Kenya is grappling with a critical shortage of obstetric drapes, vital tools used to detect excessive bleeding after childbirth, putting thousands of mothers at heightened risk.
Dr Kireki Omanwa, President of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (Kogs), confirmed that the shortage has been reported across the country, forcing health workers to revert to outdated and inaccurate methods to estimate blood loss.
Obstetric drapes are essential in quickly identifying postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality.
They help clinicians measure blood loss during delivery, enabling swift interventions such as blood transfusions.
