© UNICEF/Oloo During each visit, an estimated 15 to 20 women that are pregnant receive care. The mother carries her kid past the carcasses of animals that died as a result of a severe drought in Marsabit, Kenya.
Unattended births
“Before the drought, our overall health facilities would record typically 411 deliveries in a 30 days, indicating a skilled birth attendance rate of 70 for each cent”, explained Maiyo Elphas, a Loima Sub-county general public health officer. Projections indicate a possible sixth consecutive poor rainy season through March to May, putting even more women and girls at risk. “The dry months have been progressively getting worse over the last three years, but our own animals kept us going with milk and meat. On this occasion, they have all perished plus left us with absolutely nothing. ”
‘Fend for myslef’
“During the drought season, we have been carrying out wellness outreach activities every a couple weeks where we offer ante-natal and postnatal services, family preparing, nutrition and immunization solutions to the community” Nurse Lobei Dedan Njagi told UNFPA. The intensity and exceptional duration from the drought is worsening a good already dire situation in Turkana County, which was already reeling from locust contaminations and the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced to migrate in search of water, food and pasture, many are unable to access health services for critical maternal healthcare. In Lochorepetet Village, 30-year-old Losikiria Kuya, who is pregnant with her fourth child often goes for days without food is often unable to trek the 10 kilometers to the nearest wellness center for her ante-natal check-ups.
Rural women
UNFPA is appealing just for 3. 7 to fund the Response Plan for the Horn of Africa Drought Crisis 2022-2023 to support the escalating needs of women and girls. “Every woman, rich or poor, has a fifteen per cent risk for problems around the time of delivery, but almost no maternal deaths occur in developed regions”, according to the World Health Organization , explaining the importance of skilled delivery attendance, meaning a childbirth assisted by a trained physician, such as a doctor, nurse or midwife.
“In Nov 2022, the number was down to 100 births recorded, which usually represents a very low price of 24. 6 per cent. ”
The rate of qualified birth attendance was already lower in Kenya, a country using a high maternal loss of life rate of 342 per 100, 500 live births but the situation is worsening dramatically for all those affected by drought. The UNICEF worker at Sopel Primary School in Turkana County, Kenya. helps kids to understand the challenges becoming posed by the ongoing drought crisis. At seven months expectant, she complains that she is hungry and often feels dizzy when going about her day.
Concerns on the horizon
The drought crisis is not only affecting women’s access to important maternal health care; it is causing serious undernutrition among women that are pregnant, escalating risks to them plus their future babies. Women have been disproportionately affected by the drought within Kenya, which has increased their own vulnerability to violence plus drastically reduced their access to health centres. In addition to affecting the development of a baby, undernutrition also causes a amount of problems for pregnant women, which includes higher risk of sepsis and death .
“Usually when it is time to deliver, my husband will take me to the center on a motorbike, using him often gone looking for pasture, I have to be ready in order to fend for myself, when need be”, she mentioned.
