By JAMES OMORO

Homa Bay County: The number of women seeking free maternity services at Homa Bay District Hospital is on the increase.

The hospital recorded an increase of 10.6 per cent in June and 13.6 per cent in July.

According to the latest research conducted by Development Knowledge Link- Africa (DEVELINK), a non-governmental organisation advocating better health services in Homa Bay County, the number had risen since June when the free maternity policy was introduced by the Jubilee Government.

Rachuonyo District Hospital in Oyugis town registered an increase of 40 per cent in June and 2.2 per cent in July.

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The findings revealed that the 52 per cent out of 243 expectant mothers interviewed across the county were admitted in less than 10-minutes.

The research was carried out at eight major public health facilities within the county in July.

However, DEVLINK Director Esther Soti said there was a shortage of qualified midwives in hospitals.

Speaking during a workshop on health at a Homa Bay hotel, Ms Soti called on the county government to ensure recruitment and deployment of midwives in sub-county health facilities in order to curb maternal and child mortality during delivery.