It was a beautiful day, and everybody was excited...the man who was born of a Kenyan father had decided to lift the global gag rule. In doing so he had helped to save his sisters, mothers and aunts back in Africa. Tears streamed down so many eyes as it started sinking in that it was actually true: the gag rule had been lifted... I could not hold back tears as I stayed glued to the TV in Nairobi taking in the story.
Even as President Obama entered his new position of power, he was quick to remind the American people, as well as the rest of world, that we were going to face challenges. I agree with him that we are facing challenges, but I believe that we will overcome them if we work together. Acknowledging we still face problems resonated well with my country Kenya and also with African women at large.
The last many years of Bush's rule saw a decline in contraceptive security in countries like mine. But it also brought a new way of thinking. Why can't our own governments commit to protecting their own mothers, wives and daughters from unwanted pregnancies and unnecessary abortions?
2015, the target date by which the global community intends to reach the Millennium Development Goals, is not far away and maternal mortality poses a greater danger to this resilient continent than ever before. I believe Obama has demonstrated his appreciation for where he comes from by the stroke of his pen. Mothers in this part of the world would say "We are glad that you have returned us to the days when we can access family planning services irrespective of how rich or poor we are." Having healthy women will make a whole lot of difference: when we are healthy we will continue tilling the land and feeding our nations. When we are healthy we will continue taking care of children whose fathers left them. When we are healthy we will actualize what Ted Turner said: "I think we men have messed up the world and should just move over and allow the women to do it."
After peace was restored in Kenya following months of political unrest, women candidates won elections by a landslide majority and continued to even in subsequent elections. What that means is that the Kenyan voter has realized that it's about time he or she give a woman the chance to represent the country's citizens in elected office. I feel like we have voted twice. First we have increased the number of women in Parliament but secondly we have been given an opportunity to protect ourselves from unintended pregnancies.
Even though the US elections are big news in this part of the world, I cannot resist warning African governments and especially mine: Don't wait for Obama to do what you were supposed to do from the beginning, and provide contraceptive security to your women. I am happy that funding for UNFPA will be restored and more women will be reached but I don't want our governments to sit on their laurels.
African governments should now follow Obama's example and put a pen to paper saying that a budget line for contraceptives is mandatory, and that mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that every woman on the continent have access to the family planning method she wants when she needs it. The recession does not reduce the importance of the budget line at all!
In Kenya the budget line for education does not fluctuate based on the country's financial footing. The same should apply to family planning.
On behalf of the women and girls of Africa, I say thank you once again for making it so that a woman will be able to get the contraceptive she needs when she needs it. Contraceptive access will reduce the chances of women dying. While African governments are still behaving as if our mother's lives are not worth saving, it's imperative that you Americans help African women by cracking the whip on corrupt African governments. It's this corruption that takes away money which could otherwise go to organizations dealing with the reproductive health and rights of women.
By reducing the number of women who die or are injured, we can increase the number of women who make it to decision-making positions.
Obama has given African women something to help them make the right choices, but our governments also need to take responsibility. By his signature many women are going to be saved but...our governments owe it to us to do more than expect handouts where women's lives are concerned.
