The West Pokot District of Kenya is rural and geographically isolated.  A combination of difficult terrain and climate, extremely limited infrastructure, and scant public resources has left the West Pokot District trailing well behind the rest of Kenya on indicators of health and development.  Among the primarily ethnic minority population of 308,000, more than 35% lives in absolute poverty.  Community members have very limited access to quality health services and face a heavy burden of health problems, including high maternal and neonatal mortality, frequent malaria outbreaks, and a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.  High rates of maternal and infant mortality are exacerbated by an extremely high prevalence of the most extreme form of female genital mutilation and the incapacity of health facilities to provide maternal and newborn care services.