By Mandere Onyinkwa
The Council of Governors (CoG) is ramping up the use of data to reduce maternal and perinatal deaths, with governors now chairing weekly review meetings tracking progress across all 47 counties.
Eight months after the rollout of a national dashboard consolidating county reports, early results show progress, with many counties recording fewer—and in some cases zero—maternal and newborn deaths over consecutive days or even months.
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Under the strengthened plan, frontline health workers hold twice-weekly meetings—on Tuesdays and Thursdays—to assess delivery-room outcomes, identify gaps, and use data insights to guide immediate interventions.
CoG Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti said sustained investment is critical to strengthening the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system.
“While progress is evident, some counties still need more health workers to manage the workload,” she noted, urging development partners to support the initiative now being led directly by governors.
Sam Mulyanga of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation praised Kenya’s approach, saying it offers a model for other African countries working toward ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths by 2030.
Through MPDSR, neighboring counties are increasingly collaborating during emergencies—sharing theatres, ambulances, and expertise—to ensure timely care, anchored on the principle that no mother should die while giving birth.
The data-driven system pinpoints high-risk areas, directs investment, and exposes system gaps during weekly reviews.
Stakeholders, including MPDSR champions from high-performing counties, are currently meeting in Naivasha for a progress review before deploying to hard-hit counties to provide targeted support and training.
