Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga has called for stronger and more sustainable partnerships to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Kenya, warning that the current numbers remain alarmingly high despite ongoing interventions.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day co-creation workshop on maternal and neonatal health in Nairobi, Dr. Oluga acknowledged progress but said much more needs to be done to prevent avoidable deaths.
“I know when it comes to deaths, we should not compare ourselves, but we are doing horribly bad compared to our neighbours,” he said.
A 2024 USAID report revealed that Kenya’s maternal mortality rate stands at 594 deaths per 100,000 live births, well above the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 by 2030.
The workshop, convened by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Amref Health Africa, UNITAID, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, aims to develop innovative, collaborative solutions to enhance maternal and neonatal care.
Dr. Oluga reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing these deaths and urged all stakeholders to align efforts, saying, “We must act together, urgently and intentionally, to meet our national and global targets.”