Residents of Homa County are set to benefit from a maternal healthcare boost after Safaricom officially unveiled health facilities worth Sh 38 million.
The organization has renovated the New Born Unit at the County Teaching and Referral Hospital at Sh 1.3 million targeting an increase in the accommodation numbers from 10 to 35 babies.
On the same note, the organization in conjunction with the county government officially launched a new maternal, Newborn and Child Healthcare (MNCH) unit at Ndhiwa Sub-County Hospital.
The unit was worth Sh 36.9 million constructed and equipped by M-PESA Foundation under the Uzazi Salama Initiative.
The initiative, which is being implemented in partnership with AMREF Health Africa aims at strengthening the county’s capacity to provide quality and affordable reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services.
The programme, launched in 2021 will run for two years with a major focus in Ndhiwa and Suba Sub-Counties benefiting almost 90, 000 women as well as children under the age of 5 years.
Addressing the media, M-Pesa Foundation Trustee, Patricia Ithau said that the main aim of rolling out all the programmes is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate which has been high in the region.
“We are initiating this program in regions with high mortality rates. We have done it in Samburu, Turkana and now in Homa Bay but we are targeting other places too,” said Ithau.
Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga lauded the partners for the excellent work they displayed in the spirit of ensuring that the people are able to access adequate healthcare services.
The governor was hopeful that the turnout of expectant mothers at the facility will rise to 100 per cent. “I am glad that our mothers will now deliver in dignity without any fear,” added Wanga.
The governor promised to bring on board more partners with the same interest of curbing mortality rate in the region.
The M-PESA Foundation also has a telemedicine programme known as Daktari Smart that is providing special care in remote areas.
Based on the most current government statistics from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the nation records 362 maternal deaths for every 100, 000 live births.
By Brian Odhiambo and Sitna Omar
