Kenya is grappling with an alarming rate of maternal deaths attributed to Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH), or excessive bleeding after childbirth. Experts reveal that at least 10 women die daily in the country, accumulating to an estimated 6,000 deaths annually due to PPH, making it the leading cause of maternal deaths both nationally and globally. This dire situation has prompted urgent calls for concerted action from various stakeholders.

To combat this crisis, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (KOGS), the Midwives Association of Kenya, and the University of Nairobi, organized the “End PPH Run 2025.” This initiative, which began last year, saw events held across multiple cities including Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kakamega, Homa Bay, and Makueni, aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing support for ending PPH. The Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasized that a collective effort from all stakeholders and the community is crucial to achieving the national target of reducing the maternal mortality ratio from the current 355 to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Dr. Amoth highlighted that mothers are not dying due to a lack of knowledge or expertise, but rather a collective societal failure to ensure their safety during childbirth. The Ministry is actively strengthening its supply chain for essential commodities like cabetocin, which counties can procure through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa).

Further elaborating on the challenges, Prof. Moses Obimbo, a gynaecologist from the University of Nairobi and an organiser of the End PPH initiative, underscored the critical need for increased resource allocation towards maternal health by policymakers. He pointed out significant gaps in the healthcare system, particularly a shortage of human infrastructure, noting Kenya's ratio of 1.5 doctors for every 1,000 patients, far below the recommended 1 to 440. Prof. Obimbo also stressed the urgent need for robust blood drives, asserting that blood has no substitute and a culture of donation is vital to prevent mothers from succumbing to haemorrhage due to lack of transfusions. Dr. Kireki Omanwa, President of KOGS, echoed these sentiments, calling for swift measures to enhance maternal and child health and equating the preventable deaths to a “battlefield of women dying,” which he deemed unacceptable.

Partnerships have shown tangible success in addressing PPH. Jhpiego, a key supporter of Kenya's maternal and child health efforts, has been instrumental in supplying cabetocin in Makueni County. This intervention has led to a significant reduction in maternal deaths in the county, with a recorded 12 deaths in 2022, followed by zero in 2023 and 2024, and only two in 2025, as reported by Michael Muthamia, Project Director for MPLI PPH under Jhpiego. Catherine Shiengi, Chairperson of the Midwives Association of Kenya, highlighted the importance of early identification and management of mothers at risk of PPH during delivery to prevent fatalities.

The severity of PPH is particularly evident in Kakamega County, where it accounts for 50 percent of all maternal deaths, with the county recording 180 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. During the End PPH Run 2025, Kakamega County officials announced a multi-faceted approach. Dr. David Alilah, the Chief Officer for Medical Services, stated that a special telemedicine committee would be established to formulate strategies and policies aimed at achieving zero maternal mortality. The county is also addressing the human resource deficit by advertising 270 positions for healthcare workers, particularly nurses, to support maternity wards. Dr. Alilah affirmed that consultants at county referral hospitals would guide public health facilities on policy formulation and implementation, and measures are being put in place to increase blood reserves at the regional blood centre serving four Western region counties. Additionally, each health facility is mandated to have at least two Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments (NASGs), and 30 percent of the health budget is now allocated for procuring critical care supplies.

Community engagement plays a vital role in Kakamega's strategy. Rose Muhanda, Chief Officer for Public Health, emphasized the reliance on Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to bridge gaps in expectant mothers accessing health facilities. CHPs are actively conducting awareness campaigns and mapping expectant mothers across all 12 constituencies to ensure they are linked to nearby facilities. However, Dr. Daniel Oluoch, Chairman of the KOGS and Midwives Association of Kenya (Western Branch), raised a critical systemic issue, criticizing the Social Health Authority (SHA) for its failure to cover underage mothers. This omission often results in young mothers being detained in hospitals due to unpaid bills, exacerbating the maternal health crisis. Dr. Oluoch outlined a five-year, four-pillar strategy to end preventable maternal deaths from PPH, focusing on advocacy and community engagement, research and skills building, innovation and health system strengthening, and data ecosystems development, aiming for a lasting impact from the community level to national and global health systems. Efforts to end PPH are also being mirrored by neighbouring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia, underscoring the regional commitment to this global health challenge.