Nakuru County lost 445 women during child birth last year, making it rank fourth in maternal deaths all over the country
In a speech read on behalf of the health Cabinet Secretary, Health Permanent Secretary Dr Khadija Khasaachoon cited that the numbers were alarming and should be dealt with more.
Khasacchoon noted that the area also reports 4,000 new cases of HIV annually, ranking it the sixth in new infections in the whole country.
According to Dr. Khasacchoon, the county lost 1030 people due to HIV related complications
“The county recorded 6,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. However a total of 600 adults and 430 children passed away last year due to HIV related complications in the county. Seventy percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the area cannot access medical facilities,” she said.
She was speaking during the handing over ceremony of the Beyond Zero Mobile clinic in the area, where she pointed out that many people still shunned going to hospitals for delivery
First lady Margaret Kenyatta called for women to make use of the mobile clinics to avoid such deaths.
“We are appealing to our women not to risk bearing children in their homes to prevent such loss of lives,” she added