• Lonyangapuo awarded for improved access services at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
• Out of 100,000 women 400 die during childbirth in the county. Major cause of death prolonged labour as they reach hospital too late.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has received the Saving Mothers Service Award in the New York for service, leadership and devotion to Women'a health.
He was honoured for improving access to health services at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
Saving Mothers officials said they have been visiting West Pokot annually since 2016 and were impressed by progress at the referral hospital, including cleanliness and reproductive surgical theatre for women.
Speaking in Kapemguria after 11 doctors visited the county to perform free fistula surgery, Saving Mothers director Taranesh Shianzian said that she was impressed by improved standards at the county referral hospitals.
“I am passionate about women's health and I am always happy when I see governments striving to improve it,” she said.
It’s the joy of every mother to have a healthy child. Let’s embrace giving birth in hospitals.Governor John Longyangapuo
During the 10-year Saving Mothers anniversary, money was raised to purchase solar panels for Sebit Health Centre. It was upgraded to a health centre last month.
Kanyarkwat and Sebit Health Centres have been identified as Centres of Excellence in training rural birth attendants who save mothers' lives.
Lonyangapuo said that he was grateful to Saving Mothers for the immense support it gives the county.
“My government remains steadfast in ensuring residents get quality services in all our health facilities,” he said, adding that it is committed to ensuring that maternal deaths decline.
“It’s the joy of every mother to have a healthy child. Let’s embrace giving birth in hospitals,” the governor said.
Out of 100,000 women 400 lose their lives during childbirth in the county. The major cause of death is prolonged labour since they are taken to the hospital when it is too late.
(Edited by V. Graham)