HIV testing in Zimbabwe (Photo courtesy of UK Department for International Development)
»» Establish strong referral mechanisms. These are needed to supplement the work of Traditional Birth Attendants and to link TBAs more closely to health facilities. »» Promote antenatal care and post-natal care. This connection with health services should become the norm among women in Kenya. »» Use a human rights framework. Grounding the prevention of maternal death and increased access to contraception in a human rights context will help bolster legitimacy. Following the last recommendation above, participants emphasized the importance of relying on a human rights perspective to facilitate change. The moderator of the stakeholder dialogue underscored how this perspective requires donors, advocates, and practitioners to take into account the cultural, social, economic and gender-related factors that affect maternal health in Kenya. Following the technical meeting and videoconference, a public event was held in Nairobi to share the knowledge gaps and recommendations participants had identified with Kenya’s Parliament, including Honorable Sofia Abdi with parliamentary health committee, Honorable Ekwee Ethuro, chair of the parliamentary network for population and development, and Honorable Jackson Kiptanui.
Delivering Solutions: Advancing Dialogue To Improve Maternal Health
33