Social Accountability in West Pokot

YSW conducted a social accountability follow-up meeting at Kacheliba Sub-County Hospital and Kapenguria County Referral Hospital in West Pokot.

The meeting was attended by 32 participants, including four adolescent champions, and aimed to review the actions taken since the 2023 social accountability exercise.

Community members and healthcare providers reported significant progress in implementing various activities at the facilities. Service users shared positive experiences, noting friendly service provision, thorough assessments, and counselling before contraceptive selection.

They attributed the increased uptake of family planning (FP) services to monthly dialogues conducted at both the facilities and within the community.

At Kapenguria County Referral Hospital, many young people hesitate to seek FP services due to concerns about being attended to by relatives or older healthcare workers.

Additionally, their preferred contraceptive options, such as combined oral contraceptives and implants, are often unavailable, further discouraging visits.

The youth also noted long queues at the hospital and often chose to visit in the evening in hopes of shorter lines and more privacy.

To address these challenges, the participants recommended enhancing awareness efforts around contraception—not only to inform but also to empower young people to seek the services without fear or delay.

Following the meeting, adolescent and community members made the following recommendations:

• Establish a dedicated room for adolescent and youth- friendly services to provide privacy and comfort for young clients, encouraging more adolescents to seek services.
• Address inadequate staffing to reduce the current workload, minimise burnout, and ensure the consistent delivery of quality care.
• Ensure a steady and timely supply of all essential commodities.
• Expedite the installation of general hospital signage, aimed at enhancing visibility and navigation.
• Continue and scale up our monthly FP dialogues.
• Regularly monitor service quality through feedback mechanisms and periodic assessments to ensure that the services provided are friendly, comprehensive, and responsive to the needs of adolescents and young people.
• Ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• Train healthcare providers on inclusive service provision to meet the unique needs of PWDs.