{"id":921,"date":"2026-09-26T15:18:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T15:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/?p=921"},"modified":"2026-09-26T15:18:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T15:18:01","slug":"protecting-health-protecting-education-protecting-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/2026\/09\/26\/protecting-health-protecting-education-protecting-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Health, Protecting Education, Protecting the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Baridi Kwa Baridi Takes Triple Threat Prevention Message to Esikulu School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bukhayo West, Busia County | 24 September 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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For nearly 300 learners in Grades 6 to 9 at Esikulu Primary and Junior Secondary School in Bukhayo West, the message on 24 September was clear: protecting your health is part of protecting your education and your future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sensitisation session, led by the Director of Baridi Kwa Baridi (BKB),Ms. Maureene Ayodi brought together learners, community and professional actors to address the interconnected challenges commonly referred to as the Triple Threat: new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancy and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Director was accompanied by Mr Cosmas Okale, representing the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council <\/strong>(NSDCC), and Mr George Egondi, a physiotherapist representing the Busia Professional Association.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A timely conversation for learners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The intervention came at a particularly important time for the school, which has experienced cases of teenage pregnancy and concerns over an emerging rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than treating teenage pregnancy, HIV and violence as isolated problems, the team encouraged learners to understand how different risks can intersect and disrupt their education, health, safety and long-term aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message was especially relevant within the wider Busia context. According to the NSDCC’s Kenya AIDS Response Progress Report, Busia is among the counties contributing significantly to Kenya’s new HIV infections, with the county recording an estimated 886 new HIV infections in 2024. The Council has also continued to identify adolescents and young people as an important population for HIV prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent county data further illustrates the concern: Busia’s HIV Coordinator reported that adolescents and young adults accounted for 42.3% of new HIV infections in the county, compared with 41% nationally at the time of the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At national level, the challenge remains significant. Kenya recorded approximately 236,000 pregnancies among adolescents aged 10\u201319 presenting at health facilities in 2025 equivalent to about 640 presentations every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These figures reinforce the importance of taking prevention messages directly to schools and communities where young people can receive accurate information, ask questions and learn where to seek help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour health goes hand in hand with your development\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to the learners, the team emphasised that health is not separate from education and personal development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a young person’s health and wellbeing are compromised, it can affect school attendance, concentration, academic performance, relationships and future opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learners were encouraged to aim high and protect the future they are working towards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussion also addressed practical issues that can increase vulnerability, including poverty, lack of menstrual hygiene products, unsafe environments, peer pressure and situations where young people may be exposed to exploitation or abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message was particularly important for girls: lack of sanitary pads or other basic necessities should never force a child into a relationship, transactional sex or circumstances that put her health and education at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also reminded learners that boys have an equally important role to play in preventing HIV, teenage pregnancy and violence. Building safer communities requires both girls and boys to understand consent, respect, responsibility and the consequences of harmful behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying safe during the holiday period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the school holiday approaching, Mr Cosmas Okale of NSDCC urged learners to remain alert and protect themselves during the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learners were encouraged to avoid walking alone in isolated or poorly lit areas, particularly during rainy periods, and to be conscious of their surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were also reminded to be cautious about unsafe situations at home or when staying with relatives and other caregivers, and to speak up whenever something makes them uncomfortable or unsafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message was simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If something does not feel right, seek help. Do not suffer in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing where to get help<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major component of the session was ensuring that learners left not only with information, but also with practical pathways to support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The learners were introduced to key national helplines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udcde\" 116 \u2013 National Child Helpline<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children can call 116 free of charge, 24 hours a day to report abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation and other child-protection concerns, or to seek counselling, psychosocial support and referral to appropriate services. The helpline is operated through the State Department for Children Services in partnership with Childline Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udcde\" 1195 \u2013 National GBV Helpline<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1195 helpline provides a national reporting and support pathway for survivors and people seeking help in relation to gender-based violence. The State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action identifies 1195 as the toll-free GBV helpline and encourages reporting of GBV or suspected cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udcde\" 1190 \u2013 One2One Youth Hotline<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learners were also introduced to 1190, the One2One hotline, where young people can access confidential information, counselling and referrals relating to HIV, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, mental health and other concerns. The service is designed to provide young people with a safe space to ask questions and seek professional guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting the future starts now<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Esikulu engagement was a reminder that preventing the Triple Threat requires more than statistics. It requires open conversations, early intervention, accessible support systems and strong partnerships between schools, families, communities, professionals and government institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For BKB, taking these conversations into schools is part of building communities where children and young people can learn, grow and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message to the learners was one worth carrying beyond the school gates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you protect your health, you protect your education and your future.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every learner deserves the opportunity to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to be\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and have the health, safety, support and opportunity to become it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Baridi Kwa Baridi Takes Triple Threat Prevention Message to Esikulu School Bukhayo West, Busia County | 24 September 2026 For nearly 300 learners in Grades 6 to 9 at Esikulu Primary and Junior Secondary School in Bukhayo West, the message on 24 September was clear: protecting your health is part of protecting your education and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=921"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":929,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions\/929"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baridiwomen.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}