COUNTY, ACK DIOCESE PARTNERS IN TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND TRIPLE THREAT ADVOCACY.

The County Government of Kakamega, today, held a consultative meeting with officials from the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Diocese of Butere, a partnership that will address teenage pregnancies and other Triple Threat challenges affecting adolescents in Butere and Khwisero sub-counties.

Speaking during the meeting, CECM for Health Services, Dr. Livingstone Imbayi welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed that Governor Fernandes Barasa values strategic partnerships that enhance service delivery and improve the wellbeing of residents. He noted that the county has already put in place key policy and legal frameworks, including the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Policy and the SGBV Act, to strengthen efforts aimed at addressing the Triple Threat of teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections and gender-based violence.

Dr. Imbayi, further, commended the Church for its commitment to community engagement and health promotion, noting that such collaborations play a critical role in sensitizing communities and improving access to health services.

Representing the Bishop of Butere Diocese, Rt. Rev. Rose Okeno, Canon Peter Andere said that with support from Episcopal Relief & Development partners, the Church intends to partner with the County Department of Health in implementing a three-year intervention program dubbed “Linda Msichani Program.”

Canon Andere noted that the Linda Msichani Program seeks to address teenage pregnancies through advocacy, community engagement, empowerment initiatives, social support systems and rescue services for vulnerable adolescents. The project will initially be rolled out in Butere and Khwisero sub-counties before being expanded to other parts of the County.

The visiting delegation included Rev. Josephine Mombo, Sospeter Nyabola and Amos Atulo from Anglican Development Services (ADS).

Also present were Chief Officer for Public Health, Mrs. Rose Muhanda and members of the County Health Department.