Let’s tame maternal mortality

Kenya is one of the most developed economies in East and Central Africa and has demonstrated leadership in overcoming some major human development challenges that face Sub-Saharan Africa. As we race towards the Millennium Development Goals, the country is set to meet many of the development targets by 2015.

On the issue of maternal and child health in Kenya however, there is much work to be done. The Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia highlighted the challenge and said that, “unfortunately each day 15 women and 290 children die as a result of pregnancy complications--including giving birth, HIV and several curable and preventable childhood diseases”.