For mothers arriving at Katse Health Centre in Kenya’s arid Kitui County, the greatest fear wasn’t always labour—it was water. There were days when expectant mothers were asked to carry containers from home just to be admitted. Nurses struggled to maintain hygiene during deliveries, linens went unwashed, and infection prevention was a daily battle.
Through a partnership with the Kitui County Government, CMMB Kenya installed three rainwater harvesting systems at Katse Health Centre—a simple intervention with profound impact. The facility, which serves 8,000 people annually, now has reliable water for handwashing, cleaning, maternity services, and food preparation for new mothers.
“Our mothers are happy,” says Irene Kamula, a nurse at the centre. “They can bathe, wash their clothes, and we prepare meals using clean water. The facility is clean, and the unpleasant smells are gone.”
For healthcare workers, the transformation goes beyond convenience. Reliable water has strengthened infection control, allowing staff to perform their duties with confidence, knowing they can provide safe care to mothers and newborns.
The results speak for themselves. Before the intervention, Katse Health Centre averaged just two deliveries per month. Today, that number has risen to fourteen. Mothers are choosing to deliver at the facility because they know they will receive care in a clean, safe, and respectful environment.
“The mothers appreciate the clean environment,” Irene adds. “The linens are clean, the maternity ward is clean, and they feel comfortable delivering here.”
The impact extends beyond the health centre. Many families in the surrounding community still rely on river water shared with livestock, exposing them to waterborne illnesses. Working with Community Health Promoters, CMMB educates households on safe water practices and distributes water purification sachets.
Jane Wanza, a mother from the community, recalls that diarrhoea was a weekly occurrence in her household. After learning to treat drinking water, her family’s health improved dramatically. “Now we use treated water, and we are well,” she says simply.
Jane Wanza receiving her baby at the facility
While the health centre still supplements rainwater with borehole water during dry spells, the new harvesting systems have fundamentally strengthened the facility’s resilience.
“I want to thank CMMB and the County Government because they saw our need,” says Irene. “They have helped us serve our community better.”
In drought-prone regions like Mwingi North, access to clean water can determine whether a health facility is merely open—or truly able to provide safe, dignified care. At Katse Health Centre, every drop of harvested rainwater now contributes to safer deliveries, healthier newborns, and families with renewed hope in their local health system.
Through the CHAMPS programme, CMMB Kenya is proving that sustainable healthcare improvements often begin with the simplest resource: clean water. And with it, mothers give birth with dignity, newborns are protected from preventable infections, and communities grow stronger—one mother, one birth, one drop at a time.
By Roy Mwangi