Health CS has said the ministry has made major improvements in regards to provision of maternal health care, as access to health services has been made possible and easy.
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Cleopa Mailu lauded the remarkable progress by the health Ministry, saying there has been a rapid expansion of health care services.
“The government is committed to ensuring delivery of quality and affordable health services to Kenyans,” said Mailu.
Mr Mailu who was addressing senior ministry officials at a hotel in Mombasa, said the government and other stakeholders' support has increased people’s access to essential health care such as maternal and child services.
He said the support from the government and donors has made advances in maternal health, with the number of women who deliver under skilled attendance increasing from 42 to 62 per cent.
He further noted that health facilities have improved from 40 to 61 per cent and overall maternal mortality rate has declined from 488 to 362 per 100,000 live births between 2008 and 2016.
“There has been improvements made in the area of child health where infant mortality rate has declined from 52 to 39 per 1,000 live births in the same period,” said Mailu.
He however said that more needs to be done in the health sector to reduce infant mortality rates and increase maternal health.
“Infectious diseases still remain a major threat in the country and a lot needs to be done including health surveillance for early detection and prevention,” said the CS.
He added, “Non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes also persist in exerting pressure to the health system.”