Bill to curb maternal, child deaths nears approval in Parliament

The Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale with Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga when the ministry denied that it has paid nonexistent hospitals in the Social Health Authority (SHA) payment claims while speaking at Afya House on August 25, 2025. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]

A Bill seeking to address maternal and child deaths is inching closer to approval by Parliament.

The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Bill 2023, which is currently at the second reading, is a priority item as the National Assembly resumes sittings next week. The proposal, which focuses on pregnant women, newborns, and children up to 12 years, seeks to establish a framework for accessible and quality healthcare.

Once approved, the national and county governments will be required to work in tandem to ensure the implementation of measures such as the training of traditional birth attendants and integrating them in the delivery of prenatal, postpartum and neonatal healthcare.

"For the enjoyment of the right to maternal, newborn and child health, the National and County governments shall put in place strategies and the necessary facilities to ensure the continued effective delivery of maternal, newborn and child health services, including in remote areas and during a pandemic or a disaster," reads the Bill.

Whereas the national government is tasked with coming up with comprehensive national policies, strategies and plans of action on maternal, newborn and child health care, county governments will be charged with implementing the same.

Both levels of government will also be required to come up with mechanisms for identifying vulnerable groups and to come up with a funding strategy to ensure the provision of quality services.

"A person seeking maternal, newborn and child health services in any health care facility is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect irrespective of their race, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, belief, language or birth."

The Bill sponsored by Senator Beatrice Ogolla and which is currently before the National Assembly, also mandates health facilities to maintain a register for maternal, newborn, and childcare cases, and adhere to ethical standards and guidelines.

If given the nod by the House, the Bill will be critical in addressing the state of maternal and neonatal healthcare across public hospitals in the country. It also comes against the backdrop of a report by the Office of the Auditor General on the challenges that have led to a slow decline in maternal deaths.

According to the Auditor's latest report on the state of provision of maternal and neonatal healthcare, there were a total of 2,372 maternal deaths (out of a sample size of 700 people) between the 2017/2018 and 2021/2022 financial years. This included 409 deaths in 2017, 421 in 2018, 459 in 2019 and 588 in 2020. There were also a recorded 495 mothers who died during childbirth in 2021.

At the same time, a total of 21,903 newborn babies died after birth within the first 28 days, between the years 2017 to 2022. There were 3,579 neonatal mortalities in 2017, 4685 in 2018, 4,906 in 2019, 4,426 in 2020 and a further 4,307 deaths in 2021.

This, the report noted, was due to a lack of adequate medical equipment, inadequate funding and slow implementation of policies.

The audit sought to assess the status of the provision of maternal and newborn health care services in public hospitals.