Maternal mortality is still significantly high with the latest statistics pegging it a 355 for every 100,000 births. To mitigate this, professionals drawn from various sectors in the Obstetrical and gynaecological sector are holed up in a four days conference in Mombasa the main aim being to deliberate on possible avenues to lower the statistics.
Dr. Kireki Omanwa is the President of Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecologist Society. He said:
“Maternal mortality rates are still at a worrying figure at 355 per 100,000 births. There are some counties where the Maternal Mortality Rate is a bit higher. We are going to deliberate about this problem and see where the bottlenecks are and advise the government. There’s also an issue of delivery of safe maternity care starting preconception, during pregnancy that is ante natal care and after delivery as well.
All these are geared towards better care to our patients. Dr. Kireki also termed climate change as a real threat that has not spared the health sector.

“We can see what we are experiencing now that of late we have had very high temperatures and even His Excellency The President called for a day of prayer for the rains. Climate change is affecting our patients in the sense that wheb it’s dry we don’t have enough food. This will affect our pregnant mothers because they won’t have enough for the unborn.

The President said we should Plant five Billion trees, we symbolically planted trees here and we wish that Kenyans will take up this initiative.
On the same breath, Dr. Edward Serem who is the Head, Division of Reproductive and maternal health at the ministry of Health. Representing the Cabinet Secretary, he said:

“I have to note that we are all gathered here as healthcare providers so that we can share knowledge in matters Reproductive health. We are here to learn from one another. The government is pleased to inform that the government has invested heavily in the healthcare sector especially in the reproductive and maternal health. The latest KDHS report indicates that we are on the right track especially in respect to provision of family planning products to reduce Teenage pregnancies. We are happy to report that the efforts put by Ministry of health have borne fruit now that the percentage stands at 15% and we are pushing to have it on single digit.. also the focus is on maternal mortality which is at 355 for every 100,000 deaths. All these are geared towards improving the quality of health care to all mothers. The Ministry of health this year allocated 1.19 billion Kenya Shillings for provision of family planning products. We are also keen to eradicate in total the female genital Mutilation which currently stands at 15% according to the latest reports.”