Okoa Malaika, an initiative supporting care for premature and newborn babies, has donated 12 incubators and other neonatal equipment to health facilities in six counties in Nyanza region.
The equipment was handed over to facilities in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira and Migori by Tessie Mudavadi, wife of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, at Lumumba Sub-County Hospital in Kisumu.
Tessie handed over the equipment to county health officials, first ladies and Kisumu Central Deputy County Commissioner Langat Bosek.
Okoa Malaika distributes neonatal equipment to health facilities across Kenya as part of efforts to improve care for premature babies and reduce newborn deaths.
Tessie said the programme, implemented through the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi support from partners including the Mudavadi Memorial Foundation and Ushiriki Wema, had reached more than 20 counties.
She said neonatal mortality rate in Kenya stood at 22 deaths per 1,000 live births, with premature births accounting for a significant proportion of newborn deaths.
Families seeking specialised neonatal care face challenges including limited health facilities, shortages of resources and geographical barriers, she said.
Tessie said the initiative complemented government efforts to improve maternal and child health and expand access to healthcare.
She said the government had expanded the Linda Jamii health cover and cited estimates that premature births account for about 13% of deliveries in Kenya.
Kisumu County First Lady Dorothy Nyong’o called for the programme to be expanded to reach more communities.
She also urged a broader approach to women’s health, including early access to cervical cancer vaccination.
Migori County First Lady Agnes Ochilo said hospitals in the county serve patients from neighbouring counties and across national borders, increasing pressure on available health services.
Bosek praised the donation, saying premature babies required specialised care and were often overlooked.
He said complications associated with premature birth could result in deaths as well as long-term disabilities among survivors, including learning, hearing and visual difficulties.
Bosek also urged chiefs and village elders not to settle defilement cases through informal “kangaroo courts”, saying such settlements could deny victims access to justice.
He said some families were being pressured into out-of-court settlements when children were sexually abused and called for perpetrators to be dealt with under the law.
Bosek said many girls were impregnated by people known to them and warned that the government would take action against those responsible.
Pematurity is a major cause of newborn deaths worldwide.
Kenyan health experts say many deaths linked to preterm birth can be prevented through timely and cost-effective interventions.
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