Kenya has launched a renewed push to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, with the inauguration of a national steering committee to strengthen surveillance and response.
The Ministry of Health says each reported death will trigger corrective measures, guiding reforms in emergency care, referrals, blood supply and staffing nationwide.
The initiative launched on Monday is anchored within Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda and aligns with the government’s commitment that no woman should lose her life while giving birth and no newborn should die from preventable causes.
It will be advanced through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan.
According to the Ministry of Health, the National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) framework will be operationalised at facility, sub-county and county levels through “routine, structured and action-oriented review meetings”.
Officials say the aim is to ensure that each reported maternal or perinatal death leads to immediate corrective action.
“Each reported death will prompt immediate corrective measures to ensure lessons learnt translate into concrete system reforms,” the ministry said.
Findings from the reviews are expected to guide national decision-making, particularly in addressing persistent gaps in emergency obstetric care, referral systems, blood availability and staffing shortages.
Authorities say the evidence generated will inform policy reforms, targeted financing and coordinated implementation across the health sector.
The MPDSR approach seeks to transform loss into learning by turning every maternal and perinatal death into actionable insight that protects future mothers and newborns.
As part of the reforms, the government outlined several measures to strengthen maternal and newborn services.
Policy directives to the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Digital Health Agency (DHA) will enable maternity reimbursement for qualifying Level 2 and Level 3 facilities.
Officials say this will strengthen primary healthcare and reduce financial barriers to skilled delivery.
The SHA benefits package is also under review to ensure full alignment with national maternal and newborn care guidelines. At the same time, ambulance referral systems are being reinforced to improve timely access to lifesaving services.
The government has also pledged to strengthen the National Blood Transfusion Services to address critical blood shortages identified during MPDSR reviews.
Counties have been urged to prioritise human resources for health through recruitment, equitable deployment, continuous professional development and motivation of frontline health workers.
During the inauguration ceremony, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, called on healthcare providers to uphold “the highest standards of professionalism, dignity, compassion and clinical excellence in maternal and newborn care”.
He tasked the Steering Committee with ensuring that its recommendations lead to tangible improvements in health facilities, referral networks, commodity security, financing mechanisms and workforce support.
The event was attended by senior health officials and development partners, including Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards), Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga (Medical Services), Director General for Health Patrick Amoth, Council of Governors CEO Mary Mwiti, and representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO.
Officials say the renewed focus on surveillance and structured response aims to close systemic gaps that have long contributed to preventable deaths.
By institutionalising routine reviews and linking findings directly to policy and financing decisions, the ministry hopes to strengthen accountability at all levels of care.
The initiative marks a significant step in Kenya’s broader UHC strategy, with authorities emphasising that sustainable progress will depend on coordinated implementation, adequate financing and consistent follow-through on review findings.
