Murang’a Health Workers Rally Against Postpartum Haemorrhage Deaths in Kenya

MURANG’A, KENYA — Mobilizing community action to save maternal lives, murang’a health workers rally against postpartum hemorrhage through a 10-kilometer awareness run and urgent blood donation drive.

The event, hosted at Murang’a County Referral Hospital on September 27 and reported by The Star, was jointly coordinated by the Central Branch of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, the Murang’a County Government, the EndPPH Foundation, and the Ministry of Health.

Postpartum hemorrhage—severe bleeding following childbirth—remains the leading cause of maternal mortality in Kenya, accounting for nearly 40 percent of maternal deaths nationwide. Kenya’s national maternal mortality ratio currently stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2025, Murang’a recorded 26 maternal deaths out of approximately 18,000 deliveries.

Maternal Mortality Metrics and Clinical Interventions

Even as murang’a health workers rally against preventable childbirth deaths, key metrics highlight systemic gaps between facility delivery rates and emergency response capabilities:

Intervention & Metric Area	Local Operational Status	Strategic Clinical Goal
Skilled Birth Attendance	Achieved 96% skilled birth attendance rate across Murang’a County.	Ensure all births occur under qualified medical supervision.
Local Maternal Mortality	Recorded 26 deaths out of ~18,000 deliveries (~144 per 100,000 deliveries).	Eliminate preventable deaths from severe obstetric bleeding.
Blood Supply Management	Dependent on voluntary blood donation drives and regional banks.	Maintain immediate availability of transfusion units for emergency care.
WHO First-Line Bundle	Early blood loss measurement, uterine massage, uterotonics, and tranexamic acid.	Deliver simultaneous interventions to halt hemorrhage rapidly.

High Facility Delivery Rates vs. Emergency Care Gaps

Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, President of the World Medical Association, stressed during the campaign that postpartum hemorrhage is entirely preventable. However, clinicians note that despite Murang’a’s impressive 96 percent skilled birth attendance rate, maternal deaths continue to occur due to post-bleeding delays in securing blood transfusions and executing emergency procedures.

Strengthening Blood Supply Chains and Rapid Response Protocols

To ensure murang’a health workers rally against systemic bottlenecks effectively, addressing Kenya’s chronic blood shortages remains vital. Voluntary blood donor supplies frequently dip during school holidays, creating critical delays for mothers requiring immediate transfusions.

Dr. Simon Kigondu, campaign coordinator, emphasized that rapid access to blood products is essential to preventing maternal mortality. Adopting comprehensive postpartum hemorrhage treatment bundles—similar to primary health center models piloted in Kaduna State, Nigeria—can help frontline clinicians stabilize patients immediately and avert preventable deaths.

Why It Matters: High skilled birth attendance rates alone cannot prevent maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage unless health facilities maintain immediate access to safe blood supplies and rapid emergency treatment bundles.

Source: The Star Kenya Report, September 30, 2026