Tana river: Tana River County government has committed to ending preventable childbirth deaths by protecting mothers and newborns through specific reforms that include recruitment of additional specialised personnel. Tana River County is among 26 high-burden counties in maternal mortality crisis, with the devolved government expressing its commitment to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths through strategic health reforms.
According to Kenya News Agency, a 2025 health report indicates that Tana River County is among regions with a high maternal mortality rate, with approximately 265 deaths per 100,000 live births driven by severe postpartum haemorrhage, sepsis, hypertension, and significant health infrastructure gaps. Governor Maj (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana has committed to increasing the number of specialized medical personnel, including obstetricians, pediatricians, and neonatal nurses, in a bold move to curb the rising cases of maternal and newborn deaths.
Speaking when he hosted 15 doctors and speci
alists deployed by the Council of Governors (CoG), Godhana pledged to tackle the challenges in the healthcare sector. Godhana confirmed that the County government, through its Supplementary Budget, has prioritised phased recruitment to address critical human resource gaps in health facilities, particularly in specialist cadres. “We are implementing county policies to improve skilled birth attendance and access to quality healthcare to reduce the burden of maternal and newborn deaths,” he said.
The medics deployed under the Inter County Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response team (IC-MPDSR) are on a weeklong tour of the county to assess the primary healthcare situation on the ground. Under the umbrella of the Council of Governors Department of Health Secretariat, the experts toured Hola, Ngao, and Bura referral hospitals. Through hands-on clinical support, the MPDSYR champions identified key gaps and, together with the county government, identified priority actions, including operationalising
the theatres, restoring dialysis services, strengthening referral systems, and enhancing staffing and facility support.
Governor Godhana said the IC-MPDSR is on a mission to ensure every mother and child receives safe, quality care through collaboration, accountability, and decisive action. The medical experts revealed that out of the 15 women who die daily in Kenya from birth and maternity-related complications, 3 are from Tana River County. The Governor therefore committed to continuously improve medical facilities, infrastructure, and the supply of essential drugs and equipment. This effort aims to reduce the high number of patients being referred to hospitals in neighbouring Kilifi and Garissa counties.
The County Boss further emphasized the importance of partnerships and called on various stakeholders to collaborate with the county government to strengthen healthcare service delivery. “We are expanding skilled birth attendants in underserved areas and scaling up obstetric care for vulnerable groups,” h
e said. He further underscored the county’s commitment to strengthening referral systems, improving facility readiness, and enhancing accountability in service delivery. “The devolved government remains committed to ensuring that every mother and every child in Tana River have access to safe, quality healthcare and a healthy start to life,” he said, adding that the county is committed to primary healthcare revitalisation.
Godhana said his administration would focus on strengthening healthcare delivery at the community levels, increasing investment in health infrastructure, and hiring healthcare workers, especially in underserved communities. He said he is committed to ending preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, noting that no woman should die while giving birth.
Director of Health at the CoG, Dr. Khatra Ali, assured the county of support in addressing the crisis through various interventions. Khatra noted that Tana River is among 26 counties struggling with high maternal and newborn mortality rates, in
cluding neighbouring Garissa and Kilifi counties, and stressed the urgent need for significant investment in the healthcare sector. She said as part of the visiting doctors’ initiative, the people of Bura Sub-county can finally access critical surgical services at their Sub-county Hospital.
Khatra said the CoG’s Health Committee is committed to supporting and strengthening marginalized counties that are grappling with struggling healthcare systems. The official said the CoG health committee is contributing to sustainable solutions to addressing high maternal and child mortality rates in the counties. She said a joint team of doctors from the IC-MPDSR and Tana River county team have just successfully conducted a life-saving Caesarean Section delivery, following a prolonged labour case.
The Director of Health at the CoGs said the Inter-County MPDSR mentorship and peer learning sessions in Tana River are already driving practical solutions to strengthen maternal and newborn care. She said CoG wants the counti
es to significantly increase investments in the health sector to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. The current maternal mortality ratio stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, which must be reduced to 70 by 2030 to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This is a great step in restoring essential healthcare services closer to the people, reducing referrals to Hola in Tana River County and Garissa as well as easing pressure on other facilities,” she said. “Tana River, Garissa, and Kilifi rank among the highest in maternal and infant mortality,” said Khatra and urged the three counties to address the shortage of skilled midwives. She added, “no health system can deliver optimal maternal and child healthcare without an adequate pool of skilled midwives.”
Khatra said the move is a powerful reminder that with commitment, collaboration, and targeted support, county health systems can deliver timely and dignified care to every Kenyan. She said the MPDSR process will support the county in inst
itutionalising routine review of maternal and perinatal deaths, generating evidence-based actions, and ensuring that lessons from every case directly inform improvements in care delivery. “This approach is critical in reducing preventable deaths, improving response time, and building confidence in county health services,” she said. She decried the rising rates of maternal and infant mortality rates in some counties, terming the trend “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
Dr. Mary Maina, a visiting gynaecologist, noted that no woman should die while giving life and urged county governments to make childbirth safer for every woman. “Reducing maternal and infant deaths, which is a critical public health challenge, should be the priority for the devolved governments,” she said.
