Kirinyaga records improved antenatal coverage as maternal, newborn deaths drop

According to Governor Anne Waiguru, antenatal care coverage has risen from 45% to 63%, while maternal mortality has declined from 88 to 55 deaths per 100,000 live births. 

The county, she says,  has also seen a sharp drop in neonatal deaths — from 26 to 10 per 1,000 live births — indicating better survival rates for newborns within the first month of life.

This improvement has been attributed to expanded access to skilled care, investment in health infrastructure, and strengthened emergency response systems. 

“Skilled birth attendance proportion of mothers delivering in a health facility have improved from 87 to 92% while percentage of children fully immunized by 12 months improved from 81 to 91%,” Waiguru said.

Health sector reforms introduced since 2017 have enhanced the availability and quality of pregnancy and childbirth services.

 The county reports that more expectant mothers are completing the recommended four antenatal visits, supported by improved community outreach, upgraded facilities, and better staffing levels.

Enhanced referral systems and faster ambulance response times have also contributed to the positive trends. County data shows that transfers for emergency obstetric cases now take under 40 minutes, improving outcomes for mothers with complications.

The Kerugoya County Referral Hospital has undergone upgrades including a modern maternity wing, a strengthened blood unit, piped oxygen, and increased specialist services. Additionally, the recruitment of more than 150 health workers and ongoing training in maternal care have helped boost service delivery.

Kirinyaga currently has 65 operational health facilities, a number expected to rise to 85 with the planned operationalization of eight newly completed facilities. Officials say the expansion is aimed at bringing essential services closer to communities and reducing delays in accessing care.