Kenya's Status on Maternal Health

 According to the government, 5,550 women die each year due to pregnancy and other maternal complications. A shocking statistic that gets worse with 10,000 children being lost annually with 25% dying within the first week of birth. As you went about your day today, 15 women somewhere in the country lost their lives. Maternal health is being threatened by the high health costs, services not being available or if available not being accessible in time.

Pregnancy is among key emergency health services that is not treated with the urgency it demands. Those few microseconds a woman goes into labor is a matter of life and death, both for the mother and child. The global health campaign “Every child, every Woman” has seen two nations overcome international boundaries and make maternal health a priority. South Africa and Bangladesh have joined hands to show the world that indeed successful pregnancies can be a reality. The campaign has seen the two countries incorporate mobile technology in healthcare with emergency responses being rapid and timely, saving thousands of women.

In reducing high risk pregnancies and mother-child HIV infections, Kenya needs to step it up a notch higher. HIV remains the no one most funded diseases in the country thus the financial burden of healthcare only gets worse when maternal health is not checked.

While we promote family planning to reduce the nation's 17% rate of unwanted pregnancies and further lower the neonatal death rate from 30%, care for mother and child cannot be over emphasized.

Most nations have been accused of giving more attention to the mother during pregnancy and doing little afterwards hence child death is on the rise. While it is important to ensure a successful pregnancy, it’s paramount to take into account what happens to the mother and child later. This is where factors of nutrition, regular hospital checkups, immunization and other key health services come into play in ensuring the longevity of mother and child. Access to maternal health services should be an integral part of any national healthcare plan to ensure achievement of MDGs and in Kenya seeing the reality of vision 2030.

The first lady's Margaret Kenyatta, has pointed out that the Beyond 0 campaign is an excellent example of how the UK places value on new born babies. The campaign is aimed at reducing and possibly eradicating child mortality hence its name.

Imagine a world where no child has to die. Poor maternal health practices is costing the country its generation. Of unrealized dreams, unexplored potentials and the traumatic blaze it imprints on the mother. A mother who may never try again.

What can Kenya do to improve its status on maternal health?

The conversation continues…