By Editor
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Britam Foundation on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at accelerating efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in marginalized and vulnerable communities across Kwale County and Nairobi.
The partnership will scale up the Lea Salama Programme, a transformative initiative focused on expanding access to life-saving care for pregnant women and newborns, particularly in underserved rural areas and urban informal settlements where disparities in healthcare access remain most acute.
Despite progress in strengthening maternal health services, Kenya continues to face a pressing challenge, with an estimated 15 mothers and 92 newborns dying ежедневно from preventable causes. The national maternal mortality ratio stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, with counties such as Kwale recording higher rates of 431 per 100,000.
While Nairobi reports relatively better outcomes, stark inequalities persist in low-income, densely populated areas where access to timely and quality care is still limited. Gaps in emergency obstetric and newborn services continue to contribute significantly to these deaths.
The new partnership seeks to address these challenges by strengthening county health systems while also increasing demand for essential maternal and newborn health services. Under the initiative, 20 high-volume health facilities across Kwale and Nairobi will be upgraded and equipped to deliver quality care.
Healthcare workers will receive specialized training and mentorship in emergency obstetric and newborn care, alongside the rollout of innovative technologies such as point-of-care obstetric ultrasound to improve early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications.
Community engagement will play a central role, with targeted efforts to empower community health promoters through enhanced training and provision of essential tools.
“This strategic partnership between UNFPA and the Britam Foundation reflects a shared commitment to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes in Kenya,” said Pilar de la Corte Molina, noting that the foundation’s prevention-first approach is key to closing critical gaps in care.
“Partnering with UNFPA to advance maternal and newborn health reflects the core of Britam Foundation’s mission to enrich lives, restore dignity, and invest in healthier futures. When a mother survives childbirth and a newborn thrives, we are not only saving lives but strengthening families and building more resilient communities,” said Catherine Karita.
The Lea Salama Programme is designed as a scalable model with the potential to expand to other counties, offering a practical blueprint for how public-private partnerships can accelerate progress in maternal and newborn health across Kenya.
