Kakamega women to benefit from Sh80m maternal care programme

The Kakamega government has launched a Sh80 million maternal healthcare programme.

Speaking  at Bukhungu Stadium on Monday, Governor Fernandes Barasa said the programme will improve the quality of maternal, newborn, and child health services across the county.

The initiative, dubbed Barasa Care, aims to encourage pregnant women to attend all antenatal care clinics during pregnancy, deliver in hospitals with the help of skilled healthcare workers and get quality postnatal care after delivery.

Barasa said mothers registering for the programme will receive Sh12,000 spread across six services.

“With this programme, our mothers who register as members will be eligible to receive Sh2,000 at every stage of their antenatal and postnatal visits to our health facilities. During your fourth antenatal clinic visit, you will receive your stipend of Sh2000,” Barasa stated.

“We will ensure our babies receive all the vaccines required, right from the oral polio vaccine immediately after birth until the second measles vaccine at 18 months.” 

At least 60 health facilities in the county will benefit from the programme, which follows a similar one launched by former governor Wycliffe Oparanya—Oparanya Care—that went dormant two years ago.

Barasa said that the county will build modern maternity blocks in Likuyani and Matungu level IV hospitals to enhance maternal care.

“Without a robust and well-organised referral provision of quality healthcare, including maternal and child health services, this remains a mirage,” he added.

He said skilled deliveries stand at 80 per cent in the county while full immunisation coverage stands at 82 per cent.

Health Services executive Dr Bernard Wesonga revealed that plans are underway to ensure all girls aged 9 and above receive the HPV vaccine to protect them from cervical cancer.

Wesonga acknowledged the role played by county health promoters and other staff of the Ministry of Health in providing maternal and child health services to mothers and children.

“I want to particularly appreciate our CHPs for the work within our communities, including providing timely health information and education to our mothers. They also screen our mothers for hypertension, malaria, high blood sugars, and HIV and provide nutrition,” Wesonga said.

Others include child wellness counselling and referral services to mothers who require further medical management at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals.