In the remote Maasai community of Morupusi, in Kenya's Laikipia County, desperately needed healthcare is finally within reach thanks to a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Overseas Anglican Aid's partner, the Mothers' Union of the Anglican Church.

As part of their The Road Less Travelled project, they are training a new generation of community health workers to bridge the gap between traditional practices of nomadic pastoralist communities and formal health facilities. These workers are equipped with basic health care skills and live within their communities to offer a cost-effective, accessible and community-owned health resource.

Elizabeth Kaparo trained as a community health worker as part of the project in 2012. One of the most important aspects of her role is to visit expectant mothers to improve their health and wellbeing, ensure the health of their child and identify any risks in the lead up to the child's birth.

Elizabeth says community health workers have found it hard to convince pregnant women, especially those in the early stages, to attend the antenatal clinic. 'When we approach women, they confront us, asking us who told us that they are pregnant,' she says. But attitudes are changing for the better she says, with many women now attending antenatal check-ups.

Among them is Theresa Maskonte from the Morupusi community. She is one of very few women in the area who has given birth in a health facility (giving birth at home reamains the cultural norm). Theresa started attending antenatal check-ups when she was six-months pregnant with her first child after receiving a home visit from a community health worker. She delayed starting the check-ups because she felt ashamed. 'I feared walking around in case I met with my former classmates who were still in school,' she says.

Theresa had a good experience at the health facility despite her initial reservations. 'In the hospital, one does not stay for long with pain, the hospital is clean, and the nurses put on gloves, unlike at home where every woman wants to assist you and sometimes they are dirty [their hands are dirty] and could make you have an infection. In the hospital also, one is 'sewn' but there is nothing like that at home,' she says.

'I would advise other women to give birth in hospital, because they have an opportunity to be tested, advised on the right diets, advised on how to prevent the communicable diseases, and also on which chores to do and which ones to avoid [during pregnancy and post-delivery].'

While considerable health challenges remain for nomadic pastoralist women, community health workers like Elizabeth are starting to make a positive impact. The number of mothers accessing antenatal care is on the rise and at least three pastoralist women have given birth safely in health facilities, supported by skilled birth attendants. Plans are now underway to distribute safe birthing kits, which will help women whether they choose to give birth at a clinic or at home–another positive step on the road to safer birthing practices.