First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has urged county governments to strengthen their health systems to meet the ever-changing needs of mothers, new-borns and society.
The First Lady said care throughout pregnancy, birth, and after delivery is the new wellness strategy for improving the health of mothers and newborns.
“As you know, my passion lies in making a positive contribution towards increasing health care access for children and mothers. We must all embrace the new strategy and work together to strengthen our country’s health systems,” she said.
The First Lady spoke at Garissa primary school grounds during the hand-over of the 39th fully kitted Beyond Zero mobile clinic to the county. The mobile clinic was donated by the Kenya Commercial bank.
She called on health stakeholders in Garissa County to leverage the gains of the national government’s efforts in improving maternal, newborn and child health through an integrated and comprehensive approach to general healthcare.
The First Lady was earlier conducted on a familiarization tour of a CRH maternal Shelter, a facility that accommodates high-risk pregnant women from the remote parts of the county.
The Garissa Maternal Shelter started in 2007 with financial support from UNICEF and offers free accommodation, food and other essentials to pregnant women. The facility has successfully managed 138 mothers from hard to reach areas with 121 successful live births since inception.
The First Lady also impressed on the need to empower health workers with knowledge, equipment and medical support to reduce the growing statistics of children whose ability to thrive and live to their full potential is compromised at birth.
She singled out response to children with special needs as the newest challenge to the global and national health agendas.
Mrs. Kenyatta said early detection of low birth weight, premature babies and still births, are preventable conditions which requires to be sufficiently addressed.
Adding, “Malnutrition in mothers is said to be one of the leading challenges that contribute to children’s intellectual and physical disabilities”.
The First Lady acknowledged efforts and investment the Garissa County administration has made in the leadership’s desire to improve healthcare service delivery in the region.
“Increased health infrastructure-dispensaries and maternity wards, establishment of new community healthcare units, recruitment of healthcare workers, purchasing of motor-bikes to support the community outreach services – are among so many other works that you are doing,” she said.
The First Lady also commended the Governor and his government for the collective advocacy in getting students back into Garissa University, following the tragic attack last year.
”The people of Garissa County have not allowed skeptics, and people of ill motive, whose intention was to destroy the fabric of unity and cohesion, to divide them,” she said.
The First Lady said despite the enormous social economic and security challenges, people in the county have stood together portraying the true spirit of nationalism – a key pillar of the nation’s prosperity.
Garissa Governor Nathif Adan said his administration attached a lot of importance on Health and Water and allocated the lion’s share of the county budget to the two sectors.
The Governor said the county government, in affirming its commitment to safe motherhood, has constructed 25 maternities, 16 dispensaries and fully equipped two theatres.