Vihiga governor: Mothers, infants die due to lack of proper maternal services
By Enock Amukhale, November 29, 2025In a bid to curb maternal and infant mortality during childbirth, Vihiga County, in partnership with the M-Pesa Foundation, has established a Ksh60 million Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) facility.
Speaking during the motivation ceremony for Emuhaya sub-county hospital health workers on November 29, 2025, Vihiga County governor Wilber Ottichilo said the (MNCH) unit at Vihiga County Referral Hospital is complete, and it will be officially opened on December 15, 2025, for operation.
Ottichilo revealed that many mothers have been facing difficulties in accessing maternal health services during delivery. He noted that with the establishment of the facility at Vihiga Referral Hospital, more lives will be saved.
He said most mothers and infants have been losing their lives due to a lack of proper maternal services.
“The rate of mortality will reduce with the coming of the new modern maternal facility here in Vihiga County. We shall ensure our mothers receive proper maternal attention here at the facility,” said Ottichillo.
Governor Ottichilo observed that in every 100 deliveries, the mother or the infant is likely to lose their life.
He said most of mothers face serious technical complications which lead to death if not well attended to. He also noted that some infants are delivered with an underweight complication, which also requires special medical attention.
Governor Ottichilo said the facility is a big boost to the health sector in the county because the 20-bed capacity hospital will now help ease congestion at the Vihiga referral hospital and other feeder health facilities in Vihiga County.
He noted that his administration is committed to ensuring mothers have access to maternal health care services easily.
“The construction of a new Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health unit at Vihiga Referral Hospital is now completed, and it is only waiting for official opening by my administration and the Mpesa Foundation. The state-of-the-art facility will enable our mother to get health services. The Ksh60 million facilities will be well equipped with the necessary maternal equipment,” said Ottichilo.
Chief Officer of Health and Medical Services in Vihiga County, Dr Mary Anyienda, also asked the mother to make a habit of attending clinics during their pregnancy. Anyienda said attending antenatal and postnatal clinics is very important to mothers and their newborn babies.
“I appeal to our mothers to attend antenatal and postnatal clinics to help curb cases of mortality. The antenatal and postnatal care are provided in our health facilities,” said Anyienda.
Vihiga county executive committee member in charge of health and medical services, Dr Nicholus Kitungulu, on his side, asked mothers to register with medical health cover. He said health insurance like social health Authority (SHA) help in settling medical bill.
The modern MNCH facility was launched in March this year by Safaricom M-PESA Foundation chairperson Joe Ogutu, who said the facility will be completed in an eight-month period.