NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has announced a comprehensive package of interventions aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths, marking a renewed push to strengthen the quality of care under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale unveiled the measures during the 4th Graduation Ceremony of the Training Institute of Specialised Nursing at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), where 77 nurses graduated in critical specialities, including Critical Care, Oncology, Perioperative, and Nephrology Nursing.
The CS said the new framework is designed to ensure that “every mother and newborn receives timely, safe and dignified care.”
Among the new strategies, the Ministry of Health will launch a Reproductive-Age Mortality Survey (RAMOS) to establish the true scale and causes of deaths among women of reproductive age. In addition, the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system will be digitised and standardised nationwide to enable real-time data-driven interventions.
Other measures include enforcing higher clinical standards in hospitals — covering triage and referral systems, oxygen and blood availability, 24-hour theatre readiness, neonatal resuscitation, respectful maternity care, and consultant support.
“These measures align resources and skills with real-time data to make our interventions timely, targeted and life-saving,” said Duale. “Safety must be a system property, not a slogan.”
Duale reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering quality and equitable healthcare through the Fifth Administration’s UHC framework, anchored on:
- Sustainable healthcare financing;
- Commodity security and local manufacturing;
- Digitisation of health systems; and
- Strengthening a fit-for-purpose health workforce.
He further emphasised the ongoing transformation of Kenya’s health institutions through the Social Health Authority (SHA), KEMSA reforms, and the Digital Health Superhighway, aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and access across all levels of care.
The ceremony also underscored Kenya’s growing investment in specialised health training, with the 77 graduates forming the largest cohort since the institute’s inception. Duale commended the graduates for their dedication, urging them to uphold professionalism, integrity, and continuous learning as they enter the healthcare workforce.
“Our nurses are the backbone of the health system. Their skill and compassion save lives daily,” he said.
He was joined by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms. Mary Muthoni, KUTRRH Board Chairperson Mr. James Kibugu, and CEO Dr. Zeinab Gura, among other dignitaries.
The initiatives are expected to accelerate Kenya’s progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 target of ending preventable maternal and child deaths.
