“I was happy. I knew our women wouldn’t have to worry “what if I don’t get a bed at the hospital?”
These words from Maureen Wawera, a Community Health Provider (CHP) at Kianjakoma Health Centre, capture the relief and hope that came with the news of a modern maternity wing being built at the facility.
The project will transform maternal healthcare for women in the community.
For years, Kianjakoma Health Centre has struggled with limited space only 17 beds for all maternity cases. This shortage forces healthcare workers to refer mothers to Embu Level 5 Hospital, sometimes without an ambulance.
Maureen’s work as a community health provider has been filled with both happy and painful memories.
One day remains especially vivid, a chaotic day when she brought women from her village to the hospital, only to find no space available.
With no ambulance and no option but to seek help from passing vehicles, some women gave birth on the roadside.
“That day broke my heart. But I believe that with this new maternity wing, such cases will become a thing of the past,” Maureen recalled.
The new maternity wing changes everything. The maternity wing will be equipped with 25 beds, an operating theatre and a 2-bed delivery room to boost health services at the facility.
This new upgrade is expected to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, ensuring that every mother gives birth in a well-equipped and safe environment.
Maureen believes Safaricom’s involvement brings huge and lasting impact beyond infrastructure.
The facility will provide comprehensive maternal care, from admission and safe delivery to postnatal support, including guidance on breastfeeding, nutrition, and mental health.
“This wing means women will deliver with dignity. To us its hope that no mother will fear childbirth because of lack of space or care,” she said.
M-PESA Foundation’s support also strengthens the network of community health providers, who play a big role in identifying and guiding pregnant women from remote and disadvantaged areas to the facility.
This ensures that even the most disadvantaged mothers receive the care they need.
For Maureen, the new maternity wing its more than a building. It represents a future where Kianjakoma’s mothers and babies are safe, healthy, and supported.
“Safaricom has given our community hope of a place where every birth is celebrated, not feared.”
Similarly, the M-Pesa Foundation has been working to improve healthcare access and women wellness. Read more about their recent medical camp in Makueni.
