Murang’a county government has unveiled a programme aimed at encouraging expectant mothers to visit antenatal clinics and deliver in hospitals
In the programme dubbed maternal health support, mothers visiting clinics get reimbursement of transport expenses.
While launching the programme in Kirwara, Governor Kang’ata observed that the programme will benefit expectant mothers from their seventh month of pregnancy.
The mothers, he explained, will get a fare refund of Sh 1000 when they go for antenatal clinic in local public health facilities, adding that the refund will be equal regardless of the distance from home to the health facilities.
“After delivery, every mother will be given Sh. 2, 000 to help her travel back to home. This programme is targeted to ensure the county records 100 percent hospital deliveries,” added Kang’ata.
He continued, “from March 28 this year, every mother from her seventh month of pregnancy visiting antenatal clinic will get fare reimbursement from the county administration.”
In the county, the governor observed that about 30 percent of expecting mothers still deliver in their homes.
“It’s risky to deliver at homes as this may lead to infant mortality and put the life of the mother in danger. From our survey it was revealed expecting mothers fail to go to antenatal clinics due to lack of transport,” he further said.
He said it’s shameful for a mother to lose life while giving birth. At a hospital, medical officers are very vigilant to protect the life of the mother and that of the infant.
He underscored the need for mothers to attend antenatal clinics as the medics are trained on reproductive health care.
The local public health facilities, Kang’ata added are well equipped to ensure mothers have safe deliveries.
“One way to curb mortality rate is to ensure mothers deliver in hospitals and that’s why as the county government we have come up with this programme,” he noted.
The governor further dismissed claims that the programme is aimed to increase population saying people are well educated and conversant with the number of children one can handle.
Speaking during the same occasion, Doctor Samuel Kinyanjui said they have been contracted by the county government to provide technology to facilitate maternal health care.
He revealed that they will be using an app that will be used by community health workers to register and track progress of expecting mothers in village
The app, he said will be centrally managed at county headquarters saying the programme is targeting mothers who don’t visit antenatal clinics.
He encouraged mothers to be visiting hospitals before and after delivery saying they will be trained on ways to handle the infant, about nutrition among other aspects.
The doctor said they have trained community health workers saying when a mother misses a clinic appointment, the respective community health worker and the mother will get a notification.
“We hope with this digital application, mothers will not fail to attend the clinics. About 360 community health workers will be engaged in the programme,” noted Kinyanjui.
By Bernard Munyao
