Dr Juliet Omwoha Head of the Newborn and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, during the event./ PHOTO; NEST360
Every year, thousands of Kenyan families face the uncertainty of welcoming a baby too soon.
Preterm birth not only brings immense emotional stress but also imposes severe financial strain, with families struggling to cover costly medications, specialized care, and prolonged hospital stays.
The ripple effect extends to communities and the healthcare system, which must stretch resources to support these tiny, vulnerable lives.
Amid these challenges, stories of resilience emerge. One such story is that of Immaculate Akinyi, whose journey with her preterm twin captures both the struggle and hope of giving a baby a fighting chance at life.
“I Never Imagined I Would Give Birth at Six Months” – Immaculate’s Story
When Immaculate Akinyi Owour learned she was expecting twins, she envisioned a joyful delivery and leaving the hospital with two healthy babies.
But at just six months pregnant, her life changed unexpectedly.
“One day, I felt severe pain and rushed to the hospital. I didn’t know I was about to give birth,” she recalls.
Immaculate delivered her twins, but only one survived. One weighed 800 grams and passed away shortly after birth, while her surviving twin weighed just 900 grams, beginning a long and difficult journey.
From the maternity ward, nothing was easy. “I pray that God blesses the doctors and nurses who attended to me,” she says.
The baby’s first cry was faint, and with doctors on strike at the time, the situation became even more complicated. After delivery, her newborn was immediately taken to the nursery.
“When I saw her in the nursery, tiny and connected to a CPAP machine, I panicked,” she admits.
Tubes surrounded the baby, and nurses informed her that the infant urgently needed caffeine citrate, each vial costing KSh 3,500.
“Luckily, the hospital had two doses, and they administered them.”
The baby remained on CPAP for a week, then on oxygen for another week, only to return to CPAP after briefly stabilizing.
“I was so stressed. I felt like running away,” Immaculate says.
The financial strain was overwhelming. With her husband being an orphan, the couple relied heavily on her mother, friends, and well-wishers to afford treatment, medication, and diapers.
The baby’s weight dropped from 900 grams to 700 grams.
“She was so tiny I was scared to hold her,” Immaculate says.
Nurses played a crucial role during this period, feeding, cleaning, changing her, and teaching Immaculate how to handle her fragile newborn.
“They did an amazing job,” she says gratefully.
Through hospital guidance, Immaculate learned about Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), holding the baby skin-to-skin to regulate temperature, improve breathing, and promote weight gain.
With consistency, her baby gradually improved. After 86 days in the hospital, she was discharged weighing 1.85 kg, and today, at three months, she weighs 2.3 kg.
“My baby has gone through so much. There was a time I didn’t think she would survive,” Immaculate says. “But Kangaroo Mother Care, medication, and the support we received helped us pull through.”
Her advice to mothers with preterm babies: “Do not give up. Follow the doctors’ instructions and trust the process. These babies are fighters.”
Championing Preterm Care in Kenya
Dr. Supa Tunje, consultant paediatrician and neurologist, and President of the Kenya Paediatric Association, says:
“We, as paediatricians together with our associate members, are stewards of babies and children. That is why whenever we have such an opportunity, we come out strongly to champion their well-being. This year’s theme is ‘Give Preterm Babies a Strong Start to a Brighter Future.’ A preterm baby is born too soon and usually too small. They are at risk of various complications, but with good interventions, they can thrive and achieve their full potential.”
Dr. Tunje explains that specialized care, timely interventions, and clear communication with mothers are crucial.
The Kenya Paediatric Association has made several commitments to improve newborn care across the country.
Capacity building through the Kenya Paediatric Fellowship Program, training paediatricians and nurses in neonatology and neonatal nursing.
Establishing and supporting NICUs nationwide, ensuring that every county has at least a level 2 neonatal unit with proper infrastructure.
Training and mentoring MPDSR committees to strengthen maternal and perinatal death reviews.
Implementing national guidelines to standardize paediatric care across public and private facilities.
Researching newborn care quality in collaboration with partners such as KEMRI and NEST360.
“We advocate for resources, mentor healthcare workers, and collaborate with midwives, nurses, and obstetricians to ensure preterm babies get the best care from birth and beyond. Every baby deserves a fighting chance to survive and thrive,” Dr. Tunje adds.
Ministry of Health Perspective
Dr. Juliet Omwoha, Head of the Newborn and Child Health Section at the Ministry of Health, emphasizes:
“Reducing neonatal mortality requires collective effort. Our neonatal mortality rate is 22 deaths per 1,000 live births. By 2030, the SDG target is 12 deaths per 1,000. This is a huge task that calls on every one of us to remain focused and determined.”
Dr. Omwoha highlights progress in strengthening data and systems.
The Ministry now has the In-Mission Neonatal Register, which aggregates all facility-level data admissions, deaths, referrals, outcomes, and interventions.
Additionally, the Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Death Audit system and updated neonatal audit guidelines ensure that no gaps exist in reviewing cases from day 0 to day 7 and beyond.
“This system aggregates everything and tracks interventions and outcomes. We are not only focusing on neonates aged 0 to 7 days. Training is ongoing across counties, covering quality improvement and resource allocation based on local needs. We also use the No Blame, No Shame approach, which allows facilities to audit cases objectively and understand what happened.”
“The revised guideline in 2025 is considered the ‘mother’s Bible’ because the information in the Mother and Child Health Handbook is essential for both mothers and caregivers. With the 2025 version, we are also empowering health workers at different levels,” she added.
Giving Preterm Babies a Fighting Chance
World Prematurity Day, held globally on November 15, will be celebrated in Kenya this year on November 17.
Prematurity is the leading cause of death among children under five globally, with approximately 134,000 babies born prematurely in Kenya each year.
Many of these babies die due to complications, while survivors may face lifelong disabilities.
The first month of life is the most vulnerable. Globally, 2.4 million newborns died in 2020, with preterm complications being the leading cause of under-five deaths.
A strong start in life through proper care, nutrition, and support helps these babies survive and thrive, reaching their full potential.
Giving preterm babies a fighting chance is a collective responsibility.
From parents like Immaculate, healthcare workers, paediatric associations, government bodies, civil society organizations, every intervention counts.
Through awareness, specialized care, and advocacy, Kenya continues to work towards a brighter future where every baby, no matter how small, has the opportunity to thrive.
