Migori: Migori county chief officer for medical services, Mabel Chanzu, has appealed to expectant mothers to religiously attend antenatal clinics and ensure that their deliveries occur in hospitals. Chanzu expressed concern that at least 10 percent of women in the area still give birth at home, despite efforts to promote safe deliveries in public health facilities.

According to Kenya News Agency, Chanzu conducted a supervision exercise at Sibuoche Health Centre to evaluate drug supply, staffing, and service delivery. She highlighted that while most women deliver in health facilities, those who do not expose their babies to significant health risks. The chief officer emphasized the importance of promoting skilled deliveries by Community Health Care Workers to reduce maternal and infant deaths.

Chanzu also raised concerns about the increasing cases of early pregnancies in the county. The health department is responding by providing family planning services and conducting community education programs to empower young people and help them make informed choices.

Budgetary constraints and delays in employing or replacing health workers who have been transferred, retired, or left the service through natural attrition were also highlighted by Chanzu. Although the county government prioritizes the recruitment of nurses due to their critical role in patient care, staffing levels remain at only 50 percent in some community facilities, affecting the capacity to serve patients.

Chanzu urged residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) to benefit from affordable healthcare, emphasizing that enrollment in the scheme would ensure broader access to medical services, particularly for vulnerable households. She reaffirmed the county's commitment to improving healthcare by ensuring a steady drug supply, strengthening staffing, and addressing reproductive health challenges.

The chief officer encouraged the community to make maximum use of available health facilities to reduce preventable illnesses and maternal deaths.