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Health

NYANDARUA DELEGATION BENCHMARKS MAKUENI’S DIGITAL AND MATERNAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS

The Government of Makueni County on Wednesday hosted a high-level delegation from Nyandarua County for a benchmarking visit at Makueni County Referral Hospital, as counties continue to embrace knowledge sharing in strengthening healthcare systems.

The delegation, led by Nyandarua CECM for Health Juliana Tsinanga alongside Chief Officers and Medical Superintendents, toured the facility to learn about governance and administration of the Level 5 hospital, management of clinical services, maternal healthcare and specialized treatment areas including oncology.

A key area of interest was the Proximie technology, an innovative digital health platform enabling doctors at Makueni County Referral Hospital to remotely guide, train and support other health facilities in clinical procedures and specialized care.

Makueni CECM for Health Services Joyce Mutua noted that the benchmarking visit provided an opportunity for health professionals from both counties to exchange knowledge and strengthen service delivery systems aimed at improving patient care.

Nyandarua Health Services CECM Juliana Tsinanga applauded Makueni for its strides in digital health and maternal healthcare, particularly efforts that have contributed to reducing maternal mortality linked to Postpartum hemorrhage. She also commended the county’s openness, collaborative approach and innovative strategies in retaining healthcare workers within the system.

MAKUENI DEEPENS DIGITAL HEALTH PUSH WITH PROMIXIE EXPANSION DEAL

Makueni County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mawingu Foundation to expand internet connectivity to sub-county hospitals, paving the way for wider deployment of Proximie’s digital healthcare technology across the county.

The agreement will strengthen last-mile internet connectivity in health facilities, allowing Makueni to scale the Proximie platform from the Makueni County Referral Hospital to hospitals in remote parts of the county.

The move is expected to improve access to specialized healthcare services by enabling doctors and specialists to support medical teams remotely, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.

Makueni became the first county in Africa to adopt Proximie technology in its public healthcare system in 2022. The platform enables real-time remote collaboration during medical procedures through live video, audio and augmented reality tools, allowing specialists to guide surgeries, offer consultations and mentor clinicians from different locations.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. said the expansion reflects the county’s commitment to using technology to bridge gaps in healthcare access, particularly for residents in undeserved areas.

He noted that the system has helped reduce unnecessary referrals while improving training, data protection and the overall quality of care in county health facilities.

The signing was witnessed by Proximie’s Head of Global Health, Dr. Shannon Shibata-Germanos, who praised Governor Mutula for pioneering the adoption of the technology in Kenya’s public health sector and for leading efforts to scale the innovation across the county.

MAKUENI LEADS KENYA IN POST-PARTUM HEMORRHAGE RESPONSE

The Head of the Division for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Edward Serem, has commended Makueni County for emerging as a national leader in the implementation of post-partum hemorrhage Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EMONC) protocols.

Dr. Serem called on other counties to emulate Makueni’s approach, noting that the implementing partners declined to pilot the programme in another county, citing Makueni’s strong leadership and the conducive environment created for successful implementation of the project.

He further revealed that another development partner had also chosen to pilot a health project in Makueni for similar reasons, urging counties to remain open-minded and supportive towards development partners working within the health sector.

Dr. Serem spoke in Nairobi on Monday while addressing intra-partum members of the Communities of Practice, a Maternal Health Technical Working Group established by the Ministry of Health and key partners to facilitate substantive technical discussions on maternal and newborn health.

The meeting focused on reviewing the current maternal and newborn health status related to intra-partum care, dissemination of findings from the AMPLI-PPHI study, and briefing members on the EWENE Rapid Initiative.

The Communities of Practice serve as technical platforms for in-depth thematic engagement, review of programme data and emerging evidence, identification of implementation challenges, generation of evidence-based recommendations, and contribution to the broader Maternal Health Technical Working Group discourse.

During the meeting, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. was also commended for supporting RMNCAH implementation and championing interventions aimed at combating post-partum hemorrhage.

Makueni County has become a national benchmark after recording zero maternal deaths resulting from post-partum hemorrhage in 2023, 2024, and since January 2026 to date.

MAKUENI ADVANCES WITH MULTIPLE MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION AS STUDY REVEALS LOW IFAS ADHERENCE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN

A recent study conducted by Department of Health Services in partnership with Vitamin Angels has revealed low adherence to Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) among pregnant women despite high coverage during antenatal clinic visits.

The findings show that while 93.1 per cent of women attending prenatal care receive IFAS tablets, only 17 per cent complete the recommended dosage.

Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation remain a critical nutritional intervention aimed at preventing anaemia in pregnancy and reducing birth defects while supporting maternal and fetal health.

However, the study established that many pregnant women in Makueni fail to complete the dosage due to concerns over the alleged smell and unpleasant taste of the tablets among other characteristics.

The study further revealed growing acceptance of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), with 95.4 per cent of pregnant women expressing willingness to use the supplement.

The World Health Organization-recommended MMS contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals ( iron and folic included) specifically formulated to improve maternal nutrition, pregnancy outcomes, and infant health.

Makueni County, which this year became the first in the country to launch the supplementation programme, is now adopting a multi-sectoral approach to ensure successful implementation and adherence.

The county government has brought together several departments, including Agriculture, Health, Education, Gender, Finance, and Socio-Economic Planning, to strengthen nutrition interventions among mothers and adolescent girls.

The Department of Agriculture is supporting food systems and dietary diversity initiatives such as kitchen gardens and food preservation, while the Department of Health is working closely with the education sector to improve antenatal care awareness among school-going adolescents.

According to the findings, adolescents account for 11 per cent of antenatal clinic attendees, with studies indicating that 66 per cent of them record the lowest adherence to Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.

Vitamin Angel’s Africa Technical Director, Dr. Lucy Kanya, who spoke on Friday as she addressed healthcare workers and other stakeholders noted that full implementation of MMS programmes across Africa would significantly contribute to the achievement of suitable development goals on zero hunger, good health and well-being, and gender equality.

She noted that full implementation of MMS programmes across Africa would significantly contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger, good health and well-being, and gender equality.

Health Services CECM Joyce Mutua believes the transition to MMS could mark a major breakthrough in improving maternal and child health outcomes, especially in vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities.

MAKUENI HEALTH WORKERS SHARPEN EMERGENCY SKILLS THROUGH SPECIALIZED PEDIATRIC TRAINING

The Government of Makueni County has intensified efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare services through a specialized Pediatric Emergency Medicine Skills Workshop held in the Makueni Mother and Child Hospital on Friday bringing together nurses, clinicians, medical officers and consultants from across the county.

The two-day training focused on enhancing emergency response and trauma management for children, equipping healthcare workers with advanced practical skills in Pediatric Trauma Life Support (PTLS) and Point of Care Ultrasound Clinical Integration.

Participants underwent hands-on sessions on airway management, trauma procedures, shock management, ultrasound scanning, fracture assessment and emergency clinical decision-making.

The workshop was organized in collaboration with international medical experts and partners including The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center, with facilitators guiding participants through simulation exercises and practical emergency response scenarios.

The initiative is expected to improve the quality of emergency pediatric care across health facilities in Makueni, boosting the capacity of frontline health workers to handle critical cases and save lives.

MAKUENI BOOSTS CHILD EMERGENCY CARE THROUGH ISRAEL PARTNERSHIP

Makueni County has strengthened its efforts to improve child healthcare services through a new partnership with Israel focused on pediatric emergency and trauma care training for local health workers.

Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya, Gideon Behar, on Thursday visited the Makueni County Referral Hospital to launch a pediatric emergency medicine skills workshop aimed at enhancing child healthcare services in the county.

The training is being facilitated by experts from Hadassah University Medical Center and The Hebrew University. The seminar focuses on pediatric trauma care and seeks to strengthen the ability of healthcare workers to respond to children in emergency and stress situations while promoting knowledge exchange between the institutions.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. said the partnership places Makueni on the international map in health innovation and health capability. He urged healthcare practitioners to fully utilize the opportunity, saying residents deserve quality healthcare services.

Ambassador Behar l described the partnership as the beginning of broader collaborations between Israel and Makueni. He said the training is intended to enhance the county’s healthcare capacity and improve preparedness for accurate emergency response in pediatric trauma care.

MAKUENI’S EFFORTS IN REDUCING MATERNAL DEATHS GETS MAJOR BOOST AS AMPLI-PPHI PROJECT RECORDS SUCCESS

Makueni County’s efforts to combat maternal deaths received a major boost following the successful implementation of the Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Hemorrhage Impact (AMPLI-PPHI) project.

The project’s achievements were highlighted on Thursday during a dissemination meeting held at Kusyombunguo Hotel, where stakeholders gathered to review progress, share implementation experiences, and discuss sustainability plans after the project’s closure.

The meeting, convened through a collaboration between the Department of Health Services and Jhpiego, was led by Country Director Paul Nyachae alongside the AMPLI-PPHI project team.

Supported by donor agency Unitaid, the programme has been implemented in Makueni since 2022 with the aim of accelerating adoption of innovative solutions to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), one of the leading causes of maternal deaths globally.

Among the interventions introduced in the county include Heat Stable Carbetocin for prevention of PPH, calibrated drapes for accurate measurement of blood loss after childbirth, and the World Health Organization’s First Response Bundle for comprehensive PPH management.

Speaking during the meeting, Health Services County Executive Committee Member Joyce Mutua commended the project for significantly improving maternal health outcomes in the county.

She described Heat Stable Carbetocin as “a savior” in reducing maternal mortality, noting that Makueni had recorded zero maternal deaths in 2023 and 2024, with no maternal deaths reported so far in 2026.

Mutua said the county government had already taken steps to sustain the gains made through the project by procuring calibrated drapes, Heat Stable Carbetocin, Tranexamic acid and Misoprostol drugs used in prevention and management of postpartum hemorrhage.

The project reached 36 health facilities across the county, where over 1,127 healthcare providers were trained to strengthen maternal healthcare skills and emergency response.

Additionally, 187 Community Health Promoters (CHPs), 57 community influencers, and 40 Area Assistant County Commissioners (ACCs) were capacity-built, collectively reaching more than 137,983 residents with key maternal health messages.

Dr. Harvey Mulei noted that before the introduction of Heat Stable Carbetocin in Makueni, the drug was largely inaccessible due to its high cost and limited availability at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

He said the price had since dropped significantly from Sh2,700 to Sh95, making the lifesaving drug more affordable and accessible to health facilities.

Paul Nyachae, acknowledged Makueni’s leadership and collaboration in propelling the innovations in the county and beyond.

HOPE FOR THOUSANDS AS MAKUENI UNVEILS SHINE PROJECT FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION AND REHABILITATION CARE

The department of Health Services on Friday hosted the inception meeting for the SHINE Project Kenya, a four-year transformative programme aimed at strengthening rehabilitation healthcare and inclusive social protection systems for persons with disabilities and children with treatable physical conditions.

The project will be implemented through a partnership between the Department of Health Services, CBM Global Disability Inclusion and AIC-CURE Children’s Hospital of Kenya.

It seeks to improve community-based rehabilitation services, enhance access to assistive technology, strengthen Educational Assessment and Resource Centres (EARC), improve disability registration, and build the capacity of rehabilitation staff, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), CHAs and Community Rehabilitation Workers.

Speaking during the meeting, Ag. Director Health Planning and Administration Dr. Chomba emphasized the need to prioritize sustainability from the onset of the project.

He called for improved communication, proper reporting of facility needs and timely supply systems to ensure effective service delivery, while welcoming the project’s strong focus on taking rehabilitation services closer to communities.

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.