The President and Chief Executive Officer of Jhpiego, Dr Allyson Bear, has commended Makueni County for allocating 39 per cent of its budget to health services, saying the commitment demonstrates the countyโs determination to keep healthcare accessible to its people.
Dr Bear spoke during a cocktail dinner at the Radisson Blu Arboretum in Nairobi, attended by health sector stakeholders, including Kenyaโs Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Judith Awinja, officials from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and the US Embassy, among others.
The event was held to celebrate partnerships that have contributed to improved health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health.
Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili expressed appreciation to Jhpiego for its longstanding partnership with the county, saying the organisation had helped introduce innovative solutions that have improved maternal and child health services.
One of the key interventions introduced through the partnership is heat-stable carbetocin, popularly known in Makueni as โKaushaโ, which is used to help prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Through the AMPLI-PPH project, Makueni became one of the first counties to adopt new World Health Organization-recommended interventions for managing postpartum haemorrhage.
These included calibrated drapes for measuring blood loss and a rapid first-response treatment bundle.
The partnership has also transformed care for women living with obstetric fistula.
Together with Jhpiego, Makueni established a comprehensive fistula centre at the County Referral Hospital, which is now recognised as a model for routine fistula care in Kenya.
Beyond surgery, the programme provides counselling, rehabilitation, community integration and support aimed at restoring the dignity of women who have often suffered in silence for years.
In family planning, 55 per cent of mothers in Makueni leave health facilities with a family planning method within 48 hours of delivery, making the county a leading performer in Kenya on the indicator.
The county has also committed its own-source resources to sustain and scale up the innovations beyond the lifespan of donor-supported projects.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has been recognised as a champion of efforts to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage.
