Juani (joo-ah-knee) began in 2023 and was created to address the unmet healthcare needs of women in Sega, Kenya. Our name is derived from Swahili and literally means "in the sun" while the verb Kujua means "to know." Juani was founded by a group of clinical and public health practitioners and women's health champions seeking to improve reproductive and maternal health outcomes in Siaya County.

Juani is a community-based organization (CBO) in Siaya County and a fiscally sponsored project of U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit Empowerment WORKS. We're prioritizing initiatives that improve the health of women and girls in our community, including increasing access to obstetric and women's health services, improving health literacy, and addressing gender-based violence within our community.

This year, we're raising money to support our cervical cancer prevention and gender-based violence support initiatives.

Cervical Cancer Screening & Prevention

Cervical cancer is currently the most deadly cancer affecting women in Kenya. We're planning to purchase a thermocoagulator device (approx. $1500 USD) for use in our clinic to treat precancerous lesions of the cervix. Thermocoagulation is recommended by the World Health Organization for treatment of precancerous cervical lesions in resource limited settings. Presently, women with positive cervical cancer screening results are referred to an outside clinic for thermocoagulation. However, this presents challenges such as transport costs to the partner clinic and loss to follow-up.

Gender-Based Violence Prevention & Support

We're launching an economic empowerment program to empower survivors of gender-based violence within the community. We've enrolled two needy families who have received support, including counseling and donations of food, school and hygiene supplies, and cash transfers. We plan to support these women and their families as they learn to grow vegetables and rear piglets. Our two families currently receiving support are Margaret, who cares for her eleven children (six grandchildren + 5 orphans) and struggles with food insecurity, and Catherine, a single mother of four children - two of which are not currently attending school due to financial hardship.

Juani’s Third Annual Silent Auction

Support our Women's Health Clinic in Sega, Kenya