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Representing H.E President William Ruto, I presided over the official opening of the 2026 International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) in Nairobi, reaffirming our shared responsibility to end maternal and newborn mortality in Kenya and globally.
Under the theme, 'Moving Forward, Together,' the event brought together over 1,800 participants from 87 countries; a collective commitment that no woman should die giving life and every newborn must have the chance to survive and thrive.
I highlighted key global frameworks advancing progress in maternal and newborn health including the Maputo Plan of Action, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP).
Through our Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, Kenya continues to make steady progress, expanding community-level services, strengthening primary healthcare, improving referral networks and increasing antenatal care and immunisation coverage.
Kenya has also finalized the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026–2028, a global partnership led by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA.
To accelerate impact, we are implementing a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) built on six pillars: sustainable domestic financing, strong partnerships, high-impact interventions, a resilient health workforce, robust supply chains and digital transformation.
As host, Kenya is using this conference to showcase progress, address persistent gaps and drive renewed commitments to maternal and newborn health.
The conference brought together distinguished leaders, including Ministers of Health such as Hon. Douglas Tendai Mombeshora of Zimbabwe and Dr. Dereje Duguma of Ethiopia, alongside Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms Mary Muthoni, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Dr Jean Kaseya, and Ministry’s Family Health Director Dr. Bashir Isaak, among other dignitaries.
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