Introducing myself and my journal

About Me:
My name is Salma Maro, a Senior Information Officer in the Ministry of Information and Communications in Kenya. I am fluent in oral and written English, Swahili and understand basic French.

I am passionate about Journalism work, and report consistently in general news and features articles covering a wide range of topical issues, including but not limited to women reproductive health, social and economic empowerment of women, politics, environment and human rights. Health is a basic human right for all, according to Kenya’s new constitution, but women continue to face challenges of access to family planning, prenatal and post natal services. The need for women’s voice in decision making processes at all levels of society, rights of women and access to water and other natural resources, conflict and how it impacts on women and children, among other gender issues.

In Coast province, and specifically Mombasa County where I am stationed, women are daily confronted with challenges of HIV/Aids, drugs and substance abuse, lack of awareness about cervical and breast cancer, early girl marriages, illiteracy, prostitution and low bargaining power for condom use and poverty, lack of women voices in family planning especially those in rural areas and malaria.

I hope to share experiences with online friends on pertinent issues affecting women, children and society in general, and hopefully gain critical skills to enable me report better on these issues and more.

Thank you.

My Passions:
Travelling, Reading, writing (Journalism), watching television, making new friends and networking

My Challenges:
Accessing training opportunities to hone my writing skills, especially for topics on women and children rights, social, economic and political empowerment of women, health, environment, education, and conflict sensitive journalism

My Vision for the Future:
To be a highly trained, experienced and proactive Media practitioner penning relevant news and feature articles that will spur social, economic and political developments for the country, and also positively transform the lives of for local communities,

My Areas of Expertise:
General news and features writing, reporting Environment issues, health, education, reproductive health, conflict