Safaricom Foundation Launches Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Programme in Lamu

Residents of Lamu County are set to benefit from a maternal, newborn and child health programme funded by Safaricom Foundation.

The three-year programme will run in three counties starting with Lamu. Each year, Safaricom Foundation will invest Kshs.44million towards the initiative.

“The programme seeks to increase access and uptake of quality maternal and child health services in Lamu County. Our target is to reach 42,000 people in Lamu in the first year of the programme”, said Rita Okuthe, Trustee, Safaricom Foundation.

Safaricom Foundation will invest in training of health workers, improving healthcare infrastructure and referral systems, community education, and community health outreaches.

“We will advocate for access to maternal, neonatal and child health services and health financing to ensure communities have access to healthcare when they need it,” said Okuthe.

Lamu County is among those with highest rates of maternal, newborn and child deaths, according to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey of 2014. Maternal mortality at the county stands at 676 for every 100,000 live births compared to the country statistic of 362 maternal deaths out of every 100,000.

The newborn death rate is 45 newborns out of every 1,000 live births compared to 22 nationally while infant mortality rate is 76 per 1,000 compared to the average of 39 in Kenya. The under five mortality rate is at 106 children for every 1,000 compared to 76 deaths nationally.

Residents of Lamu County are set to benefit from a maternal, newborn and child health programme funded by Safaricom Foundation.

The three-year programme will run in three counties starting with Lamu. Each year, Safaricom Foundation will invest Kshs.44million towards the initiative.

“The programme seeks to increase access and uptake of quality maternal and child health services in Lamu County. Our target is to reach 42,000 people in Lamu in the first year of the programme”, said Rita Okuthe, Trustee, Safaricom Foundation.

Safaricom Foundation will invest in training of health workers, improving healthcare infrastructure and referral systems, community education, and community health outreaches.

“We will advocate for access to maternal, neonatal and child health services and health financing to ensure communities have access to healthcare when they need it,” said Okuthe.

Lamu County is among those with highest rates of maternal, newborn and child deaths, according to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey of 2014. Maternal mortality at the county stands at 676 for every 100,000 live births compared to the country statistic of 362 maternal deaths out of every 100,000.

The newborn death rate is 45 newborns out of every 1,000 live births compared to 22 nationally while infant mortality rate is 76 per 1,000 compared to the average of 39 in Kenya. The under five mortality rate is at 106 children for every 1,000 compared to 76 deaths nationally.