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The Ministry of Health has launched the National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) Steering Committee as part of fresh efforts to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Kenya.
Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale presided over the inauguration, terming the committee a key milestone in enhancing accountability and raising standards of maternal and newborn care across the country.
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The programme, aligned with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, will be executed under the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan. Its primary goal is to ensure that no woman dies during childbirth and that newborn deaths from avoidable causes are drastically reduced.
During the launch, Duale explained that the MPDSR system will be implemented at health facility, sub-county and county levels through regular and structured review sessions. Every reported maternal or perinatal death will prompt immediate action, with findings informing wider health sector reforms.
The ministry noted that insights drawn from these reviews will shape national policy, resource allocation and coordinated responses to longstanding challenges, including gaps in emergency obstetric services, weak referral systems, blood shortages, limited medical supplies and staff shortages.
To facilitate the rollout, the government has directed the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Digital Health Agency (DHA) to enable maternity reimbursements for eligible Level 2 and Level 3 facilities. The SHA benefits package is also being reviewed to ensure consistency with national maternal and newborn care standards.
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Plans are also in place to improve ambulance referral networks and strengthen the National Blood Transfusion Services to address critical blood supply deficits highlighted in death reviews.
Duale called on county governments to prioritise hiring, fair distribution and continuous training of healthcare workers, while urging medical professionals to uphold high standards of professionalism and compassionate care.
He further tasked the Steering Committee with ensuring that its recommendations lead to measurable improvements in health facilities, referral systems, commodity availability, funding frameworks and workforce support, all aimed at protecting mothers and newborns.
Senior health officials, alongside representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO, attended the event, signalling strong backing for the renewed national campaign to safeguard maternal and newborn health.
