Linda Mama programme got Sh4 billion, says new survey
George Kebaso @Morarak
The country has made major milestones in implementing commitments from the population and reproductive health conference held in Nairobi in November 2019 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Achievements include training of 17,000 health care workers on Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, provision of family planning services, obstetric fistula care, among other maternal and neonatal health issues in the last one year.
In a new report released by the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) yesterday, over Sh4 billion was allocated to the National Hospital Insurance Fund for the Linda Mama programme, which provides health insurance for maternal and child healthcare services.
NCPD has been taking stock of the country’s situation since the ICPD+25 conference in Nairobi at the end of 2019.
The report was yesterday unveiled by Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Ukur Yatani at Treasury Building.
It further shows that despite challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, efforts towards eliminating preventable maternal and ne-w-born morbidity and mortality continued over the last year.
Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic challenges and restrictions in movement, the report pointed out that, have worsened existing gender inequalities in the country.
“This has been evidenced by a spike in the number of women and girls experiencing Gender-Based Violence during this period,” the report.
In the last one year, the ICPD report notes that a multi-agency task force to end teenage pregnancies was also established.
“In addressing social and economic challenges faced by the youth, they received support in the development of job skills through programmes such as the Kenya Youth Employment Opportunity Project and the National Youth Service,” the report adds.
Over 50,000 young people received apprenticeship and industrial skills training as well as coaching on entrepreneurship in both the formal and informal sectors, the report shows.
Study has at the same showed that over Sh473.3 million in credit was disbursed to youth and youth enterprises, benefitting about 94,680 of them from various parts of the country.
“One of the achievements that Kenya made after the Nairobi Summit was also to release the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census results as part of the commitment to increase availability and use of population data for decision making,” Yattani said.
During the course of 2020, the CS said the country also embarked on development of various monographs based on the results of the 2019 census.
These monographs will be finalised and availed for use in 2021.
Crucial information
“Further, Kenya has begun the process of planning the implementation of the 2021 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey that will provide crucial information on the demographic and health situation of the country’s population.
This information will be used to advance the population programme in Kenya,” he added.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator Dr Medhin Tsehaiu said they would continue to support Government efforts seeking to help the health sector build back better from the pandemic.
“In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, UNFPA has continued to provide family planning commodities to eliminate the unmet need for the serrvices as well as support on the provision of maternal health services that are key in eliminating preventable deaths.”
She said providing support to women and girls affected by Gender-Based Violence and other harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and child marriages has been a key focus, with efforts to increase access to quality and comprehensive response and support services to survivors of gender based violence.
