Kakmega men are key in a health programme to improve services for pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants.
They will learn how to care for their breastfeeding wives and ensure they get a proper diet to improve mother and child health.
They will be educated about biology and nutrition and encouraged to see their wives attend ante- and post- natal clinics and to deliver in hospitals.
It is hoped they will in turn educate other men.
The programme is a partnership between the county government and Micro-Clinics Technologies, NGO that has helped residents since 2015.
Health executive Peninah Mukabane on Wednesday said men are crucial in ensuring mothers are healthy and newborns survive.
The programme has been operating in Navakholo, Lugari, Ikolomani, Lurambi, Shinyalu and Butere subcounties.
“We intend to spread it to the entire county. We want to include men and teach them how to care of their wives after birth,” she said.
Research shows most new mothers suffer from preventable conditions and ailments at home caused by poor diet, poor hygiene and other issues.
“This affects newborns because a lactating mother must feed well for the child to grow well,” Mukabane said”
Mukabane spoke at the Kakamega County General Hospital, where she received health equipment donated by Micro-Clinics Technologies.
It includes light microscopes, examination tables, bed linen, gloves, crutches and walkers.
Pregnant women will be provided with transport vouchers when they go for antennal care.
The county will deposit cash with the health facilities so they pay those who ferry them to hospitals.
The mothers will also get balanced diets at the hospitals for three days before they are discharged. They will learn about proper nutrition and proper breastfeeding.
The county has a complementary cash transfer programme in which pregnant mothers get cash for attending antenatal and postnatal clinics. Residents call it Oparanyacare, a reference to Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who started it in his first term.
Health director Arthur Andere said the county is distributing treated mosquito nets to all households.
He said Kakamega has enough anti-malarial drugs for any outbreak.
An additional batch has been ordered from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency.
Kakamega is a malaria-endemic zone, save for Lugari and Likuyani at higher altitudw. “In these areas, we are carrying out outdoor residual spraying and it works well,” Andere said.
Micro-Clinics Technologies programme officer Laura Mushila handed over the equipment on behalf of country director Moko Lantum.