Last Friday, Ololulung’a Sub-County Hospital in Narok South hosted the graduation of our latest Pregnant Adolescent Groups (PAG) cohort. 14 adolescent girls and young women completed the programme, celebrating alongside the mentors, Community Health Promoters, and healthcare workers who supported them throughout.
Localised Support leads to Transformational Impact
The need for localised support is clear: in Narok County, 28% of adolescent girls have ever been pregnant, nearly double the national average (KDHS 2022). On paper, the PAG programme is a health education programme covering antenatal care, safe delivery, newborn health, and future planning. In practice, it addresses a much deeper barrier: social stigma and isolation. By bringing expectant young women together in a safe, judgment-free space, the programme builds the confidence needed for young women and girls to access local healthcare.
28% of adolescent girls in Narok have ever been pregnant, nearly double the Kenya’s national average
KDHS 2022
For these 14 graduates, the impact and transformation is undeniable. Many shared that before joining, they felt overwhelmed and isolated. Today, they leave as informed mothers equipped to care for their babies, manage their health, and continue pursuing their education.
The bonds developed within this cohort were clear. Four of the graduates even went on to deliver their babies on the exact same day! They delivered at Ololulung’a Sub-County Hospital itself, demonstrating the girls’ growing trust and confidence in seeking healthcare and delivering in hospital.
Closing the Care Gap
Each graduate went home with a gift pack containing lesos (traditional cotton fabric) and plant-based sanitary pads donated by our partner, Neli & Co, a Kenya-founded sanitary brand supporting our Team Mum project.
While the weeks following childbirth are a critical window for a new mother’s physical recovery, basic hygiene products remain an expense that many young families in rural regions like Narok cannot afford, especially when balancing the new costs of a newborn. This partnership is essential because it directly addresses health equity and dignity. By supplying chlorine-free pads made without phthalates, perfumes or dyes, Neli & Co gives these young women access to safe, comfortable hygiene materials and the dignity that comes with them.
As a Kenyan business reinvesting 10% of profits into local health and sanitation ventures, Neli & Co helps us reinforce a simple model: maternal health advanced by Kenyan communities and businesses working hand in hand.
The Journey Ahead
Graduation is a launchpad rather than a finish line. These fourteen young women leave the programme with practical health knowledge, a trusted connection to their local health facility, and a peer network that will serve them well into the future.
Congratulations to the graduates!
Want to see more of this work? Learn about our Team Mum project here.
The Pregnant Adolescent Group programme is delivered in partnership with our dedicated Community Health Promoters, the team at Ololulung’a Sub-County Hospital, and our partners at Neli & Co.