In a bid to expand Beyond Zero campaign and free maternal health care, the national government in conjunction with the Ministry Of Health, has launched the ‘Linda Mama Boresha Maisha’ scheme to provide free maternal services to expectant mothers.
The scheme will provide health care services for both inpatient and outpatient services for the mother and newborn for a period of one year. The scheme is a partnership between the national government and faith-based organizations and some private facilities. All in a bid to expand the maternal services and also provide access to greater facilities.
The scheme is set to aid the Beyond Zero campaign which was started by the First Lady Margret Kenyatta in 1st June 2013 with a budget of Kshs. 3.8 billion and currently stands at Kshs. 4.4 billion. So far the campaign has covered all the 47 counties in Kenya providing medical services and mobile clinics. At the time of its inception, 60% of women delivered at home and 6000 are said to have lost their lives during birth during that period. The number has since gone down, a factor that has been attributed to the campaign. The Linda Mama scheme has so far received an allocation of Kshs. 5.4 billion.
The chair lady of Maendeleo ya Wanawake, Rahab Mwikali praised the scheme saying, “It has lifted financial barriers and the money can now be used for other family needs. “She, however, urged women to embrace family planning methods despite the fact that maternal healthcare is free.
CS for Health Cleopa Mailu however, did not shy away from the woes facing the health sector with the unending strikes by both doctors and nurses countrywide. He said, “We have a solution to the industrial unrest.”
However, the senator of Migori County Wilfred Machage blamed the county governments and especially the governors for the industrial strikes which he attributed to misuse of funds meant for salaries.
The Linda Mama scheme is expected to provide and improve access and equality of maternal, new born, and child health care services in the country.