A maternity unit was officially opened in Garissa County by area governor, Nadhif Jama who urged mothers in the county to deliver in healthcare facilities to reduce cases of child mortality. The unit was equipped by UNICEF that continues to support the country towards improvement of maternal healthcare systems. Garissa county is placed among the 15 counties with highest maternal mortality rates in the country and the governor looks forward to equipping all the 16 healthcare facilities and 26 maternity wings, using budgetary allocation that it has continued to receive over time. The ultra-modern maternity wing has a 101 bed capacity. According to latest statistics, the number of women delivering in hospitals has increased from 48 percent, in 2013, to 64 percent, in 2015.