Expectant women are set to benefit from the Sh80 million Kakamega County Imarisha Mama na Mtoto project, also known as ‘Barasa Care’. Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa highlighted that the launch of this programme reaffirms the county government’s commitment to improving the quality of maternal, newborn, and child health services in Kakamega County.
“We strive to ensure that our mothers attend all antenatal care clinics during pregnancy, deliver in our hospitals with the help of skilled healthcare workers, and that they get quality Barasa was speaking at Bukhungu Stadium when he launched the Barasa Care Programme which has been budgeted for at the cost of Sh80 million for the 2024/2025 financial year.
In the programme, mothers will receive a total of Sh12,000 which will be spread across six services received by registered mothers.
postnatal care after delivery,” said Barasa.
“With this programme, our mothers who are registered will be eligible to receive Sh2,000 at every stage of their ante-natal and post-natal milestones. During your 4th antenatal clinic visit you will receive your stipend of Sh2000,” he said.
Further, mothers who deliver their children in county health facilities will receive Sh2,000. When they bring the baby for immunisation at 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, they will also receive Sh2,000. Governor Barasa added that during immunisations at 6 months, 9 months, and 18 months, the women will receive Sh2,000 for each visit.
“This gives a total cash transfer of Sh12,000 to every registered mother. We will also ensure that our babies receive all the vaccines required, right from the oral polio vaccine immediately after birth until the second measles vaccine at 18 months,” he said.
Governor Barasa mentioned that 80% of women in Kakamega are currently delivering in various health facilities across the county, aiming to achieve 100% hospital deliveries to reduce maternal deaths.
He also opposed the establishment of a Health Commission, arguing that it would regress the progress made under devolution, emphasizing that counties have the capability to manage the health sector independently. Last year, the county partnered to enhance delivery wards for expectant mothers as part of the Tutunze Kakamega Service Delivery Redesign strategy.
“The strategy simply aims to provide medical attention to mothers as soon as possible so they don’t go through difficult times,” said Barasa.
Under the partnership, Governor Barasa’s administration commissioned a third maternal health care facility in Lugari sub-county. This initiative follows similar facilities in Malava and Butere sub-counties, aiming to provide effective maternal health services to expectant mothers across Kakamega County.
