The Government through the Ministry of Health on Tuesday launched an expanded free maternal care programme dubbed Linda Mama, Boresha Jamii, in a bid to achieve universal access to quality maternal healthcare.
The programme is also aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the country, particularly in the rural areas.
The programme will enable pregnant women to access antenatal, delivery and postnatal care free of charge in all public, some faith based and private healthcare facilities nation-wide.
Speaking during the programme launch, Health CS Dr Cleopa Mailu said, “Prioritizing the survival and health of women and girls requires recognition of their high value within the society. The launch of Linda Mama is a great step towards improving access and quality of maternal, new-born and child healthcare services for all Kenyans.”
Beneficiaries of the programme will be able to access services such as ante-natal care that includes preventive services; delivery services and post-natal care, screening for diseases and immunisation for infants, emergency health services for complications and conditions, outpatient health care for infants and child welfare clinics.
“The programme is a strategic effort made by the government to reduce the financial burden to families. It is also aimed at enhancing social protection to improve access to healthcare essential to achievement of Vision 2030 and Goal 3 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030,” said Dr Mailu.
“Maternal morbidity and mortality is one of the indicators of reproductive health status of the population. Efforts to reduce maternal deaths is a focal point of the current government’s agenda, international agreements and a priority for women's rights and health groups throughout the world because maternal deaths are among life's most tragic outcomes,” he added.
The Cabinet Secretary said that maternal healthcare is a primary concern for the national government, thus investing in the sector is a wise health and economic policy decision that the government had to make.
“Women are the sole income earners in nearly two thirds of all households in our country and across the globe. With this knowledge, I can confidently say that investing in the health of pregnant women has a spill-over macro-economic effect to communities and to our economy. Linda Mama is one intervention that aims at achieving universal access to quality maternal and child health services and contributes to the country’s progress towards universal health coverage,” said Dr Mailu.
He disclosed that the programme will be realized in two phases running till June 2017, where beneficiaries under the first phase will access maternity services in 5,073 facilities across the country, with the second phase commencing in February 2017.