Nairobi: Migori County is set to benefit from strengthened maternal and child healthcare services following a renewed partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This follows a high-level courtesy visit by a UNICEF delegation to Migori Governor Dr. Ochillo Ayacko, during which both parties reaffirmed their commitment to improving health outcomes and addressing key social challenges affecting the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, UNICEF Kenya Representative Dr. Shaheen Nilofer stated that the organization will continue to partner and engage with Migori County to support transformative development in the health sector. Dr. Nilofer emphasized UNICEF’s commitment to establishing the country’s value propositions and determining how best it can assist in improving the health sector. The visit was aimed at assessing ongoing interventions and identifying areas where the agency can scale up support, particularly in maternal and child health, water and sanitation, and public health emergency response systems.
The health sector is recognized as key in addressing challenges like maternal health for the well-being of children and women. Nilofer explained that strengthening the partnership with Migori County will ensure better support for maternal and child health services, as well as addressing the Triple Threat-new HIV infections among adolescents and young people, adolescent pregnancies, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)-and public health emergencies.
In addition, Nilofer emphasized the importance of sustaining investments already made while strengthening collaboration with the county government. She thanked Governor Ochillo for his administration’s efforts in ensuring the county remains free from open defecation. ‘We will always support the County governments on critical indicators to enable them to take the lead on public health and the well-being of society’, she stated.
Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohamed, who accompanied Dr. Nilofer, said that strengthening county collaboration on key social and health challenges will aid Governor Ochillo’s administration in solving health problems like maternal death, the triple threat, and combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She acknowledged that her office, in partnership with UNICEF and the County government, is committed to establishing a rescue center for FGM and GBV survivors in Nyatike Sub-County to provide access, protection, care, and a pathway to victims’ recovery.
Migori Governor Dr. Ochillo Ayacko elaborated that the partnership will serve as an opportunity to discuss and reinforce ongoing collaboration in addressing critical issues affecting the Migori Society. He praised UNICEF as a steadfast partner in their shared mission to combat FGM, GBV, early pregnancies, and enhance maternal and child health services across the county. Ochillo added that the county has already made progress in strengthening healthcare systems, including capacity building for community health promoters and medical staff. ‘We have also embarked on constructing maternal and newborn units in Level Four hospitals, an initiative that will require additional support in terms of equipment, staffing, and essential medical supplies’, concluded Ochillo.
