The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA  today donated assorted reproductive health supplies to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, which will improve access to emergency obstetric and newborn care in Nairobi. The donation included nine cesarean section sets to be used at various health facilities. The kits will serve an estimated 41,000 women annually in need of cesarean sections, and reduce unnecessary referrals to higher-level hospitals, including the Kenyatta National Hospital.

UNFPA Deputy Representative Dr. Ezizgeldi Hellenov also handed over 4 fistula repair sets containing instruments and materials for use by fistula surgeons and health teams caring for women and girls with obstetric fistula.  The donation also included three birth models allocated to Mbagathi Hospital for use in the training of midwives. "The birth models will serve to improve the skills of midwives for better outcomes when managing women giving birth, while the fistula kits will go a long way in restoring the dignity of women suffering from the condition, " said Dr. Hellenov. 

While the skilled birth attendance rate in Kenya has improved to about 70%, over half a million women still do not have access to emergency obstetric care, and are therefore at risk of developing severe complications and even death. This risk is higher in informal settlements where access to care is poor. UNFPA works with the government of Kenya to improve access to quality care through capacity development in maternal care, especially the strengthening of human resources including capacity building on emergency obstetric and newborn care and and providing guidance and support to health systems.