Beyond Zero

Last updated

Beyond Zero
Founded24 January 2014
Founder Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta
Type Non-government organization
FocusHealth
Headquarters Nairobi, Kenya
Location
Area served
Kenya (47 Counties of Kenya)
ProductMaternal and child health clinics
HIV testing and counseling
Fistula treatment
Other health services
MethodFree mobile clinics
Key people
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta Patron
Endowment Government of Kenya
Website Beyond Zero Campaign homepage

The Beyond Zero Campaign is an initiative launched by Kenya's First Lady, Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta. Its goals are to improve maternal and child health in Kenya, and to reduce new HIV infections among children. [1] The campaign was unveiled in 2013 on World AIDS Day, and launched on 24 January 2014. Many international organizations have joined Kenyatta and the Kenyan government in supporting Beyond Zero.

Contents

The campaign's first action was the donation of fully equipped mobile clinics to several counties in Kenya during the summer of 2014, beginning with Taita Taveta County. [2]

Objectives

Beyond Zero has the overall goal of eliminating all preventable maternal and child deaths in Kenya by 2023. It has three primary objectives: [3]

The initiative is a component of the Office of the First Lady's 2013-2017 Strategic Framework, [4] which supports United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) #4 and #5.

The strategic framework encompasses five key areas: [1] [4]

  1. Accelerating the elimination of HIV.
  2. Mobilizing funds in support of maternal health, child health, and HIV control initiatives.
  3. Educating men in support of the Beyond Zero efforts as clients, partners, and agents of change.
  4. Engaging communities to eliminate barriers to access to HIV, maternal and child health services.
  5. Providing leadership, accountability, and recognition to accelerate the attainment of HIV, maternal and child health targets.

Partners and funding

Partners and funders have included:

The initiative is also supported by an annual half-marathon, in which Margaret Kenyatta runs. [10]

Successes

Under the initiative, there has been a reduction of HIV infections among children from 12,000 cases in 2013 to 6,600 in 2016. [11] The number of women delivering without skilled health workers dropped from 56% in 2013 to 34% in 2016. [12] Maternal deaths decreased from 6,000 to 4,000. [11]

By January 2019, Beyond Zero had donated 52 fully equipped mobile clinics to the 47 counties in Kenya. [12] Some counties received more than one clinic.

2018 expansion of scope

The initiative expanded its scope in 2018 under the Second Strategic Framework of the Office of the First Lady (2018-2022) [12] [13] to add the following goals:

Recognition

National recognition

International recognition

Criticism

Beyond Zero has been criticized for under-funding its mobile clinics, leading to a shortage of personnel and basic supplies. [20] There have been allegations of corruption in the awarding of prizes at the annual half-marathon. [21] [22]

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References

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  3. 1 2 Kidula, Olivia (20 September 2014). "44th Edition of Concours d'Elegance to support Maternal Healthcare". AfroMum. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (1 December 2014). "DSW lends support to First Lady's 'Beyond Zero campaign'". DSW. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  5. "Madonna in Kenya to support Beyond Zero initiative". MadonnaTribe. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  6. "Safaricom to provide support to Beyond Zero Half Marathon – Nairobi News". Kenyan Tribune. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  7. "Beyond Zero receives boost in bid to improve healthcare in Kisumu". Business Today Kenya. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
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  11. 1 2 "Impressive scorecard for Beyond Zero as First Lady unveils new roadmap to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission | The Presidency". www.president.go.ke. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 Mungai, Allan. "'Beyond Zero' extends help to women who have fistula". The Standard. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  13. "First Lady Beyond Zero campaign targets women with fistula". Citizentv.co.ke. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
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  22. Opalo, Ken (13 May 2019). "Why are Kenyans protesting their government?". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2019.