Nairobi: The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have convened their annual work planning meeting in Nairobi to agree on priority actions for maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. Speaking at the meeting, the Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its long-standing partnership and support to policy, systems strengthening, and frontline capacity.

According to Kenya News Agency, Dr Amoth acknowledged UNICEF's contributions to skills lab hubs, the EWENE (Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere) framework, newborn care training, child health interventions, immunisation, nutrition, Early Childhood Development policy, and Community Health Provider RMNCAH modules. He noted that the meeting served as a co-creation platform to shape a work plan aligned with national and county RMNCAH priorities.

Dr Amoth highlighted key focus areas for reducing maternal and newborn deaths, which include strengthened EmONC, improved management of anaemia, PPH and pre-eclampsia, roll-out of the Labour Care Guide, care for sick and small newborns, stronger diagnostics, availability of lifesaving commodities, expanded simulation training, and continued ECD implementation. He emphasized the importance of MPDSR and routine death audits, calling for consistent action tracking to drive corrective measures.

Furthermore, Dr Amoth introduced the Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Response Initiative, aligned with the broader EWENE agenda. Among the key asks he outlined to UNICEF were aligning its work plan with national priorities, maintaining support to ASAL and high-burden counties, and remaining flexible to emerging needs. He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to joint planning, use of data and accountability, and thanked UNICEF for its steadfast partnership.