MUTULA: POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE A ‘POLITICAL FAILURE’ AS MAKUENI RECORDS ZERO MATERNAL DEATHS

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has termed postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) a “political failure,” saying preventable maternal deaths persist because systems have not prioritized the lives of women.

Speaking on Friday at Kusyombunguo Hotel during a Nation Media Group roundtable on maternal health, the governor noted that PPH remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths globally, not because it is untreatable, but due to gaps in policy, access and prioritisation.

Governor Mutula, a global advocate in the fight against maternal mortality, recounted Makueni County’s efforts to curb PPH-related deaths. He highlighted the introduction of heat-stable carbetocin, a uterotonic medicine used to contract the uterus and prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.

At the time the county adopted the drug, it cost Sh2,700 per dose. However, following its uptake and subsequent stocking by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), the price has dropped significantly to about Sh95.

The governor expressed pride in Makueni’s progress, noting that the county recorded zero maternal deaths in 2023 and 2024, attributing the achievement in part to the use of Heat-Stable Carbetocin and strengthened maternal health interventions.

In Kenya, maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, with an estimated 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, rising to nearly 400 in some parts of East and West Africa.

Nation Media Group CEO Geoffrey Odundo also challenged counties to consider partnering with the private sector on maternal health conversations to leverage on reducing mortality.

To further address the challenge, Jhpiego has partnered with Makueni County to implement targeted interventions aimed at reducing maternal deaths associated with postpartum hemorrhage.