THE FORGOTTEN POPULATION

The Forgotten Population

(In the photo is Young girls carry water on the train tracks that run through the Kibera)

Currently urban poverty is gradually surpassing rural poverty. According to data from the Word Bank, by 2030 poverty will become more predominant in urban areas. It is estimated that in Kenya about 43% of the urban population is poor and majority of them live in slums.

It is here in the slums that most of the people suffer and experience reproductive health problems. No one is actually there to help them since most of the development programs in Kenya are mainly focused in rural areas.

The slum population usually experience high rate of diseases including sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. There is a high HIV prevalence in the ghetto among women and this is caused by gender inequality.

It is in these same slums that there is a high mortality rate. According to a study done in Nairobi slums it was concluded that HIV and TB are the root cause of about 50% of the mortality burden.

Also, it is in these slums where high child mortality is experienced. This is usually caused by child malnutrition and diseases. For most slum dwellers taking children for clinic visits is a luxury they can’t afford.

Sexual violence, especially rape against women, is another common occurrence in this forgotten population. A good example is in Nairobi ghettos where a quarter of the teenage girl’s population are raped each year. This is a serious issue and it has to stop because it leads to other problems such as early and unwanted pregnancy which may lead to unsafe abortion and even death.

Maternal mortality is also common in slum areas due to early pregnancies among teenagers, unsafe abortions and poor health care services. Most of the women usually deliver and home because most health care services does not exist in the slums. This is a big problem because it risks the mother’s health and the child too.

Domestic violence is also common among women in the slums. Sometimes these violence may lead to death and some health complications.

In as much as these areas may pass as urban areas that are doing well, the reality is that policy makers must factor in this crucial population in their programming and policy making.