By Shilla Lwangu
Kenya has committed to building partnerships and creating a special fund to help improve maternal and child health. President William Ruto made the announcement during a meeting in New York on September 24, 2024, at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Ruto emphasized that urgent action is needed to save millions of lives by 2030, and this fund will help Kenya advance its efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He acknowledged that while Kenya has made progress in reducing maternal and child deaths, there are still challenges, mainly due to insufficient funding and the lack of capacity to provide necessary services.
He stressed that a multi-sector approach involving healthcare, education, and community support is essential to reduce mortality rates further. “We must invest more, work together, and focus on primary healthcare. This includes ensuring skilled birth attendants, vaccinations, and better nutrition,” Ruto said.
From an economic standpoint, Ruto noted that investing in maternal and child health has significant benefits. Studies show that every dollar invested in this area returns nine dollars through better health and increased productivity. He added that an investment of USD 1.5 billion a year could save 35 million lives by 2030 and generate USD 100 billion in savings from healthcare costs and improved productivity.
During the event, UNICEF’s Director of Child Nutrition and Development, Victor Aguayo, spoke about the potential of the Child Nutrition Fund, which could transform the fight against child malnutrition. Launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with UNICEF, the fund aims to address gaps in nutrition by focusing on sustainable solutions.
Aguayo explained that relying on global donors has helped in some areas, but it has left other critical areas, like early prevention of malnutrition, underfunded. He believes that the new fund can change this by providing consistent support for maternal and child health.
The report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation highlights the importance of resources and proper plans to make these interventions work. The fund is modeled after the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, which has already saved millions of lives, and aims to tackle child malnutrition on a global scale with similar success.
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