On April 14, 2025, a significant milestone was marked in Kwale County as the Department of Health officially welcomed the Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative (OMMI) during an introductory meeting held at the office of the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health Services in Kwale Town.
The meeting brought together senior officials from the County Department of Health, representatives from the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK)-the project grantee and Fanikisha Foundation, the local implementing partner sub-granted under OMMI. The gathering served as both a formal launch and a foundation-setting moment for the three-year initiative focused on reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths across the county.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Susan, Country Director of ICRHK, emphasized the importance of strong collaboration and county ownership for sustainable progress in maternal and newborn health. Her sentiments were echoed by Mary Magubo from the Ministry of Health’s RMNCAH division, who highlighted upcoming national and county-level forums under the EWENE (Ending Preventable Maternal and Neonatal Mortality) strategy designed to align national leadership around a shared goal of saving lives.
The Fanikisha Foundation team then took the floor to present OMMI’s strategic direction for Year One. The activities laid out demonstrated a data-driven, community-rooted approach focused on improving outcomes through both systemic and grassroots engagement.
The county’s health leadership responded with strong words of support and commitment. The County Director of Health underscored the importance of fully understanding the causes behind maternal and newborn deaths during the landscape analysis phase.
Dr. Mjimba, Chief Officer for Curative Services, pledged his department’s backing and highlighted the need to address any service delivery gaps identified during the project’s implementation.
From the preventive side, the Chief Officer for Preventive Services praised the initiative’s timeliness and called for greater male involvement in reproductive health efforts to drive lasting behavior change.
Finally, the CEC for Health Services expressed appreciation for the project and encouraged targeted community engagement, especially in promoting early antenatal care and SHA premium payments. He proposed the inclusion of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) particularly from health and budget committees as critical allies in spreading health messages at the grassroots level. He also suggested starting community dialogues in Kikoneni Health Centre, which had recently reported a maternal and newborn death.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful and united note. With a shared commitment among partners, county leadership, and implementing teams, the Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative enters Kwale County on a strong foundation of partnership, purpose, and people-centered strategies.
As implementation begins, ICRHK, in collaboration with Fanikisha Foundation and the County Department of Health, remains committed to ensuring that every pregnancy is safe and every newborn has the chance to thrive.
Together, we are saving lives one mother and one newborn at a time.
