Medics receive training to curb maternal mortality in rural areas

Nurses, midwives, doctors and clinical officers from the Rift Valley region have undergone training in efforts to curb maternal mortality, in Nakuru.

Nancy Chelule, the coordinator for Reproductive Maternal and Newborn Health Services in Nakuru County, noted that rural health facilities record a majority of maternal deaths.

“PPH remains a major challenge in rural areas before and after delivery. Difficult labour also leads to deaths of infants, and this training is critical in forestalling the numbers,” said Chelule.

Information gaps on potential complications that mothers experience have also been cited as a key challenge in addressing maternal deaths, with a majority of the mothers reporting late.

“Early diagnosis is critical to determine what can be managed at what facility and make necessary referrals in good time to save the mothers,” said Silvia Kimutai, a Uasin Gishu-based midwife.

While most maternity wings in referral facilities are often congested, Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Roselyn Mungai underscored the need for capacity building through training of staff at Level Two and Level Three facilities which offer maternity services.

“This will save more mothers and reduce the burden at referral facilities, which shall be left to handle the more complicated situations,” said Ms Mungai.

The CECM noted that the five day training sponsored by Dandelion Africa, a non-governmental organisation, was a needed refresher experience to hone the skills of the medical staff across all medical facilities.

The lack of equipment necessary to ease complications faced by mothers during childbirth also poses the risk of losing the women and their children, with only a few high-level facilities equipped.

Such includes non-pneumatic anti-shock garments (NASG), whose use significantly reduces blood loss and stabilises a mother during or after delivery, allowing time for referral for advanced medical attention.

In Nakuru, NASG is available in  the Level Five hospital, while a majority of Level Four and below facilities have none.

“Previously, NASG was supplied by the national government, but they haven’t done so over time. Most facilities don’t have it, but we are grateful to Dandelion Africa, which has made some donations,” said Mungai.

Aszed Wendo, the Chief Executive at Dandelion Africa, donated 66 NASGs, which have since been distributed to 32 health facilities in the county.

“Postpartum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths, and NASG can prevent those deaths. We hope our donations will go a long way in reducing the number of deaths,” said Ms Wendo.

She underscored the need for strengthening health systems in the country in line with the global targets.

“We are just a few years from 2030, by when maternal mortality is expected to be less than 70 per 100,000 live births under Sustainable Development Goal number 3. We need more collaboration between state and non-state actors in this,” said Wendo.

Maternal mortality rates remain a major challenge in the public health sector, with the Ministry of Health indicating that Kenya records 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) has been cited as the main cause of these deaths, accounting for 25 to 45 per cent.

Other causes include infections, especially after delivery, high blood pressure, obstructed labour,and  anemia among other complications.