How SportPesa Is Helping Kenya Reduce Maternal And Perinatal Mortality

Maternal and perinatal mortality remains a major public health concern globally according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are more than 289,000 maternal deaths, 2.6 million stillbirths and 2.7 million neonatal deaths occurring each year around the world. It is a silent menace that is killing current and future generations.

In Kenya, the current Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 362 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate of 23 deaths per 1000 live births is far below the target of 147 maternal mortality per 100,000 live births and 12 stillbirths per 1000 live births respectively.

The Kenyan government has made significant and purposeful efforts geared towards improving the lives of women over the years. Initiatives such as Beyond Zero by the First Lady and others have helped in bringing hope among mothers.

In June of 2013, Kenya declared maternity services free of charge, in all public health institutions across the country, a move that makes access to quality maternal health care possible for all women in the country.

But despite the visible efforts by the government of Kenya to make maternal health a priority, there still exist various challenges that threaten to take the country back.

Some of the challenges faced include inaccessibility to health facilities in most remote areas around the country, inadequate healthcare personnel, and lack of proper equipment to help delivering mothers.

It is important to realize that making healthcare accessible to each one of us is not the role of government alone. Well, the government implements a larger share but it is the responsibility of us and all the other stakeholders.

SportPesa, known for supporting sports and talents across the country took a shift to include healthcare, more so maternal health among their support programs. So far, through the SportPesa Foundation, the giant gaming company has helped various health facilities around the country with medical equipment and building structures.

In October, SportPesa Foundation teamed up with AIC Olasiti Dispensary in Narok County to advocate for hospital deliveries that are deemed less risky than home births.

The foundation has donated equipment to the dispensary to sustain its services as women in that community gradually adopt hospital births. It also contributed toward fundraising for the construction of a general ward block to cater to female and male patients.

Since March 2021, SportPesa has delivered much-needed assistance to the maternal health units of 20 hospitals in Bomet, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Nairobi, and Kiambu counties.

Some of the beneficiary hospitals include Ndarawetta Health Centre, Mikinduri Sub County Hospital. Riruta Health Centre, Boito Dispensary, Longisa County Referral, PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital, Lunga Lunga Health Centre among others.

The latest beneficiary is Magunga Level 4 Hospital in Homa Bay County that will benefit from the support of medical equipment to help it serve the community better.

“We continue to support community health facilities to ensure women have the best health care when giving birth and for their children. Our support includes the provision of equipment in facilities which are mainly run by counties or those that are community-based,” said Lola Okulo, Assistant Marketing Manager, SportPesa.