By The PPH Foundation

As we continue with the conversation about Human Rights, the PPH Foundation underscores that maternal health is a fundamental human right. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal deaths, is preventable, yet thousands of women continue to die due to gaps in awareness, access, and quality of care. Recognising PPH as a human rights issue shifts responsibility from being solely a medical concern to a societal obligation that involves everyone.

Women themselves play a crucial role. By understanding that PPH is preventable and knowing the warning signs, women can seek timely care and advocate for safe birth environments. Empowered women are better positioned to demand quality services and participate in decisions about their health.

Healthcare professionals also have a responsibility. When clinicians, midwives, and nurses view maternal survival as a rights-based issue, they prioritise evidence-based interventions, respect women’s dignity, and ensure lifesaving treatments are consistently available. Recognising PPH as a rights issue encourages accountability and motivates health workers to maintain high standards of care.

Government institutions and policymakers must treat maternal health as a national obligation. A human rights lens calls for robust health systems, adequate funding, availability of blood, medicines, emergency services, and infrastructure that guarantees access for all women, including those in remote areas. Policies framed as rights obligations strengthen monitoring, enforcement, and sustainable solutions.

Civil society organisations, advocacy groups, and the media are equally important. By raising awareness, monitoring service delivery, and amplifying women’s voices, they create public pressure and ensure that governments and institutions remain accountable. Treating maternal survival as a rights issue transforms advocacy from optional to imperative.

Communities and families also have a role. Recognising PPH as a human rights concern encourages men, family members, and local leaders to support women in accessing care, addressing harmful cultural practices, and ensuring timely referrals. Collective awareness can prevent delays and save lives.

This Human Rights Day, the PPH Foundation calls for a united approach: when every sector recognises that ending PPH is a matter of human rights, women are protected, health systems are strengthened, and preventable maternal deaths decline. It is not just about healthcare; it is about justice, dignity, and equity for every mother in Kenya.