Down the slopes of a remote hill in Engaruka is the home of Rehema Paulo, a mother of seven, four boys and three girls. Like many women in her community, Rehema gave birth to most of her children at home, an experience shaped by the stark lack of nearby healthcare facilities.

“I can’t remember how old I was when I had my first child,” Rehema recalls. “I delivered the first six children at home and the last two at a hospital.”

For Rehema and countless women in Engaruka, home births are not a choice but a necessity. The closest equipped hospital is over 64 miles away, a journey that is both financially and physically draining. The challenges became painfully evident during her fifth pregnancy.

“I lost my fifth child prematurely. I don’t know what happened. I only had some very painful pains and then I miscarried,” Rehema shares. Despite the loss, she never sought medical care. Like many in her community, she managed the aftermath with herbal remedies.

When she became pregnant again, the risks multiplied. “With the last two pregnancies, I went through a lot of challenges. I delivered safely from home, but my stomach became swollen, and I couldn’t pass urine. I had to travel all the way to Karatu for treatment,” she recounts.

The Reality of Healthcare Deserts

In Rehema’s community, the absence of a well-equipped hospital forces women to rely on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). While some TBAs have experience, they lack the training and resources to handle complications.

“Our local dispensary was only opened recently,” Rehema explains. “But it doesn’t offer specialized services. We rely on TBAs, but they don’t have the equipment hospitals have.”

This gap in healthcare access has been costly for Rehema. After the delivery of her sixth child, an inexperienced TBA left the placenta inside her womb. For three agonizing months, Rehema endured severe pain.

“I almost died. I had to sell my parcel of land to afford the journey and medical bills at Karatu hospital, 65 miles away,” she says.

A Community’s Hope for Change

Rehema and her neighbors are eagerly awaiting the completion of the Engaruka Health Community Hospital. “We feel like this hospital has taken a long time to be completed. We know it will help us a lot. It’s close to home, and we wouldn’t have to spend so much on transportation,” she says with hope.

Beyond maternal healthcare, the hospital will address other pressing needs. “My youngest son has been suffering from eye problems for a while, but I can’t afford to take him to a hospital far away. We’ve had to rely on traditional herbs, but he’s really suffering,” Rehema says.

The Case for Universal Healthcare

Rehema’s story is a testament to the urgent need for universal healthcare. In her remote village and others like it, healthcare is not just a right but a necessity to prevent avoidable suffering and loss. The completion of the Engaruka Health Community Hospital will be a vital step forward, bringing lifesaving services within reach of families who have waited far too long.

Accessible, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare must be prioritized to ensure that no mother, child, or family is left behind. The hospital at Engaruka is not just a building,it is hope for a healthier future for generations to come.

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