Partnerships

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 County has become the first in the country to officially roll out Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), marking a major milestone in the fight against maternal anaemia.

This initiative is between Makueni county and Vitamin Angels through the Transforming Lives initiative, through the nutrition consortium.

The launch was held on Friday at Makindu Sub-County Hospital.

The supplements, packaged in doses of 180 tablets, are to be taken once daily over a six-month period. Each tablet contains 15 essential nutrients designed to address the high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and reduce the risk of maternal deaths.

Despite nearly universal access to Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) among women attending antenatal clinics, many still present with anaemia at the time of delivery. This condition significantly increases the risk of excessive bleeding during childbirth.

According to County Executive Committee Member for Health, Joyce Mutua, investigations revealed that many women found IFAS unpleasant due to its taste, which often caused nausea and reduced adherence.

Unlike IFAS, which contains only two nutrients, the new Multiple Micronutrient Supplement combines 15 essential nutrients in a single tablet. This formulation is expected to improve compliance among expectant mothers while meeting their broader nutritional needs.

During pregnancy, a woman’s daily iron requirement increases significantly. However, many existing supplements provide insufficient iron and lack complementary nutrients that enhance absorption and utilization in the body.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, who presided over the launch, praised Vitamin Angels through the Transforming Lives initiative for partnering with the county to integrate MMS into antenatal care services.

She noted that the implementation science-driven initiative positions Makueni at the forefront of advancing maternal nutrition interventions, setting a precedent for other counties to follow.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday morning hosted officials from Vitamin Angels for a courtesy call at the Governor’s Office ahead of the national launch of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) at Makindu Sub County Hospital.

The delegation was led by the organization’s Vice President, Jimmy Grattan.

The visit comes as Kenya prepares to roll out MMS in line with the World Health Organization’s 2020 antenatal care guidelines, which recommend the introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation.

The supplement comprises 15 essential vitamins and minerals, including iron and folic acid, aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.

Makueni County has been selected as the first to pilot the systematic integration of MMS into antenatal care services.

The initiative is guided by implementation science and anchored on locally driven solutions, positioning the county at the forefront of advancing maternal nutrition interventions in the country.

Residents of Kee Ward, Kaiti Sub-County received a major boost in healthcare access following the commissioning of the Mutulani Family Care Unit, a modern maternity wing at Mutulani Dispensary. The facility was officially opened by Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. in a ceremony that underscored the county’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes.

The KSh 17 million facility, constructed and fully equipped through a partnership between the M-Pesa Foundation and the Makueni County Government, is set to significantly enhance access to quality maternal healthcare services in Kee Ward and the surrounding region.

Speaking during the ceremony Governor Mutula lauded the collaboration, noting that strategic partnerships have become a cornerstone of his administration’s development agenda. He highlighted that such initiatives have helped bridge critical funding gaps, particularly after the county experienced a loss of approximately KSh 265 million in allocations following the 2025 Gen Z demonstrations.

The governor expressed deep appreciation for Safaricom and its foundation, describing the relationship as one that goes beyond conventional partnerships. “We consider you as family in Makueni,” he said, emphasizing that the impact of their support cannot be quantified in monetary terms alone.

Significantly , the governor declared that Mutulani Dispensary be upgraded to a Level III facility, with the county government committing to provide all the necessary resources and infrastructure to meet the required standards. This move is expected to further expand service delivery and reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for specialized care.

On his part, Paul Kasimu, the project champion and on behalf of Safaricom commended Makueni County for fostering an enabling environment for partnerships, citing transparency and efficiency as key factors that have attracted investment. He revealed that the M-Pesa Foundation has implemented projects across all 47 counties, with Makueni standing out as a preferred destination.

The County Executive Committee Member for Health, Joyce Mutua, noted that Makueni has already achieved the World Health Organization’s recommended distance to health facilities. She added that the county is now shifting focus toward upgrading and expanding facilities to ensure residents access higher-quality healthcare services.

Mutua also encouraged residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The commissioning of the Mutulani Family Care Unit marks yet another milestone in Makueni County’s journey toward accessible, high-quality healthcare for all, particularly for mothers and newborns.