Health experts from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) Kenyan chapter based in Nairobi visited Nakuru on Wednesday, in a bid to extend the center’s activities locally.
During a courtesy call to the Nakuru County Government Minister for Health Dr. Daniel Kabii, the group’s Executive Director Dr. Alex Ezeh urged local health stakeholders to ensure maternal health in the county is given priority in resource allocation and training.
“The issue of maternal health in Africa has been of paramount concern because research indicates that the challenges surrounding it are grave. We must up our efforts in combating this problem to save lives of mothers and children in sub-Saharan African region,” observed Ezeh, adding that recent statistics indicate that at least 500 women die in every 100,000 live births annually in Africa, Kenya included.
He urged health researchers to provide information to authorities and other stakeholders, while also urging the media to highlight issues affecting women and children in order to stimulate affirmative action in addressing the issue of maternal health.
According to the APHRC boss, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of community health workers through training and good budget allocation to support health activities on grass root levels in the country.
He announced that APHC would soon open branches in all counties in the country to work closely with county governments in strengthening health services of marginalized people through research and community based health services.