Strategic Partnerships to Save Lives of Mothers and Newborns in Kenya

𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 - 𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, met with Alice Kang’ethe, CEO of the Beginnings Fund Initiative, and David Gathara, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, to explore strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating progress in maternal and newborn health in Kenya.

Kenya is among the first five countries selected to benefit from the Beginnings Fund Initiative, receiving an estimated $80 million over five years from a $500 million fund covering 10 African countries.

The initiative supported by global partners aims to save 300,000 maternal and newborn lives while delivering quality care to 34 million women and newborns across the 10 countries by 2030.

In Kenya, the focus will be on high-burden facilities responsible for at least half of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. Priority actions include scaling up evidence-based interventions, equipping health facilities with essential tools and commodities, strengthening the health workforce through training, improving infrastructure and referral systems, and ensuring a reliable blood supply.

The program will cover 15 high-burden counties identified through KHIS data (2022–2024), with an additional five counties selected based on equity and government priorities.

Dr. Edward Serem, Head of the Division of RMNCAH, also attended.