Six years remain in Kenya’s quest to achieve the targets for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 to reduce maternal deaths to less than 70 pe
Six years remain in Kenya’s quest to achieve the targets for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 to reduce maternal deaths to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortalities to less than 12 per 1000 live births. Kenya, like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, is facing significant challenges in its development journey. Despite ongoing efforts, progress towards SDG targets remain off track, highlighting the urgent need for substantial commitments and investments to transform the current situation.
Despite adopting global initiatives like Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) and the Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) frameworks in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) rates remain remarkably high, at 355 per 100,000, and 21 per 1,000 live births respectively.
Stakeholders in the maternal and newborn health space have collectively identified several complex factors undermining maternal and newborn health in Kenya’s health system. These include, among others;
As a country well known as the home of marathoners, there is need to rapidly accelerate its pace towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality by addressing these challenges.
“We must entertain and sustain the discussion to accelerate the attainment of SDGs on Ending Maternal, Stillbirths and Newborn Deaths. The top leadership of this country (Kenya) and all partners will be involved in every detail to ensure that Kenya is be among the countries leading the way in Sub Saharan Africa.” Dr. Edward Serem, Head of the Division of Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Ministry of Health, Kenya
In response to the above challenges, Options joined a host of other partners for the inception meeting ofthe Gates-funded Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative (OMMI) Project on the 28th March. Under the overall leadership of the International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH) Kenya, Options will implement the project in Nairobi and Bungoma Counties with a focus on ensuring MNH is prioritized in policies, plans and budgets and ensuring that decision-makers are held accountable for their delivery.
Options will work with decision-makers at all levels of the system to ensure that MNH priorities, including lifesaving commodities, are included in workplans and budgets. We will also provide institutional support to ensure that funds flow to the service delivery level through the implementation of the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) Act. We will work with civil society to hold government accountable by tracking commodity availability and MNH expenditure. Finally, we will work with county and sub-county teams to insitutionalise the Maternal Perinatal Death surveillance (MPDSR) system, ensuring follow up actions by decision-makers.
Bungoma County has been listed as one of the 10 high burden counties with high maternal and perinatal deaths in Kenya. In 2016, MPDSR was formally adopted as a strategy to investigate and document the causes of maternal and perinatal mortality and the institutionalization of actions to prevent similar deaths occurring again. These actions, when implemented, can significantly improve the quality of care and the prevent delays in referring mothers in labor to facilities for delivery.
The OMMI Project was launched in Bungoma County on the 3rd April 2025, with strong support from the leadership of the Department of Health in Bungoma. The County Executive Committee Member for Health commended the project saying it’s timely given the urgent need to revitalize investments and commitment to improve the MNH situation in the county.
“The launch of the OMMI project marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in Bungoma County. We are excited to welcome this initiative, which aligns our strategic priorities in improving maternal and child health. As a county, we fully commit to supporting the OMMI project to ensure its success, as its impact directly translates to better health outcomes for our mothers and newborns. Together, we can build a healthier future for Bungoma.” Carolyne Makali, the County Executive Committee Member for Health
Reference