By Lorraine Anyango
Kenya faces a significant challenge in meeting its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. As a result, the country needs to accelerate the reduction of neonatal mortality by 43%. Despite ten years of effort, the country only achieved a minimal 5% decrease in neonatal mortality.
The current situation is alarming. As of 2022, Kenya’s neonatal mortality rate stood at 21 deaths per 1,000 live births. Worryingly, the high number of neonatal deaths contributes to a staggering 51% of deaths in children under the age of five years.
Data from the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) paints a grim picture. Over 70% of neonatal deaths are a result of prematurity, birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis. Unfortunately, the proportion of neonatal deaths due to prematurity increased from 32.7% in 2021 to 37% in 2023.
There is a glimmer of hope, however. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), is actively working to address this issue. A comprehensive newborn care training package is currently underway, targeting pediatricians, neonatal nurses, and midwives from county referral hospitals nationally. The training began this week in Kisumu county with the key beneficiaries drawn from Jaramongi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital, Kisii County Referral Hospital, Bungoma County Referral Hospital, and Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
The training was officially opned by the Chief Officer , Kisumu County ,Department of Medical services Public Health and Sanitation Dr Lusi Ojwang who welcomed the support from CHAI to ensure that the staff were well equipped to manage small and sick babies. “Our commitment is to support the Ministry of Health at the national and county level to strengthen the management of small and sick newborns in Kenya,” said Ms. Betty Wariari, Maternal Newborn and Child Health Associate Director at CHAI.
The training, which is championed by a pool of MOH neonatologists, pediatricians, Neonatal & Newborn Unit Nurses, and Midwives focuses on equipping healthcare workers with essential skills to intervene and save lives. It emphasizes on evidence-based care, cost-effective strategies, and integrated newborn care packages that tackle the leading causes of neonatal mortality.
Through supportive lectures, demonstrations, scenarios, simulations, and practical sessions in hospitals, participants will gain valuable knowledge and refine their skills. They will also receive essential job aids and develop action plans for effective dissemination and mentorship post-training. This comprehensive approach aims to improve service delivery and collaboration among healthcare providers in key hospital departments. The Kisumu County child health coordinator Nicholas Pule and health workers from JOOTRH are attending the training.
Kenya’s race against time to meet its SDG target is on. This initiative by the Ministry of Health and CHAI demonstrates a strong commitment to improving newborn care and reducing preventable deaths.
