Transforming Maternal & Newborn Health: Kenya, UNICEF, and China Launch Lifesaving Initiative in Northeastern Kenya
The project is supported by the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund
Nairobi, 9 June 2026 - The Government of China, through the China Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), together with UNICEF and Kenya’s Ministry of Health, has launched a USD 4 million initiative to enhance maternal and newborn health services in Kenya.
Dubbed Promotion of Health and Well-Being of Women and Children in Kenya, the programme aims to improve both the quality and availability of maternal and newborn care in Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir counties in Northeastern Kenya where maternal and newborn mortality rates are higher than the national average, due to a blend of demand and supply barriers to preventive and curative maternal and newborn health services.
Major causes of maternal deaths include obstetric haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, sepsis, and obstructed labour, which can often be prevented with timely and proper medical care.
The main causes of newborn deaths are prematurity, birth asphyxia, and neonatal sepsis.
The China-backed initiative aims to reduce newborn and maternal mortality by ensuring access to high-quality, timely, and appropriate care for mothers and newborns across all levels of healthcare in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa. In these counties, few women receive antenatal care, skilled assistance during childbirth, or postnatal services because such healthcare services are limited and often unavailable within their communities.
“Following the Global Development Initiative, this project reflects China’s strong commitment to advancing South-South cooperation and delivering meaningful impact for women and children in Kenya. Through our partnership with the Government of Kenya and UNICEF, we are strengthening bilateral ties while supporting sustainable, locally driven solutions to improve maternal and newborn health in most needed communities.” — H.E. Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya.
The two-year programme will provide county referral hospitals, sub-county facilities, and primary health centres in Wajir, Garissa and Mandera with essential supplies and equipment to deliver comprehensive care from antenatal to postnatal stages. The project will also enhance the capacity of healthcare providers and community health promoters and improve water, sanitation, and hygiene standards in health facilities to help prevent infections.
Dr. Shaheen Nilofer, UNICEF Representative in Kenya said, “Behind every statistic is a mother, a newborn and a family whose future hangs in the balance. This partnership is about changing those stories. We thank the Government of China for its support to address the issue of maternal and newborn mortality in Kenya. Together, we are supporting the government’s efforts to reach those who are most at risk and to give every child a safe and healthy start to life.”
The programme is fully aligned to Kenya Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and reinforces UNICEF’s steadfast commitment to ensuring every child in Kenya has the chance to survive and thrive.
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About the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kenya
During President William Ruto's state visit to Beijing in April 2025, Kenya and China officially agreed to build a China-Kenya Community with a Shared Future for the New Era. China and Kenya have worked hand in hand to lead the way in Belt and Road cooperation, accomplishing numerous flagship projects that have significantly contributed to regional economic and social development and benefited both nations.
The Chinese Embassy in Kenya is committed to serving as a window for mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Kenya, a bridge for deepening bilateral cooperation, and a platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning. For more information, please visit https://ke.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/
About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.
