Nyamira governor's wife Mrs Naomi Nyagarama has blamed the high maternal deaths reported in the county on expectant mothers who do not visit clinics for medical checkups.
This comes amidst reports of an increase in the number of deaths of expectant women during child birth.
The department of health in the county has responded by launching a mobile clinic that will traverse the 20 wards in the region as an emergency measure to educate women on the importance of regular checkups.
Speaking on Wednesday during a morning show aired by Minto FM, Mrs Nyagarama urged women to take advantage of the free maternal care provided in all government dispensaries and hospitals to avert cases of women dying during child birth due to complications that can be prevented.
“It is a shame that our county is still registering a large number of women dying during child birth due to simple complications that can be detected during regular clinic checkups. Ignorance should be discouraged and it is high time our women took advantage of the free services being offered by the government,” she said.
She lauded the department of health for initiating the sensitisation exercise and pleaded with local leaders to join in the campaign to curb maternal deaths in the area.
“I want to thank the department of health for responding swiftly by initiating the campaign to sensitise our women. Gone are the days that women died because they could not attend regular clinic checkups when expectant. The local leaders also have a role to play in spreading the message,” she said.
Mrs Nyagarama also urged women to form groups that could easily access government loans and support from donors.
“I am working towards seeing an empowered women society. That is why I would like to urge women to form groups that could access loans and aid from donor organisations,” she said.