Alice Kang'ethe

Kenya and Beginnings Fund Advance Partnership to Reduce Maternal and Newborn Deaths Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga this morning held a consultative meeting with the Beginnings Fund team, led by Chief Executive Officer Alice Kangethe, to discuss implementation of the USD 80 million, five-year Kenya Investment Plan. The plan aims to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. Held at Afya House, the meeting brought together Dr. David Gathara and Dr. Gladwel Gatheca, representing the Ministry of Health’s Director of Family Health. Discussions focused on the implementation pathway and coordination arrangements. Co-designed with the Government of Kenya, the plan will target 21 high-burden counties and 200 priority facilities: 20 Level 5 hospitals, 136 Level 4 hospitals and 44 high-volume health centres. It complements the national Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Investment Case and the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan. The investment will strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care, access to essential commodities and medical technologies, and training and support for health workers. It will also improve referral systems, blood availability and maternity and newborn care infrastructure, while integrating maternal and newborn health data into TaifaCare to strengthen performance monitoring and accountability. The Ministry and Beginnings Fund will establish joint governance arrangements, with Dr. Oluga designated to co-chair the Steering Committee. Implementation will be guided by clear responsibilities, measurable milestones, performance-based financing, county participation and progressive domestic financing to sustain the gains beyond the investment period. By 2030, the plan is expected to reach 5.9 million mothers and newborns with higher-quality care and prevent an estimated 46,494 maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths.