A Collective Run for Maternal Health to End the Number One Killer Of Women During Childbirth

angelanguku·October 14, 2024·0 comments

A Collective Run for Maternal Health to End the Number One Killer Of Women During Childbirth

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On the 6th of October 2024, Kenya witnessed the world’s first-ever run dedicated to raising awareness and fighting against postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)—the leading cause of maternal deaths globally. The Run For Her against excessive bleeding after childbirth, organized under the banner of the EndPPH, gathered stakeholders from across the healthcare sector, athletes, government representatives, and maternal health advocates, all united by a singular mission: to save the lives of mothers in Kenya and across the globe who die from excessive bleeding during childbirth.

We, at White Ribbon Alliance Kenya (WRA Kenya),  were proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, standing with the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (KOGS), the Midwives Association of Kenya (MAK), the University of Nairobi, and a host of other organizations committed to ending excessive bleeding during childbirth.

Maternal Health Crisis

Postpartum hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after childbirth, remains a persistent threat to mothers worldwide. In Kenya, PPH accounts for 25-45% of maternal deaths. These statistics are alarming, with the country ranking 4th in Africa for maternal mortality, at 594 deaths per 100,000 live births. On average, 15 women die each day from pregnancy-related complications in Kenya—a grim reminder that maternal health requires urgent, collective action.

Globally, more than 14 million women experience PPH annually, resulting in approximately 70,000 deaths. The risk of PPH and related fatalities is disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia bearing 85% of the global burden. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent mothers, families, and futures cut short due to preventable causes.

The Power of Collective Effort

The EndPPH Run was more than just a race; it was a powerful demonstration of unity and commitment. Hundreds of participants, from research doctors and government officials to members of KOGS and MAK, joined forces with public health advocates, all with a shared vision: to reduce maternal deaths and ensure no woman loses her life while giving birth.

As Dr. Barassa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Health, poignantly stated, “Today, we are not just running—we are advocating for the lives of mothers across Kenya. It is a collective responsibility, and I urge our healthcare workers and the public to keep up this momentum.”

Legendary Kenyan Olympian Faith Kipyegon, ambassador of the run, spoke passionately about the cause: “As a female athlete and a mother, I am conscious of the challenges and risks women face daily. Losing life whilst giving life should not be something we face in the modern world.”

Governor Cecily Mbarire of Embu County echoed these sentiments: “This run is important because it is about saving the lives of our mothers. We must do everything to make sure that Kenyan mothers are safe and receive the best possible healthcare through pregnancy and during delivery.”

The Role of White Ribbon Alliance Kenya

Angela Nguku, Executive Director of White Ribbon Alliance Kenya and a leading advocate for maternal health, underscored the urgency of addressing maternal mortality: “It is not fair that women die when they bring forth life. Every day in Kenya, we lose an average of 23 women in childbirth despite 80 to 90 percent of these deaths being preventable, especially due to postpartum bleeding.”

At WRA Kenya, we believe that the solution lies in asking women what they need, listening to their concerns, and acting on their demands. Our approach, #AskListenAct, is driven by the belief that women themselves hold the key to transforming maternal health. This principle is at the heart of everything we do, and the EndPPH Run was a powerful reminder that together, we can create lasting change.

A Hopeful Step Forward

As we crossed the finish line on the 6th of October 2024, every step was symbolic—each stride toward hope, toward ensuring that no family has to endure the pain of losing a mother, no child has to grow up without their mother’s love. With every drop of sweat, we were reminded of the importance of this cause and the urgency of addressing the maternal health crisis head-on.

We can—and must—end preventable maternal deaths

The RunForHer against excessive bleeding during childbirth marks the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against postpartum hemorrhage. Through continued advocacy, education, and collaboration, we believe it is possible to drastically reduce maternal mortality rates in Kenya and around the world. But this can only be achieved if we work together, across sectors, to implement solutions that prioritize the health and dignity of every mother.

WRA Kenya, remains committed to advocating for better maternal healthcare, ensuring that the voices of women are heard, and pushing for systemic changes that will save lives.  We can—and must—end preventable maternal deaths.

angelanguku

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Wra Kenya

White Ribbon Alliance Kenya (WRA Kenya) is a people-led movement for reproductive, maternal, and newborn health and rights. We advocate for women’s and girls’ voices and demands to lead change at the local, national, and regional levels and contribute to shaping the global reproductive, maternal, and newborn health (RMNH) agenda.

 

Re-Igniting the Inherent Power in Women and Girls through Advocacy and Action

We deeply believe in advancing the self-articulated needs of women and girls through advocacy to shape policies, programming approaches and strategies. This is aimed at amplifying women, girls and newborn’s voices, and agency, to actively participate in decision-making processes in public, private and civic spheres. We provide our action networks with the right tools, and trainings, to broaden the reach and efforts and realize a lasting change.

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I am Angela Nguku, a midwife, an ICF certified leadership and mindset coach, an advocate, an author, and a movement builder who turned silence into action.

I founded White Ribbon Alliance Kenya to center the voices of over 3.5 million women and girls who have boldly told us what they need for quality reproductive, maternal, and newborn health and wellbeing. We are not just documenting their needs. We are acting with them to address the intersecting issues that go beyond health. These include access to economic power, education, information, clean water, sanitation, dignity in care, among others.

I also founded AudaciousHer, a coaching and leadership platform for women and girls who are done shrinking to fit into broken systems. Through mindset coaching, storytelling, and bold spaces, we support them to reclaim voice, unlearn silence, and lead from a place of truth.

A powerful part of this work is coaching African frontliners — the community midwives, justice defenders, grassroots organizers, and policy disruptors who carry entire systems on their backs while navigating burnout, backlash, and broken institutions. They are the shiftmakers. AudaciousHer provides them with space to breathe, reflect, and lead differently, not just as responders, but as visionaries shaping new futures.

I’ve stood in delivery rooms where dignity was missing. I’ve sat with mothers who’ve buried their dreams and their children. I’ve walked into rooms where inclusion was just performance, not power-sharing. But I also do this work because I’ve seen what happens when a woman is truly listened to. She doesn’t just speak. She moves systems.

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I know what it feels like to grow up silenced, taught to keep quiet, defer, and disappear. But silence doesn’t keep us safe. It keeps us small. Across Kenya and Africa, too many women and girls are still raised in that silence. Only 15 percent of girls in Kenya feel confident speaking in public or participating in decisions that shape their lives. This trend mirrors a wider pattern across the continent, where cultural norms and systemic barriers continue to stifle voice and power.

I founded AudaciousHer in 2024 as a bold, African rooted coaching and leadership platform. We walk with women and girls reclaiming their voices. From adolescent mothers to midwives, movement builders to market women. Whether you’re restarting, reinventing, or rising, you’ll find truth, strategy, and sisterhood here.

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