Healthcare

Margaret Nassim Health Care Nominee # ZuriAwards 2021 is the Founder of Connect to Retain based in Kilifi County. Due to the rising cases of teen pregnancies and the high H.I.V prevalence prompted her to start the organization.

Benda Kithaka Health Nominee # ZuriAwards 2021 is the Founder of Kilele Health which empowers cancer survivors to take charge of their health, improve quality of life and use their stories to inspire others and carry out physical fitness through hikes, mental wellness coaching, spiritual purposeful living through community awareness and financial wellness through income generating activities.

Rhodah Kariuki a psychologist with undergraduate degree from the Multimedia University. As we may know primary mental health care services play an important role in prevention and early intervention efforts to reduce the prevalence and impact of mental health problems amongst young people. Twa Assist Kenya was founded with an aim of providing a nurturing environment that supports emotional, psychological, physical, social, and spiritual growth. Twa Assist Kenya begun it work building relationship with small groups in the community, identify their mental health burden and offering therapy and education on mental health and referring others to a more specialized treatment.

Prof Catherine Gachutha and the Chairperson of the Community Anti Drugs Coalition of Kenya (CADCKe). She is a Counselling Psychologist/Researcher/Author and Educationist with twenty-five (25) years of practice in different institutions. She holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in Psychology from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Master’s in counseling studies from Durham University, UK. She was trained initially as an educationist and later a psychologist and researcher. She is a proprietor of Maranatha Restoration Homes, a rehabilitation center for Substance Use Disorders and Mental Disorders (https://maranatharh.co.ke). She is an accredited Counsellor Supervisor with Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association(KCPA) and a member of the International Association of Counselling (IAC), Internationally Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP Level II), Global Master Trainer with Colombo Plan, Sri Lanka. She has been a member of the Kenya Certification Council in NACADA and the Chairperson of the Community Anti-Drugs Coalition of Kenya (CADCKe).

Judy Akinyi is a journalist and content creator by profession. She founded Mamba Tufo in 2018 , an organisation that helps communities on matters mental health. They offer free counselling to people suffering from various mental illness disorders and visit schools to create awareness on mental health.

Talking Hands Listening Eyes on PPD was born out of a need in December 2020. This was to assist her and other deaf mum’s to inform the society and also the deaf people of the challenges the deaf mothers go through. When She gave birth in 2019 she went through a rough patch of postpartum depression and realised nobody reaches the deaf in this line. This is because having walked the journey she knows how lonely it can be.

Yasmin Mohammed Nassur is a passionate feminist advocate and the driving force behind SUPERB CBO, an organisation in Kibera that champions menstrual health, body autonomy, and gender equity. Raised by her grandmother after her mother’s death when she was nine, Yasmin experienced firsthand the shame, stigma, and health challenges that come with inadequate menstrual knowledge and resources. Determined to change this cycle, she launched SUPERB in 2018 with its acronym standing for Safe‑space, Underserved, Persistent, Empower, Resilient, Bold to create supportive platforms where girls and young women can openly talk about menstruation and access hygiene products with dignity.

Salome “Sally” Agallo Kwenda is a remarkable survivor and leader whose journey through cervical, colon, and rectal cancer and living with HIV since 1999 has fueled her unwavering dedication to healthcare advocacy. Known affectionately as Sally, she co-founded Stoma World Kenya in 2010 to offer vital support to those living with ileostomies, urostomies, and colostomies . With over two decades of community mobilisation and public speaking under her belt, Sally brings courage and authenticity to every initiative, striving to dismantle stigma and bring practical relief to ostomates across Kenya.

Pasqueline Njau is the compassionate guiding spirit behind the Calmind Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Westlands, Nairobi, dedicated to improving maternal mental health across Kenya. With empathy at the core of her leadership, Pasqueline partners closely with healthcare workers, policymakers, and mothers-to-be, raising awareness of postpartum depression and anxiety. She began her journey as a speaker at maternal mental health training sessions and soon grew into a national advocate, addressing gaps in early detection and support systems for pregnant and postnatal women.

Muna is part of an outreach program focused on pregnant and lactating women aims to enhance their health, wellbeing, and empowerment through community-based support, education, and advocacy. Its mission is centered on ensuring maternal and child health by providing accessible health education on prenatal and postnatal care, nutrition, family planning, and hygiene, while also emphasizing the importance of skilled birth attendance, antenatal visits, and immunizations. The program actively engages communities by identifying women in need, mobilizing local resources, and reducing harmful practices that affect maternal health.