Nancy's work is holistic and encompasses a deep understanding of the various factors that hinder early intervention and overall well-being.
She embarked on her journey by strategically positioning herself as an advisor at Gertrudes Children's Hospital, East and Central Africa's largest children's medical facility. As an influential thought leader in the pediatric healthcare domain, Gertrudes not only serves as a beacon of innovation but also acts as a referral hub for 20 public hospitals, amplifying its impact across a vast network. Moreover, Gertrudes' pioneering utilization of telemedicine establishes important connections to five remote and underserved regions, further extending its reach and influence.
Her initial mission was to advocate for the implementation of early hearing screening tests at birth within the hospital's framework. However, through conversations with hospital personnel, doctors and administrators, she unearthed the intricate complexities that hindered the seamless integration of universal screening tests. Nancy's insights revealed that while the initial testing phase proved relatively straightforward, subsequent assessments demanded specialized technology and controlled environments. Furthermore, she unveiled instances where diagnostic tests were inadvertently overlooked in the fast-paced hospital environment. Nancy's identification of systemic gaps within Gertrudes sparked a wave of change that transcended the introduction of early screening. With her insights as a guide, the hospital was empowered to institute measures that directly addressed the challenges at hand. For instance, recognizing the need for controlled environments and specialized technology, Gertrudes introduced dedicated well-equipped rooms ensuring that children requiring further evaluation could undergo tests in optimal conditions, thereby increasing the accuracy of their diagnoses.
This partnership's ripple effect is noticeable, as the transformative changes initiated within Gertrudes resonate across its extensive network of partners, propelling a wider transformation in pediatric healthcare practices and inspiring a collaborative commitment throughout the region. Her work is, however, not limited to Gertrudes and its networks of hospitals, she also plans to include midwives working in clinics in peri-urban and rural areas to make sure hearing loss does not go undetected and is screened at birth.
Nancy's work extends beyond the medical system, including a profound understanding of another challenge within the landscape: the crucial role of parents and caregivers. Recognizing that timely interventions often fail due to issues like information overload, societal stigmas, and a lack of cohesive support, she's pioneering an empowering program tailored for parents of children with hearing loss. Central to Nancy's approach is cultivating a network where firsthand experience becomes a powerful tool for mutual support, elevating parents to the role of case managers providing peer-to-peer support amongst each other. This interconnected community not only shatters isolation but ensures practical wisdom is shared, and psychosocial concerns are addressed. Nancy's realization that empowered parents foster early interventions amplifies her impact, as equipping parents with knowledge, resources, and advocacy sparks a community-wide revolution that propels children with hearing loss toward brighter futures. A key feature of this network is the use of WhatsApp groups, where parents can share information and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. This has been particularly beneficial for parents who have felt overwhelmed by the amount of information available online or they receive from different sources. By sharing their own experiences, parents are able to provide each other with practical advice and emotional support.
Moreover, she has developed a range of programs, including Home-Based Comprehensive Care, Hangout Hub, and Talent Academy. Home-Based Comprehensive Care targets families with children aged 0-2, providing case management and a roadmap for deafness intervention. This initiative creates a trusted space for families to access resources, fostering healthy language development through early interventions. Hangout Hub is a program for families with children aged 3-6, offering interactive experiences that promote language growth, emphasizing fun activities and peer interactions. This program helps children develop social skills, communication abilities, and self-esteem. Talent Academy focuses on nurturing talent and training Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) content creators, amplifying communication and inclusion. This program not only equips individuals with the tools to communicate effectively with the deaf but also promotes KSL as a language of inclusion, advancing the creation of a society where barriers are dismantled, and deaf individuals can participate fully and unencumbered. Nancy currently has been able to reach 5000 parents across 5 districts in Kenya through this support network. Currently she has 308 children enrolled in these programs.
Nancy is steadfastly driving her vision of inclusive change to become the norm in society. Leveraging social media platforms, she employs YouTube as a powerful tool to showcase her work, highlighting the remarkable talents of deaf children, and sharing inspiring stories and interviews with parents. This strategy amplifies awareness, educating the masses about the challenges faced by the deaf community and the transformative solutions being championed. A million views on this channel are a true testament to the reach she has with this platform. As an architect of societal change, she has also instituted the "Lugha Ishara Inclusion Clubs" program. By providing staff training in organizational development, interpretation services, and Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) content development, this initiative is fostering a culture of inclusivity. The program not only equips individuals with the tools to communicate effectively with the deaf but also promotes KSL as a language of inclusion, advancing the creation of a society where barriers are dismantled, and deaf individuals can participate fully and unencumbered. Currently 438 staff members across 12 organizations have been part of the inclusion clubs.
Guided by her insights, empowered parents, and undeniable evidence, Nancy stands poised to catalyze transformative policy changes. Armed with the success of her initiatives, she is pushing for the mandatory implementation of universal screening across hospitals by the Ministry of Health. Her approach emphasizes nurse training, necessary resources, and integration into the National Hospital Insurance Fund. Furthermore, Nancy is slowly building a local evidence base in a multilingual context. Most research in this area has been conducted in mono-lingual contexts in the United States or less linguistically diverse areas of Europe. By building a local evidence base that reflects the linguistic diversity of Kenya, Lugha Ishara can develop interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of the community and are more likely to be effective.
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