Kibera women have expressed their joy after receiving free maternity care in public hospitals.
The residents said the move by the government to introduce free maternity for pregnant mothers has helped many mothers give birth safely.
‘‘Some pregnant women feared giving birth in hospital because they believed it was expensive yet they could not afford to pay the bills,’’ said Anne Njeri, one of the women.
Victoria Musebe said many women all over the country risked being attended to by unqualified birth attendants, therefore, their children would die while being born or both the life of mother and child would be cut short.
Lucy Auma, a young mother, said she went to a public hospital where she was well attended to. Auma said she never paid a cent. She has urged other expectant mothers in the slum and all over the country to give birth in public hospitals.
This comes after a division of the Revenue Bill 2016 was tabled in the senate on Tuesday. The bill has proposed that sh4.1 billion goes to free maternal healthcare as proposed by the National Treasury CS, Henry Rotich.