Summary

Program goals

The BOMA program aims to improve health outcomes of the people in Magadi through implementation of a community health strategy.

Magadi Division is an arid area classified under the hard-to-reach regions of Kenya. It is home to the nomadic Maasai community who are predominantly pastoralists and strongly conservative in culture. Cultural practices such as early marriages, female genital mutilation and dieting by women during pregnancy impact negatively on health. High reliance on unskilled traditional birth attendants and illiteracy levels which are as high as 70 per cent is directly linked to high maternal and child mortality

Key program components

The Boma model enhances delivery of essential packages for health through the establishment of community units (including: community health workers, community health extension workers, community health management committees and strengthened facility health management committees) which bring health closer to the people.

The Boma model strategy encourages community participation through the development, testing, promotion and adoption of appropriate models of improving health.