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By Sharon Onyango
Siaya County has intensified its fight against pre-eclampsia, a silent but potentially fatal pregnancy complication, in a bold push to curb maternal and newborn deaths and improve birth outcomes.
Pre-eclampsia, which develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy, is marked by high blood pressure and can trigger damage to vital organs including the kidneys, liver, brain, and blood system. If not detected and managed early, it can rapidly progress into eclampsia—a life-threatening condition characterized by seizures.
Globally, the disorder affects between 2 and 8 percent of pregnancies, making it one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality. In Siaya County, the situation is particularly concerning, with about 12.2 percent of maternal deaths attributed to pre-eclampsia, highlighting a pressing public health challenge.
In response, the County Department of Health Services has rolled out targeted interventions to strengthen early detection and management. Central to this effort is a Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) webinar focused on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
The virtual training, led by County Gynaecologist Dr. Michael Oduor and County Reproductive Health Coordinator Pamela Josephine, convened healthcare providers and facility focal persons from across the county. The session emphasized evidence-based clinical management, timely referrals, and coordinated care to reduce preventable deaths.
Health officials say strengthening the skills of frontline providers is key to reversing current trends.
Routine antenatal care has been reinforced as the first and most effective line of defence against pre-eclampsia. Health experts stress that every antenatal visit must include blood pressure checks and screening for early warning signs.
Women presenting with elevated blood pressure are now being promptly referred to specialized high-risk clinics for closer monitoring and intervention—an approach expected to significantly reduce complications.
Chief Officer for Health Dr. Omondi Owino reaffirmed the county’s commitment to improving maternal and newborn survival through continuous professional development and system strengthening.
By enhancing referral networks, upgrading clinical knowledge, and aligning with the Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere (EWENE) Rapid Response Initiative, Siaya is scaling up efforts to detect, manage, and prevent complications associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
For Siaya County, the renewed focus on pre-eclampsia signals a decisive shift toward proactive, data-driven maternal healthcare. With stronger systems and better-trained personnel, the county is positioning itself to reduce avoidable deaths and ensure safer pregnancies.
The message from health authorities is unequivocal: no woman should lose her life while giving life, and no newborn should be denied a healthy start due to preventable complications.
