State hires special doctors to tackle high maternal mortality in counties

Health CS Aden Duale speaking at the graduation ceremony in Garissa town. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Health CS Aden Duale has expressed concern over the high maternal and infant mortality rates in several counties, especially those inhabited by pastoralist communities.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Garissa town, Duale said at least 20 counties have high maternal mortality rates and most of them are in the pastoralist regions.

He said it is for this reason that the national government has partnered with county governments to urgently address the challenge.

"The national government remains deeply concerned about the high maternal and infant mortality rates in counties, especially those inhabited by pastoralist communities. It is in these counties where we continue to lose a significant number of mothers and newborns, even after they have sought skilled care in health facilities," Duale said.

"That is why, as a national government, we have decided to work closely with the affected counties to ensure that we address this challenge once and for all." 

The CS said no expectant mother should lose her life while giving birth, noting that maternity wards should be places of hope and celebration rather than tragedy.

"When a mother goes to a health facility, she is not going there as a sick patient. She is only going there to welcome a bundle of joy. Therefore, she should leave that facility healthy and with her newborn child. It should never be that she comes out dead. Labour rooms should not become death traps for our expectant mothers," Duale said.

His remarks come days after President William Ruto presided over the distribution of medical equipment and vehicles to county governments at State House, a move aimed at strengthening maternal healthcare services and reducing maternal mortality across the country.

"These resources will help us reduce maternal mortality rates and will be distributed to hospitals and health centres across the country," Duale said.

The CS identified inadequate blood supplies as one of the major contributors to maternal deaths and revealed that the government had invested heavily in blood banking infrastructure in counties facing high maternal mortality rates.

"We are all aware that many of the deaths among expectant mothers have been caused by a lack of blood. As a national government, we have invested in blood banks in counties where maternal mortality remains a major challenge," he said.

To strengthen specialised maternal and child healthcare services, Duale said the government had recruited highly qualified gynaecologists and paediatricians who will soon be deployed to the counties.

"We have hired top gynaecologists and paediatricians who will be posted to the affected counties and stationed in major hospitals to provide the much-needed services to our mothers and children. They will be deployed before the end of this month," he said.

He warned that the specialists would be expected to remain at their assigned stations and serve local residents.

"Once we give doctors jobs, we expect them to be stationed in the facilities where they are deployed and offer services to residents there. We do not expect to see them operating from elsewhere while neglecting the communities they were assigned to serve," Duale stated.

The CS also revealed that the national government has set aside Sh4 billion to support primary healthcare facilities, including health centres and dispensaries, as part of efforts to encourage expectant mothers to deliver in health facilities rather than at home.

Ends………Analysis:

Health CS Aden Duale at the graduation ceremony in Garissa town./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Health CS Aden Duale speaking at the graduation ceremony in Garissa town. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO