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First Lady: Maternal and child health still a challenge in many countries

Health & Science
 First Lady Margaret Kenyatta signs the guest book at the residence of the Moroccan Ambassador during a Gala Dinner held in support of the Beyond Zero campaign. (Photo:PSCU)

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called for full exploitation of the available potential in addressing maternal and child health challenges faced in many developing countries.

She noted that while major strides have been made to improve the health of mothers and children, the issue remains a major concern in most African countries.

“I believe we all have the potential to make a contribution in improving this situation by learning from each other,” The First Lady said.

She spoke last night during a Gala Dinner hosted by Moroccan Ambassador to Kenya Abdelilah Benryane at his residence to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Kenya and to drum up support for the Beyond Zero campaign.

The First Lady said maternal and child healthcare challenges can be resolved by exchanging information and supporting the various mitigating initiatives in the respective countries.

The First Lady said the ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign she launched in January last year provides an opportunity for partnerships with the Government and other stakeholders in reducing maternal and child mortality in the country.

The campaign, the First Lady said, is part of the initiatives outlined in her strategic framework towards HIV control, promotion of maternal, new born and child health.

Through the campaign, the First Lady aims to make a positive contribution towards the improvement of maternal, child health as well as the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV by improving the access of women to maternal and child health services through provision of mobile clinics.

“Through the support of many partners, we have been able to procure twenty (20) mobile clinics out of which 19 have been handed over to different counties throughout our country. ” she added.

She however said twenty seven new clinics are required to cover all the forty seven counties of Kenya and invited partners to support her resolve to reach every corner of the country with a Beyond Zero mobile clinic.

Adding, “One way we could do this is by participating in the 2nd edition of the First Lady’s Half Marathon scheduled for 8th March 2015 in Nairobi. Also, encourage your families and friends to join us in this effort aimed at saving the lives of Kenyan mothers and children.”

The First Lady said the Gala Dinner will further strengthen the fraternal ties between the two countries, besides supporting the ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign.

“Over the years, these relations have registered significant growth in various fields of cooperation between our two countries including; education, energy, trade and aviation,” she noted.

Moroccan Ambassador said his country stood in solidarity with the First Lady in her noble campaign to save mothers and children in Kenya.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia described the First Lady’s initiative as impressive saying the campaign has helped to create more awareness on the challenges facing the health sector in the country.

Macharia lauded the First Lady for her globally recognized initiative that has taken her to 20 counties in one year to galvanize and mobilize resources to save lives.  

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