Nakuru County trains health workers to curb postpartum deaths in landmark WHO and UoN partnership

Nakuru County has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Nairobi (UoN) to train health workers in the prevention and management of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) the leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya.

The county’s Director for Health Planning and Administration, Dr Joy Mugambi, said the programme targets nurses, midwives, doctors, and clinical officers, equipping them with practical skills to detect and manage excessive bleeding after childbirth.

The initiative also involves clinical trials for a new drug, Heat-Stable Carbetocin (HSC), under the Research to Expand Access to Heat-Stable Carbetocin (REACH) project. The trials are being conducted at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, Machakos Level 5 Hospital, and Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

Dr Mugambi explained that the trials aim to assess the safety and effectiveness of HSC as a first-line treatment for postpartum bleeding, noting that the findings will help shape national health policies and inform future treatment protocols.

She emphasized that early detection and quick intervention are vital in saving lives. “We cannot allow mothers to continue dying from preventable conditions like PPH. Continuous training and early diagnosis are the key to ending these deaths,” she said.

The initiative comes amid worrying statistics showing that Kenya records 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with PPH accounting for up to 45 percent of the cases.

Health workers are also being trained on the use of calibrated delivery drapes, a new blood-measurement tool that enables accurate monitoring of blood loss after childbirth. The innovation helps identify danger levels early allowing timely action before complications escalate.

Professor Zahida Qureshi, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UoN and Principal Investigator of the study, said the heat-stable Carbetocin drug offers a practical solution as it does not require refrigeration, making it ideal for rural health facilities.

“Many mothers die because postpartum bleeding is detected late or underestimated. HSC offers a more reliable and accessible solution, especially in low-resource areas,” said Prof Qureshi.

Dr Testa Dey from WHO noted that expanding the use of HSC beyond prevention to treatment could revolutionize maternal healthcare in Africa, significantly reducing maternal mortality rates.

The county affirmed that it will continue supporting evidence-based healthcare initiatives that prioritize women’s health and safety.