By OPCSÂ
Prime Cabinet Secretary Dr Musalia Mudavadi emphasized that Kenya must work together to address the high and unacceptable number of women who die from pregnancy and childbirth complications, placing the country as fourth among African countries with the highest maternal mortality burden.
Speaking at the launch of the Uhai wa Mama na Mtoto Project National Obstetrics Point of Care Ultrasound (O-POCUS) Guidelines in Nairobi, Mudavadi said these guidelines will support the Government’s efforts to improve antenatal care and reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
“The guidelines will enable nurses, midwives, clinical officers, and other reproductive health professionals to share tasks for obstetrical ultrasound screening under World Health Organization guidelines,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi, who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, highlighted that this initiative will bridge a critical gap in public health dispensaries and centres, where pregnant mothers often miss out on early ultrasound scans due to a shortage of sonographers, radiologists, and gynaecologist obstetricians.
PCS noted that public health centres are often staffed by nurses, midwives, and clinical officers who are not trained to conduct ultrasound screenings. Furthermore, he noted, these facilities lack ultrasound machines, as they are expensive and are not part of the essential package for public health centres.
“Advancement and innovation in ultrasound procedures through the use of hand-held screening devices will facilitate high-impact interventions to pregnant women across all counties and regions,” said Mudavadi.
The guidelines were developed in collaboration with key stakeholders to support the Government’s goals. Mudavadi called on all stakeholders in the health sector to unite in reducing the high maternal mortality rate.
“Now that we have the guidelines, I urge the Ministry of Health to expedite their launch and implementation, to ensure that our women reap the benefits of this initiative,” he added.
He stressed the importance of training healthcare workers on the new guidelines and called for a simple yet effective training and mentoring program to be rolled out to all clinics.
Mudavadi also emphasized the need for a robust sensitization and dissemination campaign to ensure that all beneficiaries embrace the POCUS screening devices.
“Pregnant mothers have to be aware of when and where the ultrasound scan services will be available in their neighbourhoods,” said Mudavadi.
He further addressed other challenges identified during the stakeholder engagement process, including the lack of ultrasound equipment in local clinics, the cost of equipment, and support infrastructure such as electricity and internet connectivity.
Mudavadi also called for a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework for POCUS accreditation and quality assurance to ensure effective uptake and utilization.
He thanked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for funding, which enabled Ushiriki Wema to lead a high-level and technical advocacy, working closely with the International Centre for Reproductive Health.
“Through this initiative, the partners and stakeholders involved are contributing to Kenya’s efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes,” said Mudavadi.
