In Kenya, the joy of childbirth, a mother cradling her newborn, and the promise of a growing family are too often overshadowed by a silent killer: postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). This devastating condition, characterized by excessive bleeding after delivery, claims countless lives, striking hardest in underserved regions like Kitui County with limited safe delivery infrastructure and blood transfusion services.

Maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge in Kenya. In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was estimated at 379 deaths per 100,000 live births. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal deaths in Kitui County, accounts for about 40% of maternal fatalities nationally, despite being both preventable and treatable.

A mother admiring her newborn babies at Kitui County Referral Hospital’s Little Angels Newborn Care Unit.

A Crisis Rooted in Systemic Gaps

PPH’s deadly toll in rural areas stems from a trio of systemic barriers: Delayed recognition of PPH, a shortage of skilled healthcare providers, and long, treacherous journeys to hospitals. In Kitui’s remote villages, where roads are rough and facilities are sparse, a woman delivering at home or en route to a facility can lose her life to PPH in a matter of minutes. The consequences ripple outward, leaving families fractured, children orphaned, and communities destabilized. These “three delays”—delayed recognition of PPH, delayed transport to care, and delayed treatment form a lethal cycle that demands urgent intervention.

The Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG): A Simple Solution with Profound Impact

The Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) is a low-tech, high-impact innovation transforming maternal care in low-resource settings. This reusable compression suit, crafted from neoprene and secured with Velcro, wraps tightly around the lower body, redirecting blood from the legs and abdomen to vital organs like the heart and brain. Applied in under a minute, the NASG reduces blood loss by up to 50% and stabilizes blood pressure for up to 48 hours, precious time that bridges the gap between crisis and hospital care. For midwives and community health workers in Kitui, the NASG is a lifeline, empowering them to act swiftly and decisively when every second counts.

CMMB Kenya: A Beacon of Hope

In partnership with the Kitui County Ministry of Health and Sanitation, CMMB is taking decisive action to reduce maternal deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in Kitui County, Kenya. To address this critical health challenge, CMMB procured and distributed 54 Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments (NASGs) across 33 health facilities in Kitui County. These include one Level II, twenty-five Level III, six Level IV health facilities and the Kitui County Referral Hospital.

Health care workers receiving NASG from CMMB Kenya

To ensure effective use of NASGs, CMMB trained 50 healthcare providers from these facilities, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to save lives. Additionally, a team of trainers of trainers was established to provide ongoing mentorship through continuing medical education sessions, fostering sustained capacity building.

To monitor and evaluate the impact of this intervention, CMMB introduced a digitized checklist to systematically track NASG usage and outcomes. This tool ensures accountability and helps measure the initiative’s success in improving maternal health. The impact of this program extends far beyond the health facilities. Every life saved strengthens families, prevents orphanhood, and bolsters the resilience of the Kitui community, creating a lasting ripple effect of hope and stability.

Elizabeth Mwikali David, a 19-year-old from Miambani, is living proof that the NASG saves lives. After giving birth, she suffered heavy bleeding and was referred to Kitui County Referral Hospital, where healthcare workers used the NASG to stabilize her before providing further treatment. Today, she is alive, healthy, and caring for her newborn baby.

Elizabeth Mwikali receiving care using the NASG at Kitui County Referral Hospital

A Symbol of Equity Under the Kitui Sky

Where every birth carries both hope and risk, the NASG stands as a beacon of equity. This low-cost, low-tech solution levels the playing field, bringing world-class care to the most remote corners of Kenya. It is a testament to what is possible when innovation meets compassion, offering mothers not just survival but the chance to thrive alongside their newborns.

The fight against PPH is far from over, but with tools like the NASG, the tide is turning. In Kitui and beyond, these efforts are rewriting the story of childbirth one life, one family, and one community at a time.

By: Marion Malika