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Health care industry

Kenya's Maternal Healthcare Performance Praised by Cabinet Secretary Duale

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, has commended the performance of maternal healthcare in Uasin Gishu county, attributing the success to the efforts of healthcare providers. The commendation comes as part of the launch of Kenya's Taifa Care Model, an initiative aimed at ensuring every Kenyan has access to affordable, quality healthcare and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The tour, which included a visit to the Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital, demonstrated the effectiveness of the Taifa Care Model in enhancing maternal and child healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

  • Maternal healthcare in Uasin Gishu county has shown significant improvement, with a high percentage of pregnant women attending antenatal care and postnatal care, meeting World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
  • The county has achieved high rates of immunization, with 76% of children immunized, and a significant increase in the number of mothers delivering in health facilities.
  • The Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital, with its 70-bed capacity, modern theatres, and advanced medical technology, serves as a model for maternal and child healthcare, offering comprehensive services including family planning and postnatal care.
  • Community Health Promoters play a crucial role in healthcare at the community level and are being challenged to scale up efforts to raise the immunization rate to 90%.
  • The Benefits and Tariffs Advisory Panel will on board dental services within a month, developing evidence-based benefit packages and tariffs for the Service and Healthcare Authority (SHA).
  • Dental care will be made more affordable and sustainable, addressing oral health needs through preventive, restorative, and treatment interventions.

Statistics:

  • 8 out of 10 mothers in Uasin Gishu deliver in health facilities.
  • 6 out of 10 children in Uasin Gishu live to see their 5th birthday.
  • 76% of children in Uasin Gishu are immunized.
  • 70% of pregnant women in Uasin Gishu attend antenatal care and postnatal care, meeting WHO recommendations.
  • The Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital has a 25-capacity newborn unit.

Sources:

  • Kenya News Agency, "Health Cabinet Secretary Duale Lauds Performance of Maternal Healthcare in Uasin Gishu"
  • Kenya News Agency, "Cabinet Secretary Launches Kenya's Taifa Care Model, Aims to Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC)"

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