Baringo County has received a major boost after Dandelion Africa, a non-governmental organisation, donated maternal health equipment to all its seven subcounties.
The initiative is aimed at fighting maternal mortality in the county.
The organisation's programme’s manager Ruth Nderitu said the equipment which includes complete Mama Natalie Birthing Simulators, IEC Materials, essential maternal emergency commodities and indicator tracking charts will go a long way to further reduce the mortality rates in the region which currently stands at 30 mothers in every 100,000 births.
She was speaking during the handing over of the equipment at the governor’s office in Kabarnet town on Thursday.
Nderitu said they were keen on supplementing the county government's efforts in improving the livelihoods and health outcomes of the local communities through the maternal-infant health award programme.
The programme is said to have seen 96 healthcare workers trained in Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC).
“We were able to support each subcounty with a dummy equipment so that even when the health care provider continues with their work, they are able to do mentorship to others,” she said.
The official said she was optimistic Baringo County will reach a level where mothers are able to be referred to in a timely manner to reduce complications likely to cause maternal mortalities.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi lauded the organisation for its noble initiative to support the health sector, especially maternal and child health.
He said his administration will further engage them to see to it that more healthcare workers in all the dispensaries receive training on how to handle mothers during delivery.
Cheboi encouraged mothers from the region to deliver at health facilities where they can access skilled healthcare personnel.
“We do not want to see a situation where our mothers go to traditional birth attendants who have got limited skills in delivery,” the county boss said.
During the ceremony, the organisation announced they will be conducting the next set of EmONC training classes in March to capacity build more healthcare workers from the county.
