Kakamega: Kakamega County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lwala Community Alliance to improve maternal health. The partnership follows concerns over the worrying case of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), one of the leading killers of expectant women in Kenya and globally.
According to Kenya News Agency, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a condition associated with severe or excessive bleeding after childbirth and has lately raised concern in medical circles following reports from the World Health Organisation that result in around 70,000 deaths every year. The Chief Executive Officer of Lwala Community Alliance, Julius Mbeya, said the Alliance is deploying the use of a technology known as Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) to control haemorrhage, which accounts for more than 50 percent of maternal mortality.
He was speaking at the Kakamega General Hospital during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Kakamega County Government and Lwala Community Alliance to reduce materna
l mortality. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 report indicates that Kenya’s maternal mortality rate stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 births, the infant mortality rate stands at 32 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the neonatal mortality rate stands at 21 deaths per 1,000 births.
Mbeya noted that with this partnership, maternal deaths in Kakamega County could be further reduced. He said research has proven that the technology, when used alongside other interventions, can reduce the fatality rate at the facility level by 49 percent.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) describes the Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment as a low-cost first aid device that limits persistent Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) by reducing blood loss and stabilising women until treatment is available. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment be used as a temporary measure until appropriate care is available.
Mbeya commended Kakamega County for making progress in reducing m
aternal mortality, noting that skilled delivery rates stand at around 90 percent, with the majority of mothers now delivering at health facilities. He highlighted that the NASG has been deployed in counties like Migori, Homabay, and Baringo, resulting in positive outcomes. He emphasized the importance of addressing the maternal mortality rate, which stands at 355 mothers dying out of every 100,000 deliveries, to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.
Acting County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Peninah Mukabane, welcomed the partnership, highlighting that the NASG garment, alongside other interventions, will help reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. She noted that Kakamega County’s neonatal mortality indicators are at 23 deaths per 1,000 deliveries, and maternal mortality is at 316 deaths per 100,000 deliveries.
Mukabane explained that the county has made strides in improving maternal health, including partnering with AMREF on the Linda Mama programme in 2016, which incentivized
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to escort expectant mothers to health facilities. The United Nations International Children Fund (UNICEF) also supported a programme that increased Antenatal Clinic Visits (ANCs) and skilled deliveries.
In the MOU, Lwala Community Alliance committed to training health workers, supplying NASG to about 25 health facilities initially, offering mentorship, providing reporting tools for data collection, and conducting quarterly monitoring visits. Mukabane expressed hope that the partnership would scale up to over 200 facilities.
The County Government of Kakamega is committed to implementing the MOU by engaging stakeholders, ensuring program supervision and quality assurance, and stocking facilities with necessary drugs. Acting Chief Officer for Public Health, Rose Muhando, stated that the county is strengthening the Community Health Strategy, with 100 percent coverage by about 4250 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across 425 Community Health Units, to ensure pregnant mothers
attend Antenatal Clinics (ANCs).
Research shows that where a mother dies during childbirth, the newborn’s survival is unlikely, emphasizing the need for high-impact interventions to protect both mother and child.