6 Countries Initiative

The number of women dying form pregnancy-related causes in Kenya is very high compared to the global average with 488 pr. 100.000 live births compared to 210. Across the various sub-regions of the country there is great disparity. More than 50 % of the maternal mortality, which is the measurement for pregnancy-related deaths, happens in only 6 of the 47 counties in Kenya.

To address this the country office in Kenya has launched a specific initiative focusing on bring down the maternal mortality rate in these 6 counties. The counties in question are Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, Lamu and Migori.

Together with UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, UN Women and the World Bank, known as the H4+ partnership, UNFPA Kenya works in these counties with other health care providers to improve access to reproductive, maternal, new born, child and adolescent health care services. We also train local health care providers and provide equipment for a number of facilities in these counties.