President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to hospitals that fail to report accurate data on maternal and child deaths in their facilities.
Speaking during a briefing on Wednesday, November 19, the Head of State ordered that all hospitals, public and private, must submit real-time mortality data to the Digital Health Authority (DHA).
“Maternal and newborn mortalities remain unacceptably high. No woman should die while giving birth, and no baby should be lost to preventable causes,” President Ruto said. “We cannot continue losing over 300 mothers per 100,000 live births when the global benchmark is 70.”
The President noted that several counties, including Tana River, Garissa, Samburu, Marsabit, Siaya, and Elgeyo Marakwet, are hardest hit by maternal deaths. He directed the Ministry of Health to complete a nationwide survey by March 2026 to pinpoint areas with high mortality rates.
The directive coincided with a handover of ambulances and medical supplies from the World Health Organization, aimed at strengthening emergency referral systems, boosting oxygen capacity, and improving maternal and child healthcare outcomes.
President Ruto also emphasized the urgent need for transparency, saying some facilities have been hiding critical data, undermining efforts to save lives. “This is unacceptable. Accurate reporting is key to preventing further maternal and child deaths,” he added.
I like how you kept it informative without being too technical.