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NURSES’ STRIKE RAISES ALARM AS 533 MATERNAL AND PERINATAL DEATHS RECORDED
A total of 533 maternal and perinatal deaths were recorded in August amid the ongoing nurses’ strike, raising concerns over access to critical healthcare services.
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Kenya’s ongoing nurses’ strike has intensified concerns over access to maternal and newborn healthcare, with 75 maternal deaths and 458 perinatal deaths recorded nationally in August 2026, according to figures cited from the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) reporting system.
The figures translate to 533 maternal and perinatal deaths recorded during the month, as health facilities continue to experience disruptions linked to the industrial action.
However, the figures should not be interpreted as meaning that 458 pregnant women and 75 newborns died. The 458 figure refers to perinatal deaths, which covers deaths occurring around the time of birth, while the 75 figure refers specifically to maternal deaths.
The data comes as Kenya implements its EWENE Acceleration Plan 2026–2028, a national strategy aimed at reducing preventable maternal, newborn and stillbirth deaths. The programme is currently running a six-month Rapid Results Initiative targeting 26 high-burden counties, which account for about 60% of Kenya’s maternal and newborn deaths.
The EWENE initiative identifies shortages and gaps in healthcare staffing, emergency response, essential commodities and quality maternity services among the factors requiring urgent intervention.
While the deaths were recorded during the period of the nurses’ strike, the available data does not establish that the strike directly caused all 533 deaths. The figures instead highlight the broader pressure facing Kenya’s maternal and newborn health system at a time when healthcare services have been disrupted.
The EWENE dashboard provides real-time monitoring of maternal, neonatal and perinatal deaths at health facilities, allowing authorities to track the situation and identify areas requiring urgent action.
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