A US medical organization is offering a free medical camp to deal with issues pertaining the reproductive system for mothers at Kapenguria County hospital and other health centers. Saving Mothers has launched a week-long medical camp at Kapenguria with medical experts set to assist mothers with reproductive health problems.
The organization is helping mothers with complications such as Fibroid, Fistula, over bleeding and other reproductive system complications. Saving Mothers is a key stakeholder in the Health sector in West Pokot County as they have donated two ultrasound machines worth Kshs 12 million that has enabled mothers to access free obstetric scanning at Kapenguria County hospital enable.
There is also an ongoing discussion on the possibility of initiating Kapenguria Telemedicine Referral Unit and services at the hospital in collaboration with the County government. Mothers in the County will benefit from the free program which is ongoing in the area to help mothers undergo surgery.
A team of 11 obstetricians and gynecologists from the USA led by the Medical Director Taraneh Shirazian will visit Chepareria, Kapkoris, Kishaunet and Keringet areas where free obstetric scans are done.
The team is providing obstetric and gynecological care to women in the county. Many women in the area deliver without trained medical professional help, hence many suffer from threatening hemorrhage.
Medical Director Taraneh Shirazian said that the program seeks to reduce maternal deaths and newborn mortality by increasing the demand for services, facilitating access to lifesaving care and strengthening health systems in the area.
“The surgery is very important to mothers because after the exercise mothers are safe to give birth,” she said. Taraner who is the founder of the organization said that maternal deaths are preventable and no woman should die during childbirth. “The program will reduce deaths of mothers who die during pregnancy and childbirth,” she said.
Governor Simon Kachapin said that since the start of devolution, the rate of childbirths in medicals facilities have increased, emergency obstetric newborn care services have improved and community linkages to medical facilities have been strengthened.
The Governor thanked the organization for the great initiative aimed at improving health care for mother terming the partnership a great move towards improving healthcare in the County. “Our mothers are being advised on issues to do with maternal health and prenatal clinics. We need more donors to help improve the state of the health sector to reduce patient referrals to Eldoret,” he said. He said the Free Maternity program by the government has encouraged mothers to visit hospitals
He said the Free Maternity program by the government has encouraged mothers to visit hospitals. West Pokot health and sanitation Chief officer Christine Akuto said that the program has managed to enroll 318 clients for the study and a total of 100 clients have been tested positive for pre-term.
Akuto pointed out that the county lacks specialists on reproductive despite the county being ranked second in reproductive health. “We only have one specialist who cannot manage all pregnant mothers. When a mother is found with a complication she needs help,” she said.