volunteer as well. Our aim was to educate on menstrual hygiene products.
