MoH Unveils National MPDSR Steering Committee to Tackle Rising Maternal Deaths

By : Mweru Mbugua 

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched the National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) Steering Committee in a renewed push to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths across the country

Speaking during the launch in Nairobi on Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding mothers and infants, stating that no woman should die while giving birth and no newborn should succumb to preventable causes

“Every woman matters. Every newborn matters. And every preventable death must be prevented. Together, with unity of purpose and unwavering resolve, we will ensure that every woman and every newborn survives and thrives—everywhere in Kenya,” Duale said

The newly formed committee will hold structured, action-oriented routine meetings aimed at reviewing maternal and perinatal deaths and ensuring swift corrective action

“Where deaths occur, corrective action must immediately follow,” Duale emphasized. “When reviews reveal gaps—whether in emergency response, referral systems, blood and commodities availability, or staffing challenges—this Steering Committee must ensure those gaps are addressed through policy reform, financing prioritization, and coordinated national action”

According to the CS, the committee’s framework will operate at all levels of care, including health facilities, sub-counties, and counties, to ensure accountability and systemic improvements nationwide

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni called for urgent action, noting that maternal deaths reflect systemic failures that must be corrected

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“Motherhood must never be a near-death experience. We sit in Nairobi yet our mandate goes beyond. We are here because behind every statistic is a name, a face, a family. Preventable deaths are not misfortune but failed systems that can be corrected,” she said

Duale added that the initiative will be operationalized through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) acceleration plan, which is set to be rolled out nationally

The move follows alarming maternal mortality rates reported in 20 counties in 2025, prompting the Health Ministry to pledge immediate interventions to reverse the troubling trend