CHP Talek Health Centre

Opened in 2024, the CHP Talek Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) facility, built with support from The Maa Trust and partners, is transforming healthcare across the Maasai Mara. As the region’s only centre with a resident doctor, surgical theatre, and blood transfusion unit, Talek has already delivered over 425 babies and provided lifesaving care to mothers and newborns. With telemedicine, neonatal intensive care, and community outreach, the facility is reducing maternal and child mortality while driving cultural change towards safe, facility-based deliveries.

Transforming Maternal & Newborn Care

On March 1, 2024, the Talek MNCH facility was launched, becoming the first of its kind in the Maasai Mara with a resident doctor, surgical theatre, and blood transfusion unit. In its first year, 425 deliveries were conducted — 328 natural births and 97 caesarean sections, primarily for obstructed labour (26%) and fetal distress (23%).

For many mothers, these interventions prevented what would previously have been life-threatening outcomes. One-third of deliveries were among adolescent mothers aged 11–19, underscoring the facility’s critical role in addressing the unique vulnerabilities of young mothers. The neonatal high-dependency unit (NHDU) has already provided specialized care for 30 premature or critically ill babies, offering survival chances that never before existed in the region.

Telemedicine & Expanded Access

Beyond maternity, the Talek facility is expanding healthcare access for children and youth through an innovative telemedicine partnership with Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital. In 2024 alone, 2,054 patients aged 0–21 received specialist consultations and virtual check-ups, saving families the prohibitive costs of long-distance travel. This integration of modern technology ensures that even remote communities can access advanced medical expertise.

Cultural Change & Community Outreach

Healthcare at Talek is not only about saving lives but also about shifting cultural practices. Every mother delivering at the facility receives a Mama Kit, a $100 postnatal package including essentials such as reusable maternity pads, mosquito nets, baby clothes, and a household water filter. These kits both ease the transition into motherhood and incentivize safe, facility-based deliveries.

Complementing this, community outreach has engaged 448 elders, traditional birth attendants, and health promoters to build awareness on pregnancy danger signs, antenatal care, and the benefits of professional care. These dialogues are driving a cultural shift in a community where home births have long been the norm, ensuring that more mothers and babies can survive and thrive.