On the 7th of June 2022, PS Kenya, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, launched 14 Reproductive and maternal health documents that aim to improve the quality of maternal and newborn health services in all Counties of Kenya. The documents are set to reach healthcare professionals, policymakers, health academia and researchers, as well as health implementers across all levels.
Kenya has made great progress as a Country in improving reproductive maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH) outcomes. PS Kenya has contributed to this feat by having their hand in a number of reproductive health missions in the Country, thereby cementing themselves as key stakeholders in its journey towards the FP2030 goals of 66% modern CPR.
“We need to work with the grassroot community leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders and community health workers to ensure that we are reaching the one in ten women that have unmet need for family planning,” said Joyce Wanderi, CEO PS Kenya.
PS Kenya’s DESIP program, whose main goal is to ensure that young rural and marginalized women and girls can safely plan their pregnancies and improve their SRHR, supported this process of policy and guidelines development greatly. DESIP, which is currently working in 12 counties has reached more than 1.8 million CYPs (Couple-Years of Protection) in the last three years.
The program also ensures that people with disabilities (PWDs) are well catered to when it comes to their family planning needs by training health providers and ensuring that their facilities are easily accessible to PWDs.
It was therefore a proud moment for the organization, the Ministry of Health and all development and implementing partners when the following documents were launched:
- National guidelines on quality obstetrics and perinatal care, Maternal and new-born health standards 2022
- National reproductive health and family planning commodity security strategy
- Kenya Family planning costed implementation plan 2021-2024
- National family planning standards for healthcare facilities in Kenya
- Female genital mutilation prevention and response fast-track plan
- Female genital mutilation prevention and management of health complications training manual
- Management of intimate partner violence in healthcare settings
- Forensic Module on the Management of SGBV
- Trainers Manual
- Understanding Adolescence: Community Health Package
- Total Market Approach for family planning strategy
- National post-abortion care standards
- National DMPA –SC Training curriculum for health care providers
- Post-pregnancy family planning document
The existence of these guiding policies and strategies is a step in the right direction in addressing the gaps that inhibit the provision of quality reproductive health services and information to those who need them. PS Kenya’s Reproductive Health Coordinators (RPCs) will hold meetings with the different County Health Management Teams to decide on appropriate dissemination dates.