Kakuma – November 27, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The Department of Health and Sanitation, in collaboration with Amref Health Africa, has completed a two-day review of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) data for the last two quarters. The meeting targeted county and all sub-county health management teams.
The goal was to strengthen RMNCAH services through improved data quality and enhanced evidence-based decision-making across the county. The primary healthcare interventions such as multi-disciplinary teams are key in ensuring early identification of maternal complications.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS 2022), mortality rate has decreased from 52 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, and infant mortality rate from 39 to 32 deaths per 1,000 live births. The neonatal mortality stands at 21 from 22 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The leading causes of maternal complications in Kenya are haemorrhage (52%) and obstructed labour (28%). These can be addressed through the availability of Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) services.
This past week, the County Government received EmONC mentorship equipment to help build the capacity of healthcare workers in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.
In his opening remarks, the County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Dr Epem Joseph Esekon, urged the community health strategy team to map out expectant mothers using existing systems and guide those nearing delivery to move closer to health facilities for safer births.
“Until we know where our expectant mothers are, how they are, and when they are due, we cannot effectively keep them and their children safe,” he said.
Dr Epem commended the Turkana South MPDSR committee for its effectiveness and responsiveness in ensuring quality data and also recognized the Kibish team for recording zero perinatal and maternal deaths in the last two quarters.
The Deputy Director for Family Health Services, Gabriel Lopodo, reported that 15 maternal deaths were recorded in Turkana between January and September 2025. “We have had at least 208 still births in Turkana, translating to about 24 stillbirths per month in our health facilities. This should stop,”
He called for stronger community engagement to encourage health-seeking behaviors that would see more mothers deliver in health facilities.
“Between January and September 2025, out of 20,290 deliveries in Turkana, 139 neonatal deaths and 15 maternal deaths were recorded. While we have made notable improvements, these data calls us to quick action,” said Director Lopodo.
Participants were reminded that while national priorities focus on quality of care and training, the county priority remains access and social behaviour change for maternal and neonatal health.
Reinhard Anzeze, Child Health Technical Officer at Amref Tucheze Tustawi, shared the progress made by the Tucheze Tustawi project since inception early this year. This project integrates play and communication approaches into nurturing care during early childhood development.
“Holistic early childhood development will be realized when we embed responsive caregiving and opportunities for early learning during routine RMNCAH activities. We have noted that defaulters are more receptive to care when introduced to toys and other play activities,” he said.
Development partners present, including DANIDA and Imarisha Jamii, showcased their activities, key achievements, challenges, and potential areas for collaboration to improve RMNCAH outcomes in Turkana.
The CECM guided the team in establishing action points to be reviewed in the next meeting, emphasizing accountability of MPDSR teams. “We need to be the first county to hold weekly MPDSR meetings, and in no time, we will be celebrating significantly reduced mortalities,” he said.
Supported by the Lego Foundation, Imarisha Jamii, and DANIDA, the meeting brought together development partners, county and sub-county health management teams, public health nurses, health record’s information officers from the 11 sub-counties, and facility in-charges from the seven main sub-county hospitals.
The Sustainable development Goals (SDG) targets to reduce neonatal mortality rate to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births, and under-five mortality rate to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.
