Vihiga County has partnered with Momentum Country and Global Leadership to train health workers on antenatal and neonatal care.
The County Child Health Focal Person Kennedy Ochogia has said the trainees, who include community health assistants and professional health workers, are offered skills in prenatal care, nutrition, and the appropriate handling of newborns.
Ochogia, who is a clinician, stated that the training aims at tackling preterm and low-birth-weight babies, which is a challenge in the county.
He stated that through the interventions, they have been able to bring down the newborn mortality rate from 10 per 1,000 births to the current four per 1,000 births.
The health officer observed that they are insisting on at least eight Ante Natal Clinic (ANC) visits for the pregnant women for close supervision and adequate guidance on the best care for those concerned.
He noted that every life, at whatever stage it may be, counts, hence the need to put in place measures to prevent neonatal deaths.
The county is also implementing the maternal and child care promotion programme dubbed Ottichilocare, which has seen an improvement in the reproductive health of the residents.
By Sammy Mwibanda
