SPONSORED CONTENT: MKU partners with Bungoma County to reduce infant deaths

Bungoma County is the latest beneficiary of eight neonate units which aim at reducing new-born deaths, thanks to an initiative by the Mount Kenya University (MKU) and its partners.

What you need to know:

  • The units, equipped at Sh50 million, were officially handed over on December 19, 2017.

  • They will help reduce the rate of deaths of infants in the county.

  • Bungoma governor’s wife Caroline Wangamati, accompanied by county health officials, graced the occasion.

Bungoma County is the latest beneficiary of eight neonate units which aim at reducing new-born deaths, thanks to an initiative by the Mount Kenya University (MKU) and its partners.

Bungoma is among six counties with the worst new-born mortality indicators at 32 deaths in every 1,000 live births

MKU and its partners have presented to the Bungoma County government eight neonate facilities.

The units, equipped at Sh50 million, were officially handed over on December 19, 2017.

They will help reduce the rate of deaths of infants in the county.

Bungoma governor’s wife Caroline Wangamati, accompanied by county health officials, graced the occasion.

HIGH INFANT MORTALITY

Mrs Wangamati expressed her deep concern over the high new-born mortality rate in the county and indicated she would lead in fighting for better maternal and infant healthcare.

The sorry state of healthcare in the county, she added, could be reversed through strengthening collaborations as exhibited by MKU.

Mrs Wangamati further called for more resources to be put into research and innovation for preventing premature deliveries, complications and deaths.

MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof Stanley Waudo reiterated the university’s commitment to its values of teaching, research and community outreach.

He indicated the university’s commitment to synergetic partnerships with county governments towards achieving the national development priority goals including health, food security as well as job and wealth creation.

GLOBAL STATISTICS

According to global and national statistics, Kenya is among countries in the world with poor new-born health indicators.

Although the country has made significant progress over the past two decades in reducing new-born mortality, the rate still remains high at 22 deaths per every 1,000 live births. This is in stark contrast to countries such as Japan that have 1 death in every 1,000 live births, or Cuba with five.

“In the next one year, we envisage that Bungoma County new-born mortality will reduce significantly,” asserts Dr Jesse Gitaka, the lead investigator of the project.

Big milestones have been achieved over the last 20 months of the project.

“We have increased the capacity of new-born facilities in Bungoma by refurbishing and installing modern equipment in eight new-born units across eight sub-county health facilities, from only two inadequately equipped facilities,” says Prof Francis W. Muregi, the Director of Research and Innovation at Mount Kenya University.

320 NEW-BORNS

He adds that from a capacity of only 100, the facilities can now handle 320 new-borns at any given time.

Additionally, about 10,000 mothers have been supported through the call centre service. Thousands more have been reached over radio programmes and drama.

Further, 95 nurses and clinicians have been trained on neonatology, and a telehealth platform has been installed to offer virtual paediatric support and continuous mentorship to clinicians.

Prof Muregi says the project is a model of how universities should leverage on intellectual resources by working collaboratively with communities to address socio-economic challenges.