NATIONAL PUSH TO CUT MATERNAL AND NEWBORN DEATHS

The Ministry of Health has moved to establish 10 comprehensive maternal and newborn health facilities , Uasin Gishu being among the ten selected counties.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale hosted Governors and county representatives, led by Council of Governors Health Committee Chairperson and Mombasa Governor H.E. Abdullswamad Nassir, to translate President Ruto's directive on maternal and newborn health into concrete action.

Uasin Gishu County was represented by County Secretary Mr. Philip Melly, CECM Health Ms. Janet Kurgat, Chief Officers Dr. Ambrose Tarus (Clinical Services) and Dr. Billy Lubanga (Preventive and Promotive Health Services), Directors Dr. Evans Kiprotich (Medical Services) and Mr. Laban Kiprop (Preventive and Promotive Health Services), and Huruma Sub-County Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Richard Cheserek.

The 250-bed specialised facilities will be built in Nairobi, Bomet, Kwale, Mombasa, Garissa, Kisumu, Embu, Nakuru, West Pokot and Uasin Gishu.Funded by a KES 4.4 billion grant from Amsons Group under the Mama na Mtoto Kwanza initiative, complementing the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) programme.

 Each facility will offer antenatal/postnatal care, labour and recovery, obstetric care, C-sections, maternal and neonatal ICU, theatres, NICU and post-Caesarean wards.Selection follows mapping of 26 counties accounting for roughly 60% of Kenya's maternal deaths, aligned with WHO benchmarks.

Workforce support: 900 health workers trained in obstetric care, 900 in newborn care, plus recruitment of 5,000 nurses/midwives nationally.

An additional KES 4 billion is being routed through SHA to support deliveries at Level 2 and 3 facilities.

Groundbreaking is expected by September, with discussions focused on tightening national-county coordination for fast implementation.

Uasin Gishu county stands to receive a new comprehensive maternal and newborn health facility as part of this national investment, which will strengthen local capacity for complicated deliveries, neonatal and maternal intensive care, and support the county's broader UHC agenda.