In Njanina Village, Ward 7, harmful traditions around infant feeding had been passed down for generations. New mothers were often told to give their babies thin porridge, cow’s milk, or herbal mixtures within days of birth. Elders believed breast milk alone was not enough, and few women felt confident to go against these instructions.
That began to change when the Care Group approach was introduced in the village. Each Care Group is made up of small clusters of households led by a trained Lead Mother a respected woman from the community who regularly meets with fellow mothers to share life-saving health and nutrition information. In Njanina, that role is played by Hamunyari, a soft-spoken but determined mother of Five who has become a trusted voice in her community.
Every month, Hamunyari gathers the mothers in her group under the shade of a big msasa tree. She uses simple, visual tools to explain the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and the dangers of giving other foods too early. But her sessions go beyond teaching—they are safe spaces where women can speak freely about the pressures they face from in-laws, husbands, and elders and has become a big support system for most women in the community.
Slowly, attitudes began to change. Grandmothers who once insisted on early feeding started saying, “We didn’t know, we thought we were helping.” Husbands began to attend community health talks, and some even reminded other men to support their wives in breastfeeding.
Neighboring women from Grace care group are testifying that their children hardly get sick and they always look healthy due to exclusive breast feeding and continued breastfeeding. For Hamunyari, the most rewarding part has been watching women gain the confidence to make their own choices. “At first, many mothers were shy to speak up,” she said. “Now, they are free to talk about their experiences.”
In Njanina Village, the Care Group is more than a meeting but it is a movement. With the leadership of dedicated women like Hamunyari, it is challenging harmful norms, protecting the health of babies, and giving mothers the courage to stand up for what they believe is right.