The Okoa Mama na Mtoto initiative, also known as OMMI, is a 3 year Gates Funded collaborative effort in Kenya aimed at accelerating the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths. It focuses on advocating for improved quality of maternal and newborn care, increased domestic funding for maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition efforts (MNCH + N), and advocating for policies that protect the health of women and children.
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Background
Despite notable progress in increasing coverage and access to maternal and newborn health initiatives, Kenya remains significantly off track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 12 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. Many of the solutions needed to accelerate progress are well known by local experts. There is a need for coordinated action so that priorities are translated into national and sub-national plans and budgets, that committed funds flow through the system and that community-led accountability efforts feed into decision-making.
Under the leadership of the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya, the Okoa Mama na Mtoto – Maternal and Newborn Survival – Initiative (OMMI) brings together a host of partners to fast-track progress towards the maternal and newborn SDGs in Kenya. Partners include Options Consultancy Services (Options), Ushiriki Wema, KOGs, KMTC, Lwala Community Alliance, County Youth RH Networks, Shina Foundation, Fountain of Hope, FANIKISHA, Ollwi/Touch a Life, WPWD and Wanahabari.
Working at the national and sub-national level in priority geographies, OMMI aims to achieve the following by 2027:
The study is implemented by International Centre for Reproductive Health – Kenya (ICRHK) with funding from Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO), Belgium, in Mombasa County. The study objectives are to: Assess the prevalence of low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions
International Centre for Reproductive Health – Kenya (ICRHK), in partnership with the Population Council and the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), implements this study in Mombasa County with funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Funded by Ghent University and implemented by the International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Ghent University, and Coast Provincial General Hospital in Mombasa, the BioViro study focuses on developing and evaluating affordable laboratory tools for managing the treatment of
The diaphragm acceptability study is funded by the Wellcome Trust and implemented in Mombasa by ICRHK in partnership with KEMRI and Ghent University. It assesses the acceptability, compliance, and safety of diaphragm use, an accepted family planning method as
Funded by USAID and implemented between 2003 and 2007 in Mombasa County by ICRHK in partnership with Population Council, this intervention study tests strategies to improve adherence to HAART and examines the broader behavioral, social, and economic impacts of
Funded by UNFPA and implemented by ICRHK in partnership with the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya – Mombasa (CIPK), the OKOA JAHAZI Project empowers sex workers in Mombasa to pursue alternative sources of livelihood. The project creates
Maisha project is implemented by ICRHK in collaboration with Ghent University, University Hospital, and the Ministry of Health with funding from the European Commission. The Project demonstrates and tests interventions to improve the health of women and children in
Funded by USAID and implemented by ICRHK in collaboration with Pathfinder, the APHIA Plus projects reduce the risk of HIV and STIs among female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu
Funded by the European Union’s Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) and implemented by ICRHK, ICRH-Belgium, and the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies of Columbia University, the Boresha Project assesses the feasibility of conducting HIV prevention interventions at
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented in Mombasa by ICRHK in collaboration with Jhpiego, NASCOP, and MPEG, this study focuses on demonstrating and documenting lessons in programming for young female sex workers, as outlined in
Funded by USAID and implemented by Pathfinder International and ICRHK, the Afya Pwani Key Population project provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and testing services for female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender persons. It operates through
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, with Jhpiego serving as the lead consortium partner, this four-year project (2016–2020) scales up oral PrEP for HIV prevention
This 3-year project, implemented in Kilifi and Nairobi Counties through a collaboration between Jhpiego, ICRH-K, NASCOP, and the two counties, funded by the Gates Foundation, is generating critical evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of introducing point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics
Key partners ICRHK Donor DANIDA Period of implementation 2007-2009 Location: Mombasa Overview of the project The overall goal of ICRHK RESECY program was to have an informed community contributing to rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of sexual exploited children and
Key partners Department of Children Services, County government of Mombasa Donor Kindernothlife Period of implementation Sep 2016 – July 2019 Location: Mombasa Overview of the project Its overall objective was to contribute to the reduction of commercial sexual exploitation