Tue, 05/07/2019 @ 04:01pm 395 views 8 comments
A new report shows that at least 80 newborns die at Kenya's largest referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) every week.
A report recently published in the International Journal of Paediatrics blames the high number of infants' death at KNH's New Born Unit (NBU) to lack of facilities and poor care.
The report was compiled following a study done by consultant doctors and senior lecturers at the University of Nairobi’s School of Medicine.
In the report, Dr. Priti Jagdishbhai Tank, Dr. Anjumanara Omar, and Prof. Rachel Musoke also say most of the deaths are recorded within 48 hours of admission to the NBU.
The health experts say the number of deaths is alarmingly high and have also faulted health workers for failure to follow the national treatment guidelines for newborn babies.
“Overall mortality among 320 neonates admitted was 80 or 25 percent over seven days… It is probable that most of these deaths were due to unavailability of respiratory support,” the report states.
This is the first study since the Ministry of Health reviewed the treatment guidelines for infants three years ago.
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