Bomet County government seeks to reduce 1, 200 premature births that occurred in the financial year 2021/2022, the County Health Executive Committee (CEC) Dr. Joseph Sitonik has said.
The County government through its health facility has moved a step ahead to create interventions to prevent related death from preterm births.
The county has also partnered with Nutrition International in maternal newborn, child and adolescent services to establish a Kangaroo ward in Longisa County Referral Hospital.
According to Nutrition International officer Andrew Wanyonyi, the number could be reduced and deaths are minimised if women attended clinics and were advised on what they should do. He asked the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) to embrace the Kangaroo Mothers Care (KMCs).
Sitonik urged potential mothers to note the cause of premature birth and factors that may contribute to this problem.
“It’s important for our mothers to note causes or factors that contribute to premature births, some of the births occur spontaneously while others are due to chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes or pregnancy-induced HTN/diabetes, infections or use of substances such as alcohol,” explained Dr. Stonik.
He also said it was important for mothers to note there were preventive measures for preterm births and interventions on care.
“Preventing death and complications from preterm birth starts with a healthy pregnancy, optimal nutrition, prevention and treatment of infections during pregnancy period” explained Dr. Sitonik.
According to health experts, premature birth is a birth that happens too soon before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The babies have low weights and require special care such as skin-to-skin contact and also incubator care.
The Child Health Manager in the county Sarah Koech said many issues contributed to the high number of children born before the right time.
She singled out drug abuse/substance abuse and failure to attend clinics. She urged expectant mothers to visit hospitals early to be assisted.
By Lamech Willy
