HEALTH

Kenya celebrates DESIP’s legacy: A transformative leap in reproductive health

By Stellah Ranji

Kenya’s reproductive health sector celebrated a major milestone on Thursday 31at the National DESIP Dissemination Conference in Nairobi, where key stakeholders gathered to reflect on the transformative impact of the Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases in Family Planning (DESIP) Programme. The UK Aid-funded initiative has played a crucial role in reducing maternal, neonatal, and child mortality by improving access to family planning (FP) services for Kenya’s most vulnerable populations.

Themed “Reaching the Most Vulnerable to the Last Mile: Reflections on Innovative Family Planning Practices,” the conference highlighted the programme’s success in advancing reproductive health equity and sustainability. Over the years, DESIP has empowered rural women, adolescents, and people with disabilities by ensuring they have the knowledge and resources to make informed reproductive health choices.

Implemented across 12 counties with historically low modern contraceptive prevalence rates (mCPR), the DESIP Programme has been a game-changer in expanding access to quality family planning services. The initiative has worked towards ensuring that women of reproductive age can plan and space their pregnancies, an essential factor in reducing maternal deaths, improving newborn health, and enhancing overall family well-being.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Margaret Njenga, CEO of PS Kenya, lauded DESIP for its groundbreaking impact. “The DESIP Programme has been a game-changer in Kenya’s reproductive health landscape, empowering thousands of women and marginalized communities with access to quality family planning services. Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, DESIP has strengthened health systems and made a significant impact in reducing maternal mortality while advancing Kenya’s FP2030 commitments.”

Dr. Njenga further emphasized that PS Kenya remains committed to sustaining these gains, ensuring that every woman has the right and opportunity to make informed reproductive health choices.

Key achievements include mobile outreach clinics and community health volunteers reaching underserved populations, youth-friendly services reducing teenage pregnancies, and tailored FP solutions for people with disabilities.

Additionally, DESIP strengthened healthcare systems by training providers, equipping facilities, and integrating FP services into primary care. These interventions have significantly enhanced family planning access, improving maternal health outcomes and advancing Kenya’s FP2030 commitments.

As a result of these efforts, thousands of women in remote areas have gained access to contraceptives, maternal health education, and postnatal care services, significantly reducing unintended pregnancies and maternal complications.

Stakeholders are focused on ensuring that the momentum in reproductive health equity continues. Kenya’s commitment to FP2030 goals, a global initiative to expand voluntary, rights-based family planning, remains steadfast. PS Kenya and other health partners are now looking to integrate sustainable financing models, policy reforms, and community-driven approaches to keep FP services accessible.

The National DESIP Dissemination Conference not only celebrated past achievements but also set the stage for the future of reproductive health in Kenya. With stronger health systems, innovative solutions, and unwavering stakeholder commitment, the country is poised to continue its progress toward universal access to family planning services.

For Kenyan women, families, and communities, the impact of DESIP will endure for generations to come, ensuring that reproductive health remains a fundamental right not a privilege.

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