Mary Mwiti and Douglas Bosire.
By Mandere Onyinkwa
The Council of Governors (CoG) is intensifying data utilization to decrease maternal and perinatal fatalities, with governors now presiding over weekly evaluation meetings monitoring advancement across all 47 counties.
Eight months after implementing a national dashboard consolidating county reports, initial outcomes demonstrate advancement, with many counties reporting fewerand occasionally zeromaternal and infant deaths over successive days or even months.
Under the enhanced strategy, frontline healthcare professionals conduct bimonthly gatheringson Tuesdays and Thursdaysto evaluate delivery-room results, identify deficiencies, and employ data insights to guide immediate interventions.
CoG Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti stated that continuous funding is essential for strengthening the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system.
“While advancement is apparent, some counties still require additional healthcare personnel to manage the workload,” she observed, urging development partners to support the initiative now directly led by governors.
Sam Mulyanga of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commended Kenya’s methodology, noting it provides a model for other African nations striving to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn fatalities by 2030.
Through MPDSR, adjacent counties are increasingly collaborating during crisessharing operating rooms, ambulances, and expertiseto ensure prompt care, based on the principle that no mother should perish during childbirth.
The data-driven approach pinpoints high-risk regions, directs investment, and reveals system deficiencies during weekly assessments.
Stakeholders, including MPDSR advocates from high-performing counties, are presently convening in Naivasha for an advancement review before deploying to severely affected counties to offer specialized support and training.