The Ministry of Health has announced a comprehensive set of measures to tackle the high rates of maternal and newborn deaths, aiming to improve access to timely and safe healthcare while strengthening Universal Health Coverage across the country.
The interventions are expected to enhance patient care in both public and private facilities, ensuring that women and newborns receive professional, respectful, and life-saving attention.
The unveiling took place during the 4th graduation ceremony of the Training Institute of Specialised Nursing at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital. The ceremony marked the graduation of 77 nurses trained in critical care, oncology, perioperative, and nephrology nursing—the largest class since the institute opened.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale explained that the ministry’s strategy includes launching a national Reproductive-Age Mortality Survey to capture accurate data on the causes and scale of deaths among women of reproductive age. In addition, the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system will be fully digitized and rigorously applied, while stricter clinical standards will be enforced in all health facilities.
The enhanced standards cover patient triage and referrals, readiness of operating theatres around the clock, availability of oxygen and blood supplies, neonatal resuscitation, consultant support, and the practice of respectful maternity care.
“These measures align resources and skills with real-time data to make our interventions timely, targeted and life-saving,” Duale said.
He called on all health facilities to ensure functional theatres, carry out regular emergency drills, and treat respectful maternity care as a professional requirement rather than an optional practice. “Safety must be a system property, not a slogan,” he emphasized.
Duale also noted that these steps form part of broader reforms under the Fifth Administration’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, which includes improving healthcare financing, guaranteeing medical commodity supply, promoting local manufacturing, and building a skilled and ready health workforce.
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing digital health systems, strengthening the Social Health Authority (SHA), and ensuring efficient service delivery through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
These initiatives aim to provide affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Kenyans.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, KUTRRH Board Chairperson James Kibugu, CEO Dr Zeinab Gura, and several senior health officials.
