Bill seeks to boost maternal health services in Siaya

Lucy Mujok, a pediatric nurse attends to triplets at Siaya Teaching and Referral Hospital. [File, Standard]

Siaya MCAs are pushing for legislation to improve access to maternal and reproductive healthcare in public health facilities.

The Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Bill 2024 has been tipped to transform healthcare in the devolved unit.

The County Assembly Health Committee has already finalized public participation and stakeholder engagement on the Bill.

If approved by the assembly and enacted into law, the Bill tasks the county Department of Health Services with providing nutritional information and support to mothers for their children’s well-being.

The Bill sponsored by North Ugenya ward representative Benard Adalla also aims to raise awareness about diseases related to maternal, neonatal, and child health and further provide a framework for expectant and lactating women to access health services and increase the uptake of immunisation and vaccination services for children.

"It further intends to establish a framework to reduce mother and child morbidity and mortality and promote public awareness and social mobilisation to achieve sustained maternal and child health," he said.

“No health facility, whether public or private, shall deny emergency medical treatment to any pregnant woman or child unless the health facility does not generally provide the services to which the emergency relates, in which case the health facility shall promptly make an appropriate referral,” states the Bill.

According to statistics from the health department, 93 per cent of expectant women now deliver in health facilities which is a significant increase from 84 per cent in 2020.