Newborn babies in Bungoma County are now assured of quality specialized care, thanks to the launch of an upgraded new-born care unit at Webuye County Referral Hospital in Bungoma County. The new-born care unit was officially launched today by His Excellency the President, Honourable Uhuru Kenyatta, who was accompanied by Bungoma County Governor, H.E. Mr Kenneth Lusaka, County Executive Committee Member for Health Mr. Stephen Kokonya, Mount Kenya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo and Fountain Africa Trust Director Ms. Alice Natecho. The launch was hosted by the Bungoma County Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Collaborative New Born Support Project.
The goal of the Collaborative New Born Support project is to reduce the high neonatal deaths in Bungoma County, which is among the highest in Kenya, by 30% between October 2015 and September 2017.
Speaking during the launch of the upgraded new-born unit at Webuye County Referral Hospital, the President reiterated the Government’s manifesto and pledged to ensure that newborns and their mothers receive quality and supportive services with a view to safeguarding both the mother and child.
Dr. Jesse Gitaka, the project team leader, informed the President that the project has so far accomplished the following milestones:
- Set up new born units in 3 hospitals, including the one at Webuye Hospital being launched
- Established a call centre through which calls are made to mothers who have been discharged from hospital to monitor the well-being of both the mother and baby
- Held community level sensitization meetings to increase demand for new born care services with support from Sub-County Commissioners and Chiefs
- Carried out public advocacy on new born care through local FM radio programmes, and
- Established the tele-health platform through which healthcare workers provide specialized care to newborns with support from peadiatricians based outside the County.
On his part, the Bungoma County Governor thanked the people of the United Kingdom for their contribution towards the survival of newborns in Bungoma County .
