“Wanaume” is a Kiswahili word for “men”. The word “mbele” means “forward”. The full words are, “men forward”. This program sensitizes men on how they can best support their women to access sexual reproductive services. Being the head of the family, a man can deny his wife permission to visit a health facility. A man also has the last say on the number of children his wife can have and when she can have them. This is detrimental to the woman’s health because she has no control over her sexuality and body.
By using this program to bring together 15 to 20 groups of men to a round table to talk on why they are an important link to their wives and children’s health and general development. Apart from coming up with issues that they want to be dealt with, the men are trained on essential actions in nutrition and in hygiene. They are then issued with education cards and resources for data collection.
Ideally, there is no designated leader and any of the men who the group chooses, can lead a meeting on a topic he is well-versed with.
Apart from nutrition and sexual health, WanaumeMbele program raises awareness on men on why they should not beat their wives among other things. This is becausedomestic violence (largelyinstigated by husbands and other males) is one of the leading Gender-Based Violence cases in Baringo County.
The men in the program are supported to encourage those who still have reservations on the program to reach out to them through planned home visits.
Pointedly, men who don’t subscribe or enrol in the program, believe in the ‘power’ of the man in the family and are not ready to “give up”lest they are seen as weak men who don’t respect their ancestors.
By bringing men to the table, we are making huge steps in ending GBV and empowering women politically, economically and socially one program at a time.
Sometimes, the members reach out to religious leaders, health Practitioner or a teacher, the chief among others, with a view to strengthening ties within the group.
Themen are usually under the supervision of field officers and the head of the village. The training encompasses nutrition and SRHR. The program’s objective is to have healthier and more knowledgeable communities.
With time, and with the strong support of their husbands, more women will have the right to choose the number of children they want.
For those who agree to start family planning, they are issued with a special card introducing them and their wives to respective health centres and other centres that EKI partners with such as chemists.
Field supervisors make follow-ups to the homes of the family planning couples to ensure they continue visiting the health centres and sticking to the health officer’s advice.
Another critical component of the WM program is working with these men in promoting hand-washing and the use of toilets by installing hand-washing station seven in health centres and building toilets in their homes. Seventy per cent of the county residents defecate in the bush and this program aims at changing this because lack of toilets contributes to a host of health challenges. Women and children bear the brunt of poor sanitation hence the efforts to ensure each home has a toilet.