A new initiative has unveiled guidelines to boost antenatal care in Kenya, aiming to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by improving access to critical ultrasound screenings.

The guidelines, developed by the Uhai wa Mama na Mtoto Project, will enable nurses, midwives, and clinical officers to conduct essential obstetric ultrasound scans, addressing a major gap at primary healthcare facilities that often lack the necessary equipment and sonographers.

Ushirika Wema, a nonprofit organization, led the development of the National Obstetrics Point of Care Ultrasound guidelines in partnership with the International Centre for Reproductive Health.

These guidelines align with World Health Organisation recommendations for early ultrasound scans for pregnant women, which remain largely inaccessible at dispensaries and health centres across the country.

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The initiative is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

During the launch in Nairobi, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged the Ministry of Health to expedite the rollout of these guidelines to curb preventable maternal deaths. He also called for a practical training and mentorship programme to equip healthcare providers at clinics nationwide.

“We must work together to reduce the high and unacceptable number of maternal deaths, which places Kenya fourth among African countries with the highest maternal mortality burden,” Mudavadi stated, emphasising the urgency of awareness campaigns to ensure expectant mothers know where and when to access ultrasound services.

The guidelines represent a significant step in addressing maternal health disparities, providing Kenya’s public health facilities with the necessary framework and resources to improve antenatal care and ultimately save lives.

Mudavadi urged the Health Ministry to expedite the launch and implementation of the guidelines.

“The users need to be trained on how to use the guidelines; hence, there is a need to develop a simple but effective training and mentoring program that can be quickly deployed to all clinics and centres,” he said.