A new high-tech newborn unit has been commissioned at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in a major upgrade aimed at strengthening neonatal care and reducing infant mortality at Kenya’s largest maternity facility.
The facility features modern technology and improved infrastructure designed to enhance survival outcomes for newborns, particularly those at risk of complications shortly after birth.
Pumwani Maternity Hospital, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, handles an estimated 80 to 90 deliveries daily and accounts for about 10 per cent of all births in Kenya.
The newly established unit is expected to ease pressure on existing services while improving survival rates, particularly by addressing hypothermia, a long-standing challenge in newborn care at the facility.
For years, infants at the hospital have faced risks linked to the inability to regulate body temperature, a condition described by Medical Superintendent Dr Chris Mugambi as “an invisible enemy”, which has contributed to preventable neonatal complications.
The new system now includes a central heating component that has significantly improved outcomes.
“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,” Mugambi said.
The upgrade is part of the Safaricom Foundation-led Uzazi Salama programme, implemented in partnership with Nairobi County Government and Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
Safaricom Foundation Chairman Joseph Ogutu said the initiative aligns with global maternal and child health goals.
“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,” Ogutu said.
The intervention also supports Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being, with the M-Pesa Foundation contributing Sh13 million toward the installation of the central heating system.
Nairobi City County Chief Officer for Medical Services Mariam Dahir noted that the facility plays a critical role in national maternal health delivery.
“This means we are responsible for approximately one in every ten maternal cases in Kenya,” she said.
She added that the partnership reflects a broader effort to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns, with potential for similar interventions in other public health facilities across the city.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google