Kilifi county has recorded a massive reduction of maternal deaths as a result of a high increase in the numbers of women delivering in health facilities.
Authorities attributed the reduction to the sensitisation programme organised by the Health department in the grassroots to ensure expectant mothers deliver in hospitals.
Currently, the number of those delivering in hospitals has increased and, in some health facilities, there is limited space leading to a demand for more maternity facilities.
The revelations were made at the Kilifi County Teaching and Referral Hospital during the official handing over of maternal health care facilities donated by SportPesa Foundation to help them handle the increased demand for maternal health services.
The foundations's maternal health care programme officials, led by Esther Kang’ethe and the brand ambassador and Kenya's celebrated boxer Fatuma Zarika, donated various items.
They include beds for the maternity wards, delivery beds, patient trolleys, procedure trolleys, patient monitors, pulse oximeters, vital sign monitors and dopplers to improve its maternal health care services.
Kilifi Health executive Charles Dadu said they are also planning to take the sensitisation to another level by ensuring they start awareness from the Nyumba Kumi level to ensure every pregnant woman receives the services.
Dadu said their aim is to ensure all women deliver in health facilities so as to end maternal deaths completely.
He added that they are in the process of packaging maternal health awareness content which will be played on television screens across the maternity facilities in the county to enlighten the women whenever they visit hospitals.
The executive thanked SportPesa for using champions and ambassadors in spread the message that it is possible to end challenges of maternal health.
“When you look at those women who die due to complications, it's because of lack of blood or other health challenges which were not detected early. Here, we have critical care units which are able to detect such threats early and address them,” he said.
Kilifi county reproductive health coordinator Ken Miriti said in 2013 Kilifi recorded 407 maternal mortality deaths out of the 100,000 births.
He said currently they are recording an increase in mothers coming to deliver in hospitals which has contributed to the reduction of maternal deaths as expectant mothers are able to get proper medical care.
“Right now, we have tripled the number of deliveries conducted across the county which are done in hospitals,” he said.
Miriti said the support by Sportpesa to help monitor mothers during labour will go a long way in further reduction of maternal mortality.
SportPesa Foundation launched its maternal health care support programme in March 2021 to equip the maternity units of needy hospitals across Kenya to promote safer hospital deliveries.
The foundation's project lead Kang'ethe said they have been keen on supporting maternal health services and managed to reach out to seven counties.
She further said Kilifi was the first county to benefit from the programme this year, adding that Sportpesa was keen on supporting maternal health care.
“The need for these maternal healthcare services is growing by the day in Kilifi which leads to overcrowding in the maternity ward, a very risky affair especially during these Covid-19 times,” she said.
Zarika, on her part, emphasised the need to reduce teen pregnancy rates by stepping up family planning sensitisation efforts.
“I plead with our young women to seek counsel and support from the government on family planning," she said.
" Giving birth at a young age should give you the drive to work harder for your children as I have done in my life, rising above the challenges to better their lives.”
Zarika, who gave birth while still a teenager said she was inspired to pursue a career in boxing to fend for her baby, a sport that has catapulted her to the global stage.
Others present during the handover ceremony include chief officer for health Bilal Madzoya, Kilifi hospital medical Superintendent Eddy Nzomo and matron Janet Rotich.
Nzomo said, as a referral hospital, they are in dire need of support for maternal health care as the number of women delivering in hospitals has increased three times in the last three years.
“When we see donors seeking to provide support in the maternal health care for us, we do really appreciate. We thank the sponsors and the Health department for allowing the donors without any restrictions,” he said.
Rotich said in November last year they admitted 668 mothers and conducted 531 deliveries, while in December it was 585 mothers and 527 deliveries.
“We have a range of 520 and 600 deliveries per month so our bed capacity is 51. When we look at the numbers that we have its not tallying meaning we have of challenge of space,” she said.
Jacqueline Dama, a mother of three from Misufini who delivered a baby boy at the hospital, said all her children were delivered at the hospital safely, adding that the health workers were doing a commendable job in ensuring the safety of the mothers.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
