A high-level health workshop, bringing together key stakeholders from Kisii, Makueni, and Mombasa counties, is underway in Kisii, with a focus on ways of tackling maternal deaths.
The event, facilitated by Jacaranda Health and ThinkWell, is part of the ongoing Kenya Quality Ecosystem initiative aimed at strengthening health systems and improving service delivery across the country.
Speaking during the session, Kisii County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health, Ronald Nyakweba, highlighted the county’s significant progress in addressing maternal health challenges while giving credit to strategic partnerships with organizations like Jacaranda Health and ThinkWell in supporting the county’s efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
“Kisii County has made major strides in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. Through our partnership with Jacaranda Health and ThinkWell, we have implemented key interventions that have brought down maternal mortality to approximately 30% and neonatal mortality to 12%,” Nyakweba stated.
The workshop aims at assessing progress, share best practices, and develop joint strategies to further lower maternal and neonatal mortality.
The counties, under the Kenya Quality Ecosystem initiative umbrella seeks to enhance health infrastructure, optimize health financing, and strengthen referral systems in order to improve service delivery.
Nyakweba however expressed concerns over the suspension of funding by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He revealed that the funding had been supporting 518 healthcare workers in Kisii County, and the 90-day suspension was bound to disrupt services.
“We have been informed that PEPFAR, which channels the U.S. government funding through CDC, will suspend funding for 90 days as new directives from the U.S. administration are awaited. While this is a temporary suspension, it affects a significant number of health workers. However, as a government, we have a contingency plan to ensure healthcare services remain uninterrupted,” he said.
Makueni County’s CECM for Health, Dr. Paul Musira, underscored the importance of inter-county collaboration in tackling the issue at hand saying Makueni had made significant progress particularly by addressing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) – one of the leading causes of maternal mortality.
“Now, our focus is on managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, which are emerging as a major cause of maternal deaths,” Dr. Musira said.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen referral systems, ensure timely access to emergency obstetric care, and expand neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to cater to preterm babies.
Chief Officer for Health in Mombasa County, Dr. Shem Pata, echoed the sentiments while emphasizing the role of digital innovations in improving maternal health outcomes.
Pata said Mombasa had integrated mobile health solutions to disseminate critical health information to pregnant women.
“Through our collaboration with partners, we have reached over 18,000 pregnant women with SMS-based health education. This has empowered mothers to recognize danger signs early and seek medical care in time, reducing maternal and neonatal complications,” Dr. Pata said.
Jacaranda Health’s Country Director, Dr. Job Makoyo, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting counties in achieving better maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Makoyo explained that Jacaranda Health, in collaboration with ThinkWell, has been working closely with county governments to enhance service delivery, improve health financing mechanisms, and ensure the effective use of verified data in decision-making.
“Our goal is to support counties in strengthening their health systems in order to address barriers leading to high maternal and neonatal mortality. This includes improving access to quality healthcare, enhancing referral systems, and ensuring health facilities have the necessary resources to provide life-saving interventions,” Dr. Makoyo said.
He also noted that Jacaranda Health had introduced a two-way SMS platform known as PROMS, which enables pregnant women to access vital health information and seek medical advice remotely.
“We look forward to fruitful deliberations over the next few days, where counties will share their successes, challenges, and best practices. Our collective goal is to ensure that every mother has access to quality healthcare and that preventable deaths are significantly reduced,” Dr. Makoyo concluded.
The free service has been instrumental in bridging the gap between expectant mothers and healthcare providers.
Kisii County Elijah, Obebo, reiterated the county’s commitment to improving healthcare services.
“The Kisii County Government has prioritized maternal and child health by investing in healthcare infrastructure, promoting our healthcare workforce, and ensuring that our facilities are equipped to provide quality services. We appreciate the support of Jacaranda Health, ThinkWell, and other partners in making this a reality,” the Deputy Governor said.
Obebo emphasized the importance of sustained partnerships and inter-county collaboration in achieving universal health coverage and reducing maternal and neonatal deaths nationwide.
By Misheba Alfred