Kenya mulls Nasarawa model to reduce maternal, mortality rates, family planning

Health experts from the Kenya’s Ministry of Health, recently paid a one-day working visit to Nasarawa State to under study and possibly adopt the state model for reducing maternal deaths and the process of administering injectable and implant based family planning in the state.

The team, led by Serem Edward, under the programme, IntegratE Project implemented by the Society for Family Health (SFH), were overall impressed with the quality of healthcare delivery in the state.

The learning visit was not only to improve on the efforts to tackle maternal and child mortality in Kenya, was aimed at improving service delivery among Community Pharmacists and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors in that country.

The delegation, which consist of medical practitioners; Doctors Pharmacists, and key health officials and providers from Kenya’s Ministry of Health. The interface provided an opportunity for a robust discussions with the team from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health on best practices for administering contraceptive implants, primary healthcare services and expanding access to family planning services.

Serem Edward, in a meeting organized by the Society of Family Health in Keffi Local Government Area, commended Nasarawa government for the exceptional implementation of the IntegratE Project.

“We came here because we want to understand how implants are administered by pharmacists. Our goal is to bring family planning services closer to the population in Kenya,” Edward stated.

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He noted that Kenya’s modern contraceptive prevalence rate stands at 57%, adding that, learning from Nigeria’s model could help reduce maternal and child mortality in his country.

“Nigeria’s intervention is crucial because it extends family planning services to communities where human resources are limited,” he added.

Salome Aya, Reproductive and Family Planning Coordinator in the State Ministry of Health, highlighted the state’s achievements in expanding access to contraceptive services.

“So far, over 60,000 women across the 13 LGAs of Nasarawa have accessed family planning services through government healthcare facilities, private hospitals, community pharmacists, and PPMVs,” she disclosed.

Aya noted that, while free family planning services are only available in public health facilities, the state government has empowered CPs and PPMVs to expand access and reduce maternal and child mortality.

Michael Alagbile, representing SFH and the IntegratE Project, said the initiative has broadened access to family planning, ensuring that women can obtain contraceptives regardless of their location.

“The focus is to expand access to quality healthcare for all residents, ensuring that no woman is left behind in accessing family planning services,” he stated.

Commending the Kenyan Ministry of Health for seeking to adopt Nigeria’s approach, Alagbile expressed hope that the visit would inspire Kenya to implement similar, if not improved practices.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ali John Damina, commended SFH for championing the IntegratE Project and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting reproductive health initiatives.

“This initiative empowers women to take control of their reproductive health, and the Nasarawa State government remains committed to supporting these interventions.”

“With this collaboration, Kenya aims to replicate Nasarawa’s model, ensuring wider access to modern contraceptive methods and reducing maternal and child mortality in both countries, Damina concluded.

Representatives from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors, and the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, among others as well as the Task Shifting and Task Sharing Coordinator of Family Planning in Nasarawa.