Kenya joined the global community in commemorating World Prematurity Day on November 17, 2023. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about preterm birth and its impact on babies and their families. Preterm birth is a significant contributor to under-5 mortality, accounting for nearly half of all children under 5 years old deaths globally in 2021.
In Kenya, the day was marked with various activities and initiatives to highlight the challenges and concerns associated with preterm birth: The Ministry of Health in Kenya has been implementing various interventions to enhance the survival chances of preterm babies. One notable initiative is the immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC), which involves continuous skin-to-skin contact for newborns, lasting a minimum of 8 hours a day. Kenya has been advocating for Kangaroo Mother Care as a simple, free action taken immediately after birth to place the baby in the mother’s arms with skin-to-skin contact. This approach has been identified as a cost-effective and high-impact intervention for the management of premature and low birth weight newborns, with the aim of improving their survival and reducing newborn deaths. The process of developing protocols for Kangaroo Mother Care was supported by NEST360 Kenya, a program that provides training and implements evidence-based care to improve newborn health in partnership with hospitals, governments, and other development partners
Ethypharm participated in World Prematurity Day in Kenya in 2023. The company donated 10.000 ampoules of caffeine citrate and essential equipment for use in newborn units to support the care of preterm babies. This contribution was part of the national celebration of World Prematurity Day, which aimed to raise awareness about the care for preterm babies, preventive measures, and the improvement of children’s health and survival
The national celebrations of World Prematurity Day in Kenya were graced by the Cabinet Secretary of Health in the Ministry of Health, underscoring the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges associated with preterm birth. It was reported that the preterm birth rate in Kenya is at 12 percent, with approximately 193.000 babies being born prematurely each year. Regrettably, about 13.300 children die annually due to the complications of early birth, and many survivors face learning disabilities, visual, and hearing problems.
The observance of World Prematurity Day in Kenya served as an opportunity to shed light on the prevalence of preterm birth, the associated risk factors, and the importance of interventions such as Kangaroo Mother Care in improving the outcomes for premature babies. It also highlighted the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the government, healthcare professionals, and organizations, in addressing the challenges of preterm birth and promoting the well-being of preterm babies and their families.
