The County Government of Mombasa has revealed plans to launch four-wheel-drive ambulances for emergencies in Kisauni constituency.
Mombasa county’s Head of Preventive and Promotive Health Dr Salma Swaleh has said that the government is planning to launch four-wheel-drive ambulances in areas that have rough terrains like Mwakirunge in Kisauni to facilitate quick transport for expectant women in a move to reduce the maternal mortality rate.
A new report indicates the maternal mortality rate in the Coast region has declined by 50 per cent since 2014.
Speaking during a workshop on maternal newborn and child health in Mombasa, organised by the Safaricom Foundation, Dr Swaleh said they have decentralised services by equipping sub-county hospitals to offer maternity services after noticing congestions at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH)
“In our bid to offer quality services we started offering maternity health services in sub-county hospitals. We have Mrima in Likoni, Port Reitz, Mlaleo among others that offer services to people within these areas. This has reduced the distance that a mother from Likoni was supposed to take to CPGH,” Dr Swaleh said.
Kisauni is one of the areas within Mombasa with rough terrain.
She added the move by the county government was working effectively.
“We thank God our efforts are working because at the moment we stand at 197 deaths per 100,000 live births which is lower compared to the world average,” she said.