Homa Bay County has recorded a significant decline in maternal and newborn deaths, marking a major milestone in its efforts to improve reproductive and child health services.
County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health Mercy Osewe said this was possible through sustained partnerships and targeted investments, highlighting the county’s long-standing collaboration with Lwala Community Alliance.
Speaking during a ceremony for the presentation of donated delivery kits at the county headquarters, she said this partnership with the Non-Governmental Organization focuses on strengthening the continuum of care from conception to postnatal services.
“Through this collaboration, we have strengthened our community health systems, trained maternity nurses, and equipped our facilities, leading to a notable reduction in postpartum bleeding and improved newborn survival,” said Osewe.
She noted that investments at both community and facility levels have been key, with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) playing a critical role in linking households to healthcare services, while facility management committees have enhanced supervision and service delivery.
The 44 delivery kit sets procured at Sh7 million by Lwala were described as a targeted intervention aimed at strengthening maternal and newborn care.
Lwala Community Alliance Chief Executive Officer, Julius Mbeya, reiterated the organization’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes.
“No woman should die giving birth because pregnancy is not a disease,” he said, adding that the Homa Bay model is being expanded to 15 counties across Kenya.
Dr. Kevin Osuri, Chief Officer of Medical Services, reiterated the implementation of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) framework has enabled the county to identify systemic gaps and respond effectively in terms of curbing maternal mortality.
“We have significantly identified the gaps that have been endangering the lives of our mothers and newborns and the donation we have received today is specifically tailored to address those gaps,” he said, noting that the impact of these interventions was already evident.
“Our hospitals are now safer, and women feel more confident delivering in our facilities. Newborns are also not left behind because there has been a significant reduction in deaths. In fact, we have gone for almost a year without recording a fresh stillbirth,” he said.
He commended Lwala for its continued engagement with the county, noting that the support provided is based on identified needs within the health system.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga praised the partnership, revealing that maternal deaths in the county dropped from 39 in 2023 to 22 in 2024, adding, “One life lost during childbirth is one too many. While we have made progress, our goal is to reduce maternal deaths to zero.”
She noted the delivery kits will support up to 2,200 safe deliveries at a time across health facilities, having an impact on mothers, newborns and midwives.
The governor also announced plans to recruit additional healthcare workers to address staffing shortages and further improve service delivery.
She commended frontline health workers for their dedication and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems.
The county, which previously recorded 148 consecutive days without a maternal death, is now setting its sights on achieving a full year without such a loss.
By Sitna Omar
