China Commits Sh390 Million to Boost Maternal and Newborn Healthcare in Northeastern Kenya

China has committed Sh390 million towards a new maternal and newborn health programme targeting northeastern Kenya, where maternal and infant mortality rates remain among the highest in the country despite broader gains in healthcare.

The initiative, funded by the Chinese government through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and implemented in partnership with UNICEF, will focus on Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties.

The programme is expected to directly benefit more than 652,000 people while indirectly reaching an additional 630,000 residents through expanded maternal, newborn and emergency healthcare services.

Speaking during the launch of the programme in Nairobi on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said the initiative reflects China’s commitment to supporting health and development priorities across Africa.

“Maternal and child health cooperation has always been a key priority of Global South cooperation as it serves to protect basic human rights and safeguard human dignity,” Guo said.

She noted that the programme was designed to address local healthcare challenges through targeted and measurable interventions.

“First, we will ensure precision cooperation based on actual needs. Second, we will invest in capacity building of health workers. Third, we will uphold strict and standardised management of resources,” she said.

According to the ambassador, the programme builds on commitments made during President William Ruto’s State Visit to Beijing in 2025 and aligns with China’s Global Development Initiative launched by President Xi Jinping in 2021.

“The implementation of this project fully embodies the vision of China’s Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021,” Guo said.

She added that China would continue working closely with UNICEF and Kenya’s Ministry of Health to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

Health officials say Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties continue to record maternal and newborn mortality rates significantly above the national average due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortages of skilled health workers, weak referral systems and long distances to health facilities.

Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said that although Kenya has made notable progress in reducing maternal and child mortality nationally, regional disparities remain a major challenge.

“Some counties continue to experience unacceptably high maternal mortality rates. These deaths are preventable and must be addressed collectively,” Dr Amoth said.

He explained that the programme will focus on strengthening health systems, improving emergency obstetric and newborn care services, and equipping healthcare facilities with essential medical supplies.

“The programme focuses on strengthening health systems, improving emergency readiness, and equipping facilities with essential commodities,” he said.

Dr Amoth added that community health promoters will play a central role in identifying pregnancies early, facilitating referrals and promoting health education at the community level.

The initiative will also support improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in health facilities to reduce infections associated with maternal and neonatal deaths.

UNICEF Kenya Representative Shaheen Nilofer said the programme seeks to address long-standing inequalities in healthcare access and service delivery affecting vulnerable communities in northeastern Kenya.

“This partnership helps us turn commitments into practical action where it is needed most,” Nilofer said.

“There is no doubt that this alignment sets the stage for real change.”

She noted that the intervention will strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare systems while improving nutrition services, emergency response capabilities and access to essential healthcare.

Health experts say the leading causes of newborn deaths in Kenya include prematurity, birth asphyxia and neonatal infections, most of which can be prevented through timely access to skilled healthcare providers, effective referral systems and adequately equipped health facilities.