Sheilah and Martin

This story is collected by a feminist organization based in Kenya called TICAH (Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health). They run a safe abortion hotline, Aunty Jane Hotline. They collect stories from the women who call or from community women who have accessed abortion services from TICAH's network of healthcare providers.

Amidst the pandemic, in June 2020, Sheilah, a university student, discovered that she was pregnant. She and her boyfriend Martin, who worked at a broadcasting station, chose to terminate the pregnancy.

Unfortunately, the COVID19 pandemic and its effects on reproductive health services made it hard for them to access available and affordable services. 

The limited availability of services and economic uncertainty forced them to first keep the pregnancy, until Sheilah was determined to have the abortion. 

While sharing their situation with a friend, Martin was connected to the Aunty Jane Hotline. He called the hotline to seek more information and possible options for termination. Sheila and Martin were referred to a service provider who could help with the financial means they had available. 

Martin later decided to offer the hotline air-time on his broadcasting show, and he continues to advocate for access to safe abortion in Kenya.