The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening antenatal care (ANC) services as a vital step toward reducing maternal and neonatal deaths across Kenya.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from global health initiative UNITAID, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, emphasized that improving ANC is at the heart of the Ministry’s efforts to boost health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
“Our biggest goal now is to make significant progress in maternal and neonatal care. A strong antenatal care programme is critical to achieving that,” said Dr. Oluga.
The UNITAID delegation including Mr. Matthew Black, Mr. Romane Theoleyre, and Ms. Jeffrey Smith was in Nairobi ahead of a National Stakeholders Workshop set to chart strategies for enhancing maternal and newborn health in the country.
Dr. Oluga noted that building the skills of healthcare workers will be key to the success of these efforts. “We are prioritizing the orientation and capability of our health workforce to effectively deliver on this mandate,” he said.
He further underscored the value of strategic collaborations, stating that working closely with partners like UNITAID will be crucial in driving sustainable progress in maternal and newborn care.
