DEVIL’S BRIGHT SIDE

Every leader has weaknesses and disadvantages. Presidents and Ministers are not exceptional. 

The Kenyan citizens went to the ballot in 2013 to elect their leaders who would represent them at the national level. Among them were the current president H.E Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his deputy H.E William Samoei Ruto. The duo identified themselves as Digital leaders in a digital government.

President Kenyatta came to power, and his government identified Health as one of the most affected sectors in Kenyan land. Within three months of his reign, Kenyatta introduced Free Maternal Health Care to pregnant mothers in all public hospitals across the country. Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta backed up the step taken by President Kenyatta to introduce Free Maternal Health With the First Lady introducing the Beyond Zero Initiative Campaign in 2013.

According to data from the Ministry of Health (MoH), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in 2013, the mortality rate was approximately 364 per 100,000 live births, with under-five mortalities being at 52 out of 1,000 live births. These numbers accelerated the introduction of free maternal health care to reduce the mortality rate and at least hit the Sustainable Development Goals of 140.

The government allocated approximately 4.1 billion shillings yearly to free maternal health care to facilitate the health process. President Kenyatta and his deputy also urged Kenyans to register with National hospital insurance funds to easily access medical treatment using the card.

During the annual general meeting of the health officers, the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, said that mothers delivering under skilled health personnel rose from 44% in 2013 to 62% in 2020 and the number of mortalities reduced from 364 to 342.

The Kenyan Gross Domestic Product went from 3.8% in 2013 when president Kenyatta came to power to 7.5% when he is almost leaving. He introduced free maternal health care, which accelerated the construction of various maternal wards due to the increased number of patient admission, and the employment of skilled health officers to provide maternal care, hence creating job opportunities.

Every leader and their government always have weaknesses, but with that, you can never miss an achievement. President Uhuru’s reign might have given Kenyans hard time s regarding the economy or any other sector, but still, when it comes to health, this government tried so hard to ensure Kenyan people, especially mothers and their children, were catered for health wise.

The government has made a big step and effort to reduce the maternal mortality rate in Kenya, but still, there is much to be done to bring this traumatizing ordeal to an end. Pregnant mothers are advised to seek medical help from certified and qualified medical officers but not unqualified and uncertified personnel to reduce the death rate during maternity. The Sustainable Development Goals target is 140, and this can only be achieved if the whole nation coordinates.