A new China-backed health initiative will bring lifesaving maternal and newborn services closer to vulnerable communities in Kenya's northeastern region, with a $4 million investment expected to directly benefit over half a million people and strengthen healthcare systems in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties.
The two-year project, launched on Tuesday by the Kenyan government, UNICEF, and the Chinese government through the China International Development Cooperation Agency, or CIDCA, seeks to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in areas where access to essential health services remains below the national average.
The initiative, known as the Promotion of Health and Well-being of Women and Children in Kenya project, is funded through a $3 million contribution from China's Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, with UNICEF providing an additional $1 million in cofinancing. It is expected to reach a further 630,000 people indirectly through stronger health systems and community support mechanisms.
The project comes as Kenya continues to make progress in maternal and child health. According to the Ministry of Health, skilled birth attendance has risen to 89 percent while 80 percent of children are fully immunized. However, maternal mortality remains at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, while newborn mortality stands at 21 deaths per 1,000 live births.
