MoH launches Maternal Perinatal death Surveillance and Response committee to curb maternal deaths

During the launch on Monday in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale emphasized that no woman should lose her life while giving birth, and no newborn should die from preventable causes. 

He added that the committee will play a pivotal role in transforming childbirth by protecting the lives of every woman and child.

"Every woman matters. Every newborn matters. And every preventable death must be prevented. Together, with unity of purpose and unwavering resolve, we will ensure that every woman and every newborn survives and thrives—everywhere in Kenya," Duale noted.

The committee will be tasked with having routine meetings that are structured and action-oriented. 

"Where deaths occur, corrective action must immediately follow," Duale said.

"When reviews reveal gaps—whether in emergency response, referral systems, blood and commodities availability,or staffing challenges—this Steering Committee must ensure that those gaps are addressed through policy reform, financing prioritization, and coordinated national action."

He further noted that the committee's framework will be required to function effectively at every level of care—facility, sub-county, and county.

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni said that insisted that motherhood should be prioritized and deaths during childbirth must be made preventable.

"Motherhood must never be a near death, we sit in Nairobi yet our mandate goes beyond. We are here because behind every statistic is a name, a face, a family. Preventable deaths are not misfortune but failed systems that can be corrected," she noted.

CS Duale noted that the move will further be operationalized through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) acceleration plan, which will be launched nationally.

The move comes after alarming maternal mortality rates in 20 counties were recorded in 2025, as CS Duale pledged to make an immediate intervention to reverse the worrying trend.