Launch of TICAH's New Food and Herb Guide
In 2006, TICAH was invited into HIV peer support groups to teach on the connection between food, herbs, and how our bodies run. The aim was to support HIV affected families with low-cost strategies to increase health, prevent disease, and treat common illnesses with food and herbs. We were invited as a result of our publication, “Using Our Traditions: A Herbal and Nutritional Guide for Kenyan Families,” which we now affectionately call “the Guide.” This book became the cornerstone of our Healthy Household community work. Thanks to the support of Egmont Trust and Segal Family Foundation, we were able to revise and print an updated edition of the Guide that we launched on 21st August!
Kate, a graduate of the Healthy Household program who helped with the new edition, had this to say about the new Guide, “The old Guide was helpful, but this new one is so much more practical! The diseases that were added came from us [graduates of the program] and others in the community. I think the guide will help the community a lot by reducing diseases overall. When we use food and herbs that are inexpensive and easy to find, we are able to prevent diseases from spreading since we are able to start treating them right away.
To read more about the launch of the Guide, please click below. If you are interested in learning more about the new Guide or if you would like to purchase a copy, please contact us at +254-710272175. The Guide is 25 USD.
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The Public is Seeking Out Herbal Medicine
The Medicine Shield Garden is a TICAH created and managed herbal medicine demonstration garden with over 146 medicinal plants, located at the National Museum of Kenya. During the pandemic, it has become a popular site to visit.
Martin Odiambo, TICAH’s resident herbalist who manages the garden, said that during normal times he sees maybe 10-15 people a day, but during the past few months, he’s been hosting 20-30 people a day, all who are seeking out the garden to ask specific questions about which plants can help boost immune systems and treat symptoms of COVID-19.
In response to the volume of people asking where to purchase plants such as artemisia (a powerful herb that can boost immune systems), TICAH started a small nursery of seedlings to sell. So far TICAH has sold over 400 plants and raised 48,000 Kenyan shillings to grow more seedlings and buy food for families in need.
To learn more about TICAH’s Medicine Shield Garden, please check out our sites page by clicking below
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Children's Art Resumes after Months at Home
After months of being away from school and from friends, children of Kibera, Kawangware, Majengo, and Viwandani slums who participate in TICAH's Children's Art Program were finally able to get together again. This program uses art, movement, and games to help young children find ways to express themselves, communicate with their guardians, and heal from trauma.
Getting together once again, under new social distancing and mask rules, the children were so excited, many cried! They shared what the past few months looked like for them and together created beautiful pieces and relaxed within this safe space. Many children like "Grace" (whose story you can read here) have found healing within these spaces. "I have been able to heal from that painful experience and with the help of my mentors and facilitators, I am a TICAH champion," Grace said. We are excited that we are able to get back into the communities to support the children.
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Conversations about Reproductive Health Stir Action and Justice
COVID 19 has exacerbated existing sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. We’ve seen this with the rise of teenage pregnancy, high numbers of unsafe abortions, and sexual and increased gender-based violence. One of the underlying causes leading to these cases is the lack of information on sexual and reproductive health.
The Aunty Jane Hotline team developed a strategy to reach targeted groups of women. We held community dialogues with girls and women and policymakers in five counties; Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, Homabay, and Eldoret. The dialogues were to ensure that girls and women know their rights when it comes to accessing information and quality services on SRHR, and disseminate the Aunty Jane Hotline toll-free number so that SRHR information is accessible to all people.
The dialogues were successful, we had fun having people from the older generation talk to the young people given that in most cases, it’s difficult for parents and older people that young people look up to, to share information on sexual health.
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