Women leaders in Wajir meet to reduce maternal deaths

WAJIR—Women leaders in Wajir County in conjunction with the local administration are moving to improve the maternal health and promote safer interventions to curb the menace.

Leading the initiate, the First Lady of Wajir County Rukia Abdinasir said she would take upon herself to advance the project to reduce the maternal deaths, saying every mother has a right to give birth at a health facility with adequate personnel.

The First Lady of Wajir Rukia Abdinasir when she unveiled the second mobile clinic in Wajir. Rukia is leading a campaign to improve maternal health. Photo/ Courtesy

One out of every three cases of maternal deaths occur in areas affected by a humanitarian crisis, or in volatile conditions, such as the North-Eastern region of Kenya where increasing focus is being put on giving pregnant mothers a real chance of surviving childbirth.

With statistics indicating one in every 14 children dead before their first birthday in Kenya, Wajir County with the support of the National Government’s mobile clinic program, has embarked on a mission to take maternity wings to far-flung areas where pregnant women are least likely to deliver under the watch of trained health worker.

The Tuesday forum in Wajir was attended by the county minister for Health Rukia Maalim Kahiye, nominated county assembly members and Directorate of Gender.