Health experts are pushing for faster and more practical steps to improve child, newborn and maternal health in Kenya, with the Director-General for Health warning that the country is still off track on key targets as it races towards the 2030 development goals.
Speaking in Mombasa on Friday during the opening of a major medical forum, Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said the focus must now move away from repeated discussions and concentrate on actions that deliver clear results on the ground.
He noted that progress has been recorded in recent years, but gaps remain wide, especially in reducing deaths among mothers, newborns and young children.
Amoth delivered his remarks during the official opening of the 25th Kenya Paediatric Association Annual Scientific Conference held in Shanzu under the theme “Countdown to the SDGs – Fast Tracking Results for Every Newborn, Child and Adolescent in Africa.”
The meeting brought together paediatric specialists, policymakers and development partners to assess progress made so far and agree on practical steps to improve healthcare delivery across the country.
He cautioned that some key child health indicators are still worrying. He said “newborn mortality” currently stands at 21 per 1,000 live births, while “under-five mortality” is at 41 per 1,000, showing that more effort is needed to meet national targets.
Amoth also raised concern over persistent challenges affecting children and adolescents, including high stunting levels and increasing cases of adolescent pregnancies.
He said these conditions “pose significant risks to the country’s human capital and economic future,” adding that urgent and focused action is needed to reverse the trend.
To address the gaps, the Ministry of Health is introducing targeted programmes aimed at improving results in counties carrying the highest burden of maternal and newborn deaths.
Among the measures is a Rapid Results Initiative focusing on reducing maternal and newborn deaths in affected areas, alongside the rollout of the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan.
The plan is designed to improve consistency in the quality of care provided in health facilities and ensure essential services are delivered in a standard way across the country.
Amoth stressed that Kenya already has solid health policies and guidelines in place but the main challenge remains putting them into practice at health facilities.
“Kenya has strong policies and guidelines in place, but must now close the implementation gap by ensuring consistent application at facility level,” he said.
He urged paediatric experts to take a more active role in strengthening healthcare delivery through clinical audits, mentorship of frontline workers and continuous support for health workers in lower-level facilities.
He also called for greater involvement in ongoing policy reforms, including the Health Care Professionals Policy and the Patient Safety and Quality of Care Bill.
On healthcare financing, he said the Social Health Authority has made progress in expanding access to medical services across the country.
He said the agency has “enrolled over 30 million Kenyans, improving access to care,” but insisted that expanded access must be matched with quality service delivery.
“Quality service delivery remains the responsibility of health professionals,” he added.
He further pointed to continued investments in neonatal equipment and essential medical supplies, urging health workers to ensure they are properly used to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Amoth reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working closely with paediatric professionals and other stakeholders to strengthen the health system.
He said collaboration across sectors will be key in improving outcomes and ensuring no child or mother is left behind as Kenya pushes towards its 2030 targets.
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