Duale Announces New Govt’s Plan to Curb Maternal Deaths

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed that the ministry is working on a campaign to improve maternal health following reports of high mortality rates in the sector.
In a statement on Saturday night, Duale revealed that the administration would be launching a strategy dubbed “No Woman Should Die While Giving Life” to ensure every woman who seeks maternal health leaves healthy.
“No mother who visits any of our health care centres, not as a patient but healthy and happy, should die,” he stated.
“Already introducing a key strategy that is dubbed ‘No Woman Should Die While Giving Life’ through deliberate actions to improve access to skilled birth attendants, quality healthcare, and better healthcare systems.”
He further relayed that the campaign would be funded on a county-by-county basis, seeing as some counties are more affected by the phenomenon than others.
So far, Duale noted that over 20 counties are on the radar for high maternal mortality rates.
However, he also urged pregnant women to seek prenatal care early in their pregnancy journey to ensure sufficient care throughout.
“We urge our women to start prenatal care early, see a health care provider throughout the pregnancy, and be sure to attend postpartum visits, which can help to prevent and treat severe pregnancy-related complications,” he stated.
Duale was replying to a report byCitizen TVthat highlighted the plight of women who pass on during childbirth, even after going to the hospitals for the procedures.
This was mainly due to postpartum haemorrhage, where mothers bleed excessively after birth, but most hospitals lack the resources to stop the deaths that might occur as a result.
Understaffed hospitals, low blood banks, and scarce ambulance services have also been linked to the rising number of postpartum deaths.