Editor's Review

Health CS Aden Duale has ordered all health facilities to report every maternal and newborn death, conduct timely audits, and develop actionable recommendations to guide corrective measures.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered all health facilities to report every maternal and newborn death, conduct timely audits, and develop actionable recommendations to guide corrective measures.

Speaking on Friday, October 31, during the inaugural graduation ceremony of the M.P. Shah College of Health Sciences, CS Duale also instructed the ministry’s technical teams to undertake a nationwide survey to establish the accurate number of maternal and newborn deaths across the country.

The health CS explained that the integrated approach will generate timely and reliable data to inform preventive interventions and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

“This bold step will save lives and ensure that every mother and newborn in Kenya receives dignified, safe, and quality care,” said Duale.

At the same time, the Health CS highlighted the ongoing reforms in the health sector, which are instrumental in identifying unqualified practitioners and eliminating fraudulent activities within the Social Health Authority (SHA).

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File image of Health CS Aden Duale. 

Further, he reaffirmed the government's commitment to building a comprehensive and people-centered healthcare system through the implementation of the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025.

This comes days after CS Duale announced that the Ministry of Health will not renew licenses for health facilities and medical practitioners linked to high maternal mortality rates.

Speaking on Tuesday, October 28, he revealed that only four in ten health facilities are adequately equipped to handle safe deliveries.

"When expectant mothers are dying on your watch, your medical licenses are of no importance to us.

“The findings show that only four out of 10 health facilities in the country have the capacity where expectant mothers can effectively deliver,” CS Duale stated.

The Health CS also pointed out that medics in private and public health facilities have been attending to patients via mobile phones instead of being physically present.

“Some doctors who have been using the Practice 360 App from their bedrooms to discharge patients can no longer do so,” Duale added.