Every year, more than 5,000 pregnant women in Kenya lose their lives during childbirth — most due to preventable causes such as excessive bleeding, delays in hospital transfers, and lack of timely access to emergency care.
According to the Ministry of Health, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), blood shortages, and complications such as preeclampsia — a condition that causes dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure — remain the leading killers of expectant mothers.
Despite ongoing government efforts to improve maternal health services, these challenges continue to endanger thousands of lives each year.
Delayed Transfers: The Hidden Killer
At Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), one of Kenya’s largest referral hospitals, nurses and midwives are on the front lines of the crisis.
Maternal care nurse Rosa Chemway, known for handling high-risk deliveries, says delays in transferring patients from smaller hospitals to referral centers account for over 86% of maternal deaths in the country.
“Even though Kenyatta Hospital is well-equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies, many patients arrive too late. Some are already dead by the time they are brought in,” says Chemway.
Experts note that these delays are often caused by poor road networks, lack of ambulances, and communication breakdowns between facilities — factors that can turn a manageable complication into a fatal one.
Blood Shortages Threaten Maternal Care
At Pumwani Maternity Hospital, one of the busiest maternity centers in Nairobi, blood shortages are among the biggest challenges doctors face when treating mothers experiencing severe bleeding.
Women suffering from postpartum haemorrhage require immediate blood transfusions, but limited supply often makes this life-saving procedure impossible.
Kelvin, a volunteer blood donor, recalls how donating blood saved his wife’s life during childbirth.
“Without donated blood, my wife would not have made it,” he says.
However, the demand for blood far exceeds supply.
Low Donation Rates and Public Awareness Gaps
Denis Oduor, the blood coordinator for Nairobi County, highlights that low awareness and cultural misconceptions have contributed to the chronic shortage.
“There is a widespread lack of awareness about the importance of blood donation, and many people are unwilling to donate unless there is a financial incentive,” Oduor explains.
He urges Kenyans to embrace voluntary blood donation as a civic duty that saves mothers, children, and accident victims every day.
A Call to Action
Health experts warn that unless Kenya addresses the systemic issues — blood shortages, poor referral systems, and limited emergency capacity — the country will struggle to reduce maternal deaths.
Increasing public awareness about the importance of blood donation, investing in maternal infrastructure, and training more healthcare workers could save thousands of lives annually.
As Chemway puts it:
“When a mother dies, a family and a community lose its heart. No woman should die giving life.”
