{
  "id": 2537549,
  "title": "Government steps up efforts to improve maternal, newborn health",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/government-steps-up-efforts-to-improve-maternal-newborn-health",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-22T08:29:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/government-steps-up-efforts-to-improve-maternal-newborn-health/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kenya is intensifying its efforts to enhance maternal and newborn health, with the Government prioritizing this issue in its health-sector reforms. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale reaffirmed his commitment to Universal Health Coverage during a meeting with Jhpiego's President and CEO, Dr. Allyson Bear and her team. The pair discussed expanding collaboration to advance the government’s Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere agenda. Duale emphasized the need for a coordinated approach that aligns government and development partner interventions with national priorities, upholding the principle of One Plan, One Budget, and One Accountability. Maternal hemorrhage, healthcare worker skills, and access to appropriate technologies were identified as critical areas requiring urgent attention.\n\nJhpiego's maternal, reproductive, and newborn health programs will be integrated into Kenya’s Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere initiative, with a focus on the 18 priority counties identified by the government. Duale welcomed Jhpiego's planned support for newborn care in five counties, with the government guiding the selection of counties and health facilities needing the most assistance. The partnership will also intertwine maternal and newborn interventions with ongoing HIV and family-planning programs to ensure continuity of care from pregnancy through childbirth and beyond.\n\nHealth workforce development will be a cornerstone of this collaboration, with healthcare workers receiving mentorship, virtual learning, and targeted capacity-building aligned with Kenya’s national mentorship guidelines. Jhpiego's support for Kenya's health sector spans 48 years, encompassing 13 projects, KSh5.2 billion in investment across 22 counties, and impacting over 1,800 health facilities in the past two years. The collaboration also takes into account the Global Maternal Health Conference's commitments, aiming to translate them into actionable interventions. As Kenya strives for sustainable healthcare financing and delivery, technical partnerships will be vital in bolstering national implementation capacity. Duale affirmed that partnerships offering expertise, innovation, and resources must augment government efforts, strengthen national systems, and generate measurable improvements for Kenyans.",
  "summary": "Kenya is strengthening strategic partnerships to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage, with maternal and newborn health remaining a priority in ongoing health-sector reforms. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS), Aden Duale, reaffirmed this commitment when he met Jhpiego President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allyson Bear, and her delegation to discuss expanded collaboration in…",
  "key_points": [
    "Kenya intensifies efforts to improve maternal and newborn health.",
    "Government prioritizes maternal hemorrhage, healthcare skills, and tech access.",
    "Jhpiego to collaborate on Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere agenda."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}