COUNTY TO SCALE UP IMARISHA AFYA YA MAMA NA MTOTO PROGRAM

Key stakeholders from the County Department of Health together with representatives from UNICEF on Wednesday concluded a two day meeting convened to review performance of the Imarisha Afya ya Mama na Mtoto Program that champions for uptake of antenatal care, skilled delivery, post natal care in health facilities and nutrition of children among others.

The forum provided a platform for the stakeholders to engage and deliberate on the way forward with regards to future implementation of the program.

According to the Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr David Alila, one of the key objectives of the meeting was to examine financial independence by the program to ensure it is self reliant beyond the support of the partner.

The Chief Officer called for development of a Policy to see to it that the objectives are achieved efficiently including economic empowerment of the beneficiaries way after the program.

It targets to upscale its services to beneficiaries, mainly pregnant women from poor and vulnerable households across the County and has a current enrollment of over 40,000 beneficiaries and over 90,000 registered mothers since its inception.

The uptake of skilled health services by expectant mothers has tremendously reduced maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Kakamega County.

UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist Luke Harman assured the County of the Organisation’s support and acknowledged the gains made so far especially reduction of mother and child mortality rates.

Public Health Chief Officer Hon. George Mukodo officially closed the meeting on Wednesday afternoon and stated that the Department is working round the clock to ensure the program fits in H.E FCPA Governor Fernandes Barasa’s agenda on Health and Sanitation. In this year’s Budget, the County allocated the highest funding to the Department of Health Services.

Present were Gender Advisor Ms Christine Oside, Deputy Director Social Protection Secretariat at the National Government Jacinta Omondi, Directors, Partners and other Government officers.