Free maternity services not license to give birth every year, Kenya women told

Women of child-bearing age in Kenya have been urged to plan their families in order to have children they can cater for effectively.

They have been warned not to abuse the newly launched expanded free maternal health services by “giving birth every year”.

The remarks were made by the National Chairperson of Kenya’s largest women’s movement – Maendeleo ya Wanawake – Rahab Muiu during the launch of the government’s flagship health programme dubbed “Linda Mama, Boresha Maisha” which is Swahili for “taking care of women guarantees a good life for all”.

The launch which took place in Nairobi was attended by hundreds of women from all over the country including some who had already benefitted from the free maternity services offered in government and private hospitals.

Speakers at the function hailed the new health programme as the most comprehensive maternity package the country has ever had.

Muiu said that the introduction of this free maternity service would lift the financial burdens of families who are normally saddled with hospital bills they cannot afford.
In addition to this, she said, that women giving birth in hospitals would enable the goal of reducing maternal and infant mortality which is still high in Kenya, eNCA reports.