MSI Reproductive Choices Kenya, an affiliate of Marie Stopes Kenya, is celebrating 40 years of providing reproductive health services to millions of women and men across the country.
Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi, Country Director Dr. Walter Obita emphasized the organization’s commitment to walking with women through every stage of their reproductive health journey.
“We start from the time they have their first menstrual period by providing sexual and reproductive health education. We are there when women and men are planning to have their families, we walk with them through their antenatal period, delivery, postpartum care and give them access to family planning, all the way to their pre-menopausal and menopausal stages of life. We play a role in supporting their health.”
In the past four decades, MSI has served over 10 million patients, playing a critical role in averting maternal mortality and improving reproductive health outcomes, the organization has averted over 2.5 million unintended pregnancies and provided over 1 million safe abortions and post abortion care services.
Beyond their 500 service points, Dr. Obita said the organization is heavily invested in reaching marginalized communities and strengthening public health systems in partnership with the Ministry of Health and county governments.
“Through our partnerships, we have been able to strengthen health systems in over 260 public hospitals by mentoring and training healthcare workers to provide high-quality contraceptive services,” he added.
Over the years, MSI Reproductive Choices Kenya has evolved from a small reproductive health provider to a key player in the national health landscape, contributing to Kenya’s progress toward universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
According to data from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), unsafe abortion is one a major contributor to maternal mortality, as 24 per cent of abortions procured In Africa considered safe. For MSI Kenya, post abortion care remains the cornerstone of their work as they plug in this critical gap
“Post abortion care remains the cornerstone of our work, we provide essential lifesaving services in both our own clinics and in public health facilities by offering safe respectful and compassionate care. This helps reduce risks of complications from unsafe abortions thus upholding the health and dignity of women and girls,”Dr Obita said.
