A healthy pregnancy and childbirth should be the norm. But in parts of Kenya, the number of mothers and infants who die from preventable causes is shockingly high. In Kitui County, for example, the maternal mortality rate is 330 per 100,000 live births, and infant mortality is 47 per 1,000 live births.

The poorest, most vulnerable communities in Kenya are often the most remote. In Kitui County, families live long distances from health facilities—which often lack the equipment and trained resources needed for maternal and newborn emergencies. By connecting mothers to antenatal care and encouraging in-facility births, CMMB’s maternal health work helps to improve pregnancy outcomes.