Mothers are selfless and kind. I am sure we can all agree on this. Every year in May, we celebrate motherhood.
Mother's Day is a beautiful occasion that celebrates the love and dedication of mothers around the world. It is a day filled with heartfelt messages, gifts, and expressions of gratitude.
However, our joy is limited to the lovely messages and gifts we bundle and wrap in bows. As we celebrate this special day, it is important to that our support for mothers extends beyond mere gestures.
In Kenya, and in many other parts of the world, women continue to lose their lives during childbirth and to pregnancy-related complications. It is high time we demand better from our government and take concrete actions to save women's lives.
Behind the joyful celebrations and sentimental messages lies a silent crisis that deserves our immediate attention. According to the World Health Organisation, Kenya still grapples with alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality.
It is devastating to know that preventable causes, such as complications during childbirth, lack of access to quality healthcare, and cervical cancer, continue to claim the lives of countless mothers.
We have routinely failed mothers in many ways. On this Mother's Day, a woman will die somewhere as a result of childbirth and pregnancy-related complications. Kenya's maternal mortality rate is 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Given the current annual births, this means that there are nearly 5,000 women and girls dying each year as a result of pregnancy and delivery difficulties.
Poor quality care is responsible for more than 80 per cent of these deaths. More women and girls, on the other hand, survive, albeit with significant morbidity such as obstetric fistula and mental health issues.
These figures are frightening and demonstrate that being pregnant is one of the riskiest things a woman can do in this country. In 2023, no woman should lose her life while carrying another life into the world.
On this Mother's Day, let us collectively raise our voices and demand greater government accountability in ensuring the well-being of women. It is the responsibility of the government to prioritise and invest in maternal health.
The current situation demands a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of maternal mortality. Let us not confine our gratitude to mere sentimental gestures. It is our duty to advocate for well-being and safety of mothers everywhere.
By urging government to prioritise maternal healthcare, strengthen healthcare systems, promote education, expand access to cervical cancer screening and treatment, and enhance financing, we can create a future where no woman loses her life due to preventable causes.
Let's celebrate motherhood not only with sweet messages and gifts but also by ensuring no woman dies of childbirth and pregnancy-related causes. If Mother's Day has meaning, so should women's lives.
-The writer is an editor at The Standard
