Canada to use 3.5 million dollars to alleviate maternal and child mortality

Canada has promised to donate 3.5 million dollars in the next two years to help Kenya reduce high maternal and child mortality rate.
Canada’s High Commissioner to Kenya Lisa Stadelbauer expressed concern that despite progress being made in reproductive health in the country, women continues to die every day due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Some 362 out 100,000 women die during pregnancy and one out 20 children under the age of five die from preventable causes,” said Lisa.
She was speaking Tuesday during the 1st Annual National Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Evidence (RMNCH) conference in Nairobi.
She noted that her country had already spent $26 million funding Maternal, Newborn, Child and Nutrition (MCNHN) projects in ten counties namely Kilifi, Kwale, Siaya, West Pokot, Trans-Nzoia, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Kisii and Elgeyo Marakwet.
“Sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls including reducing infants and child mortality has been a top development priority for both Canada and Kenya for many decades,” the high commissioner said.
She commended the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for her efforts to reduce maternal deaths through her Beyond Zero health campaign and government universal health care agenda to improve health provision to Kenyans.
The conference is organized by ministry of health.
By Denson Mututo