Expectant teens urged to regularly attend antenatal clinics

Murang'a County has employed various measures aimed at encouraging expectant mothers and especially teens to regularly attend antenatal clinics.The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health, Dr. Fredrick Mbugua, has noted that proper attendance at antenatal clinics and delivery at hospitals helps curb mortality rates.Mbugua revealed on Tuesday that teen mothers in the county make up to 7 per cent, saying the young girls should not shy away from attending clinics and seeking maternal help from health facilities.He explained that for young mothers, it is advisable to regularly visit hospitals for close monitoring of their pregnancies.The county government, Mbugua noted, has an elaborate programme to rehabilitate the teen mothers and work out plans for taking them back to school.Mbugua spoke at Murang'a Level-5 hospital when he oversaw the payment of stipends to expecting mothers to cater for their transport costs.He noted the maternal support programme which was established by the county g overnment in March last year, was meant to encourage mothers to regularly attend antenatal clinics and deliver in hospitals.In the programme, expecting mothers were slated to receive a transport reimbursement of Sh1,000 when they visited antennal clinics in the seventh month of their pregnancy.The county administration also promised to pay Sh2,000 to those who deliver in hospitals as a way to mitigate home deliveries.Mbugua said the payment stopped in November last year after the programme was marred by numerous challenges.'After carrying out a physical audit of the beneficiaries in early July this year, the payment of the stipulated stipend has resumed, and from yesterday we have paid mothers from Kangema and Mathioya sub-counties. The payment will be done at all the sub-counties.' He added.Following the physical audit that was conducted early in July this year, it was revealed that 4,104 were unpaid since the inception of the programme.Among the mothers, only 482, which translates to 11 per cent , have medical insurance cover.'The county has resolved to provide 482 mothers with NHIF coverage with a payment of Sh1,500. About 3,622 mothers without medical insurance will receive Sh1, 000 and three months of medical cover under SHIF starting October 1, this year.' Said Mbugua.The medics in the local public health facilities were directed to start using the Afya.ke portal to register antenatal visits, replacing the original county developed application to avoid duplication.The county coordinator of nursing services, Salome Kimani, divulged that after the launch of the maternal support programme, the mortality rate has gone down as many mothers have opted to deliver in hospitals.Ms. Kimani noted that maternal health care in Murang'a is free, thus attracting mothers from neighbouring counties to deliver in the local hospitals.'In past years, home deliveries were many, but with the county government's support, the cases have gone down. The little stipend the mothers are getting is enabling them to travel to hospitals,' she added.Nominated MCA Sharleen Wambui challenged teen mothers not to fear attending clinics.At hospitals, Wambui explained that expecting teens will get needed health care, and if there are complications, the problems will be solved early.'Expecting teens should not shy away from hospitals. We encourage them to regularly attend clinics, as they will be taken care of before and during delivery,' she added.Source : Kenya News Agency