Kenya is lagging behind on its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to reduce maternal mortality. Health experts warn that this is due to underinvestment in family planning and Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) services.
Currently the country’s maternal mortality ratio still alarmingly high at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the 2019 census. Kenya has just five years left to reach its target of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Speaking during the launch of the SMART Advocacy for Strategic Action (SASA) Alliance funded by The Gates Foundation, Dr. Bashir Issak, Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that family planning is critical in preventing maternal mortality.
“Family planning is a vaccine for reduction of maternal mortality. Because the majority of our pregnancies are unplanned because of lack of access to family planning commodities,” he said. “As a nation, we have committed ourselves to providing free family planning services and for the last 50 years and we have been doing very well.”
He however noted that the reduced budget allocation for family planning could hinder the progress.
“Recently, because of the fiscal space constraint, we are experiencing some budgetary cuts to family planning.” Dr. Isaak said. “Everybody needs to speak the same language and we all invest our time, energy, technical expertise, technology and resources to ensure that no mother dies from a preventable maternal death.”
Recognizing the urgent need for strategic advocacy, the SASA Alliance brings together Jhpiego Kenya, PPD ARO Uganda, and Pathfinder Nigeria to advocate for equitable, gender-responsive maternal and reproductive health policies in five countries including Kenya.
According to data from Kenya’s Health Information System (KHIS) and national surveys, counties with highest burden of maternal deaths are from marginalized regions such as the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and counties around Lake Victoria.
“Over 95 per cent of maternal deaths in Kenya are preventable” said Dr. Isaak “just 15 counties account for more than 70 per cent of maternal deaths in the country, this is often linked to poverty, poor transport, low education levels, and limited access to skilled care.”
Over the next three years, the SASA Alliance will focus its efforts on empowering local community actors, in hopes of shaping policy especially those impacting Family Planning and maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.
Sally Njiri, project manager- SASA Alliance said, “Our mission is to create sustainable progress in addressing the critical challenges of strained resources and slow policy implementation while fostering a culture of accountability among leaders.”
Kenya needs Kshs 3Billion annually to fund family planning according to Dr Isaak,
“What’s currently in the budget is not enough. We’re in talks with the National Treasury, but the truth is, both domestic and donor funding are shrinking.”
As Kenya races against time to meet its 2030 SDG targets, the SASA Alliance hopes to reignite political will, empower communities, and push for sustainable solutions that will ensure no woman dies while giving life.
