Our story & mission

Passion to impact
in the healthcare sector.

Two Kenyan female paediatric surgeons on a mission to ensure that a child's chance at a healthy life is not decided by their family's income.

Passion to impact in the healthcare sector

A child's survival should not depend on a postcode.

Mission

Why we exist

To advocate for children in need of surgical care by raising awareness, empowering caregivers, and strengthening healthcare systems to ensure equitable access to quality paediatric surgical services.

Vision

Where we are going

A future where every child has access to timely, safe and life-saving paediatric surgical care, regardless of their background or location.

Why children fall through the cracks

Why Children Fall Through the Cracks

Three intersecting barriers rob children of life-saving care every day in Kenya

Financial Catastrophe
Families delay or abandon care due to impossible hospital bills
Out-of-pocket costs equal 3–6× monthly household income
Missed Early Diagnosis
Frontline workers lack training to identify conditions at birth
Social and cultural beliefs affecting health care-seeking behaviour
No national screening protocol for congenital anomalies
Broken Referral Systems
No digital pathway from community dispensary to specialist
Children lost between county facilities and referral centres
No centralised database tracking congenital surgical cases

OUR SOLUTION

When we do this
→ this happens → this changes.

1
Train health workers
Dispensary staff identify conditions early — at birth or infancy
2
Early identification
Cases flagged before they become catastrophic and harder to treat
3
Seamless Referral
Tech enabled pathway: child → ambulance → tests → surgeon
4
Surgery & care
Children receive operations regardless of family income
4
Children Thrive
Back in school. Aftercare ensures every recovery lasts.

MEET THE FOUNDERS

The surgeons behind the mission

Dr. Sarah Okebe
Dr. Sarah Okebe
Co-founder & Paediatric Surgeon
Consultant Paediatric Surgeon combining clinical expertise with public health leadership to expand access to quality surgical care for children. Trained at the University of Nairobi and University of Liverpool, with experience leading national-scale health programmes and training healthcare workers across Kenya.
Dr. Sarah Okebe
Dr. Yvonne A. Olwang
Co-founder & Paediatric Surgeon
Consultant Paediatric Surgeon combining clinical expertise with a strong commitment to global health and expanding access to quality surgical care for children. Dedicated to delivering precise, compassionate care that improves outcomes and enables children to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Ready to lend your voice?

A Child’s Future Shouldn't,
Depend on a Postcode.

You can change that—today.

Email
info@voicesforlittlelives.com
Phone
+254 724 222 703
+254 722 582 714
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Fund a Child’s Surgery Become a partner Call us

Studio House 3rd Floor, Marcus Garvey Road · P.O. Box 285-00200, Nairobi

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