UNFPA and Britam Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in vulnerable communities across Kwale and Nairobi counties.
The partnership will scale the Lea Salama Programme, an initiative to expand access to care for pregnant women and newborns in underserved rural areas and urban informal settlements where health inequities are most pronounced.
The Scale of the Problem
Kenya confronts a stark reality: an estimated 15 mothers and 92 newborns die every day from preventable causes.
The national maternal mortality ratio stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Kwale County, the figure rises to 431 per 100,000. Nairobi presents a more complex picture. Aggregate numbers appear better, but in low income densely populated communities, access to timely quality care remains severely limited. Gaps in emergency obstetric and newborn services continue to cost lives.
What the Partnership Will Deliver
The collaboration strengthens county health systems while building community demand for essential services.
Under the initiative, 20 health facilities across Kwale and Nairobi will be upgraded and equipped to deliver maternal and newborn care. Healthcare workers will receive training and mentorship in emergency obstetric and newborn care. The programme also introduces obstetric point of care ultrasound technology to improve early detection and management of pregnancy complications. Community health promoters will receive tools and training to mobilise the communities they serve.
Voices Behind the Partnership
“The Britam Foundation brings a proven prevention first model that is critical to closing gaps in the quality of maternal and newborn health care,” Dr. Pilar de la Corte Molina, UNFPA Deputy Representative to Kenya and Officer in Charge
“When a mother survives childbirth and a newborn thrives, we are not just saving lives. We are strengthening families, empowering communities, and shaping a more resilient society for generations to come,” Catherine Karita, Executive Director, Britam Foundation
A Model Built to Scale
The Lea Salama Programme is built for replication. It serves as a blueprint for how public and private partnerships can drive measurable progress in maternal and newborn health across Kenya, starting in Kwale and Nairobi and expanding to other counties.
