Bungoma County has stepped up efforts to improve the survival and quality of care for preterm babies through targeted investments in neonatal services, including staff training, upgraded facilities and life-saving medical technology.
The renewed push comes amid growing concern over high rates of premature births and related complications.
Speaking at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital Mother and Baby Hospital, neonatologist Dr. Felicitas Makokha expressed optimism that the interventions will significantly boost survival outcomes of vulnerable newborns.
She revealed that the Newborn Unit (NBU) has a bed capacity of 100, six specialized rooms and a dedicated Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) section.
Structured Care for Newborns
Dr. Makokha explained that all newborns are first received at the admission room, where they undergo immediate triage and a comprehensive assessment.
Medical teams conduct an ABCD evaluation- checking airway, breathing, circulation and disability- to determine the urgency of care.
Babies requiring urgent interventions such as respiratory support or circulatory stabilization are attended to immediately. Each newborn is also weighed upon admission to guide treatment decisions.
“We have a newborn admission record that we use to admit the babies, stabilize them and once stable, transfer them to respective rooms,” she said.
The unit includes an acute room for newly admitted critical cases, preterm room for small and sick newborns on ozygen support, infusion therapy, phototherapy and incubator care, step-down (acute two) for recovering babies, and isolation room for infants with suspected or confirmed infections.
New Facility Eases Congestion
The hospital moved into the new newborn unit in August 2025, marking a major milestone in maternal and child healthcare.
Previously, maternity and newborn services were confined to just two rooms in the main hospital building, leading to severe congestion.
Dr. Makokha praised the Bungoma County Government for investing in the dedicated Mother and Baby Hospital, noting that the new facility has improved organization, reduced overcrowding and enhanced quality of care.
High Demand for Specialized Care
The unit records between 120 and 150 admissions monthly, with most cases involving prematurity, infections, perinatal asphyxia and birth defects.
“Prematurity remains the leading cause of mortality,” Dr. Makokha said, linking it to conditions such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, infections like malaria and premature rupture of membranes.
As a referral center, the facility also receives patients from neighboring counties including Kakamega and Busia Counties.
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite improvements, the facility faces key challenges, including lack of oxygen piping, forcing reliance on cylinders.
Dr. Makokha revealed plans to establish a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), noting that the hospital currently lacks ventilators and ICU beds.
“We have a vision of setting up a newborn ICU. Once we acquire ventilators and ICU beds, we will upgrade our acute unit,” she said.
Expanding Kangaroo Mother Care
The hospital runs a 10-bed Kangaroo Mother Care unit for stable preterm babies, where mothers provide continuous skin-to-skin contact.
Babies remain in the unit until they reach at least 2 kilograms before discharge. During this time, they receive nutritional supplements including iron, folic acid, vitamin D and calcium.
Healthcare workers also train mothers to identify danger signs after discharge.
The facility is now preparing to introduce Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care, where babies are placed in skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth- even before full stabilization.
Studies show improved survival rates for babies weighing between 1 and 1.75kgs under this approach.
Social Challenges Impacting Outcomes
Dr. Makokha highlighted teenage pregnancy as a major concern in the region, noting that young mothers face higher risks of preterm births and often struggle with childcare.
“Many lack psychological preparedness, face challenges with breastfeeding and are not enrolled in the Social Health Authority due to lack of identification documents,” she said.
A Story of Survival
Centrine Naliaka, a mother admitted at the facility, shared her experience after delivering a premature baby at six months.
Her baby weighed just 1kg at birth but has since improved to 1.3kgs through specialized care and Kangaroo Mother Care.
She expressed gratitude to the medical team for saving her child’s life.
