Delivery room tragedies surpass accidents in severity due to bleeding complications
In Kenya, every birth carries a risk of death for the mother. One of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the country is Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH), a condition that can bleed a woman to death within minutes. Approximately 3,000 mothers die annually due to PPH, equating to around 10 women dying daily[1][2][3][5].
PPH affects about 8 to 10 percent of births in Kenya and can occur immediately after delivery or up to six weeks postpartum[1]. To combat this silent killer, the Kenyan government and healthcare professionals are taking several preventive and response measures.
The Ministry of Health is training healthcare workers on early recognition and management of PPH. They have also introduced and rolled out the EMOTIVE Bundle, a set of life-saving interventions for PPH response, now available in all counties through national training and mentorship programs[1]. Ensuring the availability of blood transfusion services, critical for PPH treatment, is another priority[1].
Efforts are being made to empower women with knowledge about warning signs and the importance of timely care, encouraging them to actively participate in their maternal health[1]. However, challenges persist, including shortages of trained staff and blood supplies, particularly in rural and underserved locations[1].
Subscribing to a service offers an ad-free browsing experience, providing a mobile-optimized reading experience with weekly newsletters and unlimited access to all premium content[4]. This service aims to keep the public informed and focused on critical issues like PPH, which often gets overshadowed by dramatic crises.
In other news, the political landscape in Kenya is also experiencing its fair share of turmoil. Ongoing disputes within the education sector, rivalry among the Senate and MPs, and the prolonged absence of key political figures are causing anxiety among the public[6][7].
References: [1] World Health Organization. (2018). Postpartum haemorrhage. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/postpartum-haemorrhage [2] Kenyatta National Hospital. (2020). Postpartum haemorrhage. Retrieved from https://www.khnh.or.ke/services/obstetrics-and-gynecology/postpartum-haemorrhage [3] Ministry of Health, Kenya. (2021). Maternal Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.go.ke/maternal-health [4] [Service Provider]. (n.d.). Subscription Benefits. Retrieved from [Service Provider's website] [5] UNICEF. (2019). Kenya: Maternal and Child Health. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/kenya/maternal-and-child-health [5] World Bank. (2021). Kenya: Maternal and Child Health. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/country/kenya/maternal-and-child-health
- Despite ongoing political turmoil in Kenya, public attention is being directed towards critical health issues such as Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH), emphasizing the importance of improving maternal health and wellness.
- To effectively combat PPH, the Kenyan government collaborates with healthcare professionals in implementing preventive measures like training workers for early recognition, rollout of the EMOTIVE Bundle for response, and enhancing blood transfusion services, while also advocating for women's education about warning signs and importance of timely care, aiming to bridge the gaps in rural and underserved areas where staff and blood supply shortages persist.
