Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga has called for coordinated action across government to accelerate efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Dr Oluga chaired the National Development Implementation Committee Social Sector and Citizen Affairs Subcommittee meeting at Afya House, Nairobi, on behalf of the Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Mr Shadrack Mwadime.
The meeting brought together Principal Secretaries and senior government officials to discuss the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere Acceleration Plan 2026–2028 and define the contribution required from each State Department.
The Government has committed KSh 12.5 billion to maternal and newborn health interventions, including the recruitment of 5,000 nurses and the provision of essential lifesaving commodities.
“The survival of mothers and newborns is a shared responsibility across government. Every sector has a role in addressing the barriers that prevent women and newborns from accessing timely and quality care,” Dr Oluga said.
State Departments were urged to make measurable commitments in infrastructure, access roads, water, electricity, social protection, education, referral systems and resource mobilisation. Progress will be tracked through the national Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere accountability mechanism.
The engagement reaffirmed the Government’s whole-of-government approach to ensuring that every woman has access to safe pregnancy and childbirth services and every newborn receives the care needed to survive and thrive.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
