World Prematurity Day: Trans Nzoia County Celebrates Small Actions with Big Impact
Trans Nzoia County joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Prematurity Day, highlighting the importance of immediate skin-to-skin contact and quality care for every baby born in the county.
The celebration, held at the Trans Nzoia County Referral Hospital, was presided over by Dr. Lucy Lasoi Sayoki, the Sub-County Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Cherangani Sub-County.
Dr. Sayoki emphasized the significance of World Prematurity Day, which has been commemorated in Kenya since 2011. She noted that premature births are a major public health concern, with 12% of babies in Kenya born preterm.
She also pointed out that many premature babies face lifelong disabilities, including learning, visual, and hearing problems.
“Neonatal mortality alone accounts for 46% of overall under-five deaths and 49% of infant mortality,” Dr. Sayoki said. “The main cause of neonatal mortality is birth asphyxiation, prematurity, and low birth weight, as well as sepsis.”
Despite these challenges, Dr. Sayoki expressed optimism about the progress being made to reduce under-five mortality rates. She credited this progress to the implementation of interventions that have a long-term impact on mitigating the causes of childhood deaths.
She also highlighted the county’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 by 2030, which includes reducing the under-five mortality rate to less than 25 deaths per 1,000 births.
Ms. Susan Suter, the county’s child health coordinator, emphasized the importance of immediate skin-to-skin contact, also known as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), in reducing the mortality rate of preterm babies by 40%.
She also stressed the importance of early antenatal care (ANC), complete immunization, and timely treatment of infections to prevent prematurity and ensure the well-being of mothers and babies.
Anne Kipsuto, a USAID AMPATH Uzima Program Manager, commended the county’s progress in improving maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (MNCH) services. She cited the KDHIS 2022 survey report, which showed that the county has achieved a 98% coverage for first ANC, 68% for ANC 4, and 93% for skilled birth attendance.
Ms. Kipsuto also called for unity among stakeholders in the county to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities to improve newborn and child survival. She emphasized that by working together, small actions can yield significant impacts.
The celebration also featured presentations from Steve Odima of USAID AMPATH Uzima, Bannice Omolo of ACC Waitaluk Division, and Eddah Resiato of ACC Central Division. Bishop Andrew Wafula represented the Inter-Religious Council
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