Why I’ll be running with Kenya’s First Lady this weekend

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta plays with babies at Imani Children’s Home. Mrs Kenyatta will launch the inaugural First Lady’s Marathon in Nairobi this weekend. FILE

By CHARLES GACHERU

This weekend is not about golf, this weekend is about running with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta who recently launched the Beyond Zero campaign that is aimed at creating awareness and raising funds to tackle issues that affect maternal and child health issues.

According to the World Bank, Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio (modelled estimate, per 100,000 live births) is 360, compared to less than 10 in most of the developed world and 60 in Mauritius.

The World Bank further indicates that the mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) for Kenya is 73. This index measures the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age-5 if subject to current age-specific mortality rates.

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) list the reduction of child mortality as goal number four with a target of reducing by two-thirds the under-five mortality rate; and although strides have been made here, in sub-Saharan Africa, one in nine children die before age-5, more than 16 times the average for developed regions.

Goal-5 of the UN-MDGs speaks to improving maternal health with a target of reducing by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio.

According to Mrs. Kenyatta, thousands of Kenyan women, especially those in the rural areas, will die this year due to pregnancy related complications: “Thousands of children will be forced to survive without their mothers — the majority will not make it beyond their first birthday,” she said. “This doesn’t have to be the case.”

The Beyond Zero campaign will raise funds to purchase and deploy mobile clinics across the country to provide better prenatal, delivery and postnatal services to the underprivileged.

How can you be part of the Beyond Zero campaign? This Sunday, February 2, 2014, Mrs Kenyatta will launch the inaugural First Lady’s Marathon in Nairobi.

During the launch, Kenyans of all walks of life will have the opportunity to “Run with the First Lady” around Government Square – from KICC, along Parliament Road, around Harambee Avenue and through Taifa Road and back to KICC.

Kenyans will also have the opportunity to register for the First Lady’s Marathon that will take place in Nairobi on the 9th of March 2014.

Mrs. Kenyatta will take on the 21km race at the marathon as part of here preparation for the Virgin London Marathon in April.

Mrs Kenyatta is currently being trained by former London Marathon champion, Douglas Wakiihuri, the first Kenyan to win at the London event.

So, mark these dates golfers – the launch of the First Lady’s Marathon this Sunday morning at KICC grounds (2nd February, 2014); the marathon itself is slotted for the of March 9th 2014 in Nairobi.

Come “Run with the First Lady” and register for the 21km or 10km or family fun run. Come “Run with the First Lady” and make a difference to a Kenyan mother and child.