By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, June 09, 2026 - Kenya has received more than 100 pieces of medical equipment for maternal and cancer care in a bid to improve healthcare outcomes for women and newborns across the country.
According to the UN agency, 108 electric obstetric theatre beds will be delivered to 45 health facilities, while other Cancer screening, diagnostic, laboratory, pathology & treatment equipment will be delivered to 8 facilities in Bungoma and Nyandarua Counties.
WHO maintained that with the equipment, specifically the cancer screening equipment, it will enable more women to easily access diagnosis and treatment closer to home, and push Kenya towards its goal of reaching 10,000 women with cervical cancer screening.
“With this new equipment, more women will be able to access screening, diagnosis, and treatment closer to home, bringing Kenya closer to its goal of reaching 10,000 women with cervical cancer screening,” WHO stated.
Speaking while flagging off the equipment, State Department for Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Olunga said that the equipment will be fundamental in strengthening the capacity of hospitals to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, improve the quality and safety of services, and ensure that more mothers and newborns receive timely lifesaving interventions.
“As we strengthen maternal and newborn health services through the distribution of obstetric beds, we are reminded that women's health must be addressed across the entire life course,” Ouma said.
On her part, WHO’s representative to Kenya, Neema Kimambo, said that the obstetric theatre beds will help improve the quality, safety, and dignity of care for women during childbirth, especially as the country advances the implementation of Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) initiative.
Kimambo further maintained that the cervical cancer screening equipment is aimed at closing the gaps between screening, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.
“The true value of this equipment will be measured by the lives saved, the complications prevented, the women treated with dignity, the cancers detected early, and the health workers empowered to provide quality care,” Kimambo said.
The announcement comes barely two weeks after President William Ruto launched the EWENE initiative, under which modern medical equipment was dispatched to 25 counties in a major push aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths in the country.
Spearheaded by the WHO, UNICEF, and the UNFPA, the Ewene initiative is a global programme focused on reducing maternal and newborn deaths and preventing stillbirths.
The equipment included ventilators, newborn resuscitative machines, oxygen concentrators, modern operating tables, and continuous positive airway pressure machines, among others, which will first be delivered to public and private health facilities in high-burden counties.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 shows the maternal mortality rate stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, while neonatal mortality is 21 deaths per 1,000 live births.
More from Kenya