A newborn unit (NBU) with the latest technology and infrastructure has been established at Pumwani Maternity Hospital to reduce the mortality rate among newborns.

Pumwani, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, delivers approximately 80 to 90 babies daily. The modernised newborn unit aims to prevent newborn deaths – particularly those linked to hypothermia, improving maternal outcomes and bolstering clinical capacity at Kenya’s largest maternity hospital.

For many years, newborns at the facility have been grappling with hypothermia, which Chris Mugambi, the facility’s Medical Superintendent, termed “an invisible enemy”, a condition that occurs when babies are unable to regulate their body temperature.

Mugambi, who is also a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, noted improvements since the installation of the central heating system.

“The central heating component has enabled us to achieve above 75 per cent improvement in thermal regulation outcomes, saving infant lives on the backdrop of stretched demand,” he said.

On his part, Safaricom Foundation Chairman Joseph Ogutu shared that the intervention is part of the Uzazi Salama programme, which aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality nationwide, in line with WHO’s Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere (EWENE) action plan.

“We are absolutely delighted at the impact of this partnership with the Nairobi County Government and Pumwani Maternity Hospital, enabling us to improve the health and well-being of women and children in our country by ending preventable deaths as we journey towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals”

Boosting maternal newborn care

The M-Pesa Foundation put in Ksh13 million towards the installation of the central heating system in the newborn unit. This project advances Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving the referral health system.   

Meanwhile, Mariam Dahir, the County Chief Officer for Medical Services in Nairobi City County, stated that this project will boost maternal and newborn care in Kenya, for a facility which accounts for about 10 per cent of the country’s total births.

“This means we are responsible for approximately one in every ten maternal cases in Kenya,” she said.

She further added that the assistance from partners is in line with the county’s overall goal of strengthening health systems and improving outcomes for mothers and newborns.

“As a county, we receive this with great gratitude and we look forward to continued partnership, and where possible, cascading similar support to other facilities within the city,” she added.