On 4th November 2016, at Ambira Sub County Hospital in Ugunja Sub County in Siaya County, AMREF Health Africa, Africa Alive in partnership with the County Government of Siaya supported by the Government of Canada launched a project that is to address issues of maternal and child health in Siaya County.
The project titled: Canada-Africa Initiative to Address Maternal, Newborn and child Mortality is worth 312 million shillings and is expected to run for four years. It aims to improve the health status of mothers and children in Siaya County. The project will run in 3 sub counties in Siaya County namely, Alego Usonga, Bondo Ugenya and Ugunja sub counties.
In attendance were Her Excellency the First Lady of Siaya County, representatives of the Government of Canada in Kenya, County executive committee members, representatives from the ministry of health, county directors of implementing agencies, elected leaders and their representatives and the people of Ugunja sub county.
During his speech, the deputy governor of Siaya county Hon Ouma Onyango acknowledged that Siaya county has had some of the poorest health indicators with nearly 700 mothers out of 100,000 dying due to complications of pregnancy and child birth and under 5 years mortality rate stood at 159 per 1000 live births which is 3 times higher than the national average. Moreover he emphasized that through the project, they intend to increase access to quality of reproductive maternal, newborn and child health services. Additionally he stated that the county health facilities will be supported through capacity building of staff, equipping health facilities and renovations of selected facilities.
The deputy governor also strongly challenged the implementing partners and county health department to work tirelessly and make sure there is a direct impact on the mothers and children in the project area and yield measurable results in maternal and child indicators.
This project signifies the beginning of a better cooperation between the people of Siaya County and the Government of Canada. The success of this project will depend on everyone playing a role.
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