Marking the World Prematurity Day, the Ministry of Health has recently updated its interventions to enhance the survival chances of preterm babies.
Currently, in Kenya, complications arising from preterm births are the leading cause of death among children under 5 years old, accounting for a concerning 51 percent of all such deaths. Kenya’s neonatal mortality rate is currently recorded at 21 deaths per 1000 live births.
Dr. Janet Karimi, Head of the Division of Newborn and Child Health, highlights that the risk of newborn mortality is significantly elevated during the first 28 days of life.
“Preventing newborn and child death is the key to increasing human capital in the country and while half of the causes of preterm births remain unknown there are some interventions that can be undertaken by mothers and the health providers can reduce the risk of having a preterm baby or the death of preterm baby.”
Factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, chronic diseases, a history of previous preterm labor, multiple gestations, UTI, and STI increase the risk of preterm birth. Encouraging interventions before childbirth is crucial, which is why mothers are urged to initiate antenatal visits as early as possible during their pregnancy. Early medical interventions can significantly contribute to reducing the incidence of preterm births.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has implemented various measures to enhance the survival of premature babies. One notable initiative is the immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC), a practice involving continuous skin-to-skin contact for newborns, lasting a minimum of 8 hours a day. This approach is particularly applied when mechanical ventilation is not required, aiming to provide essential care for the well-being and development of premature infants.
MoH has also launched an Early new born action plan that ensures that every county has a level two care unit equipped with a CPAP machine and cover basic needs for the preterm babies, over ten counties are now fully equipped including Nairobi, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kisumu, Machakos, Nyeri, Kakamega, Embu, Kirinyaga and Bungoma.
Dr Karimi noted that these equipment’s are placed in facilities with high level of deliveries (referral hospitals) to ensure they serve as many people as possible,
“Children born premature or with a low birth weight of less than 2.5 kgs need a lot of care and attention, things like infection prevention are important, their medication intake also needs to be carefully watched since they have premature kidneys, we prefer skin to skin contact where applicable since it’s a natural way of keeping them warm and the constant contact can also stimulate the mother’s milk production.”
The Ministry of Health’s proactive approach to addressing the challenges associated with preterm births, as highlighted by the Ministry of Health and Dr. Janet Karimi, marks a significant stride towards improving the survival rates of premature infants.
The implemented interventions, ranging from the Early Newborn Action Plan to the emphasis on Kangaroo Mother Care and equipped care units, underscore the commitment to providing comprehensive and timely care for preterm babies. These efforts not only address the immediate health needs of these vulnerable infants but also align with a broader goal of reducing neonatal mortality rates and enhancing the overall well-being of the country’s youngest citizens
