About Ponya Mtoto
In recent years, the implementation of several initiatives has led to a reduction in the mortality rate of newborns, infants & under-fives in Kenya. However, the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) has shown the slowest decline in the last 10 years. Neonatal infections are a leading cause of NMR, with sepsis contributing up to 20% of deaths. In line with the global targets, the 2014-30 Kenya Health Policy aims to reduce the NMR from 22 to 12 per 1000 live births by 2030.
However, to “End preventable deaths” and “Keeping every child alive,” further action is needed to ensure effective implementation of Integrated Management of Childhood Infections (IMCI). The World Health Organization (WHO) treatment for possible serious bacterial infections (PSBI) in young infants entails in-patient hospitalization and administration of multi-drug, multi-dose injectable antibiotics for at least 7-10 days. Yet, hospitalization is not always available, accessible or affordable to the sick young infants (see Box 1). Less than 30% of those referred can access hospital care.
Managing Sick Young Infants Where Referral Is Not Feasible
When referral is not feasible, infants often receive no treatment, resulting in unnecessary, potentially preventable infection-related newborn deaths. To address these challenges, a multi-country study on the use of simplified regimens for managing PSBI in young infants (0-59 days) was conducted in several countries in Asia and Africa including Kenya. Results showed that simplified antibiotic regimens on an outpatient basis were as effective as the WHO standard treatment regimen. Based on these findings, WHO developed guidelines on management of PSBI in sick young infants (SYIs), when referral is not feasible. Between September 2015 and October 2017, the guidelines were tested – using Implementation Research within specific health system contexts in Nigeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Malawi, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Results from this phase were disseminated in January 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Despite different implementation experiences, the studies showed that simplified antibiotic regimens could effectively be administered to SYIs in outpatients or in primary health care facilities when referral is not feasible.
About The PSBI Project In Kenya
The overall goal of the project (October 2017-September 2020) is to contribute to reductions in young infant deaths from PSBI. The project has four result areas:
• Result 1: New PSBI guidelines included in updated IMCI training and
management protocols
• Result 2: New PSBI guidelines implementation demonstrated as feasible,
acceptable, and sustainable in representative settings
• Result 3: Increased utilization of quality PSBI care
• Result 4: National policy change to IMCI, PNC, PSBI mgt & other RH areas
The PSBI project is a partnership between the Kenya Paediatric Research
Consortium, Mount Kenya University (MKU) and the Population Council. The partnership seeks to support the MOH at all levels to:
✓ engage local health systems to improve young infant PSBI activities.
✓ promote continuous learning and information dissemination,
✓ document learning and adaptation approaches with a view to identifying
and addressing health system readiness challenges
✓ develop site specific innovations and programmatic strategies in response
to their various implementation challenges.
✓ improve the impact and sustainability of PSBI programming in Kenya.
Dr. Elizabeth Kiragu is a Paediatric Allergy Specialist and full time faculty based at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She attended the University of Nairobi and for her undergraduate degree and her Masters in Paediatrics and Child Health. She completed a 2-year Paediatric Allergy fellowship at the University of Cape Town. Dr. Kiragu has established comprehensive allergy services within the Paediatric Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She has a special interest in food allergies, urticaria, asthma and allergy advocacy. She is committed towards advancing allergy care in Kenya at primary care level via presenting on a wide variety of topics at various National and Regional Conferences/Symposiums.
DR. JOY MUYONGA
DR. JUSTUS MAINGI SIMBA MBChB, PhD.
Dr. Barnabas Kigen
DR. JUSTUS MAINGI SIMBA MBChB, PhD.
Dr. Caren Ito Emadau
AFFILIATIONS: Gertrudes Childrens Hospital
Affiliation: Machakos County
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kenyatta University.
AFFILIATIONS:
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Hospital
AFFILIATION: Medical services Nairobi City County
DR. JUSTUS MAINGI SIMBA MBChB, PhD.
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Nairobi, Kenya.
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Nairobi.
Denish Osodo works at Safaricom Limited as the Internal Audit Director. He has wide and deep experience in Assurance, Governance and Risk Services. Prior to joining Safaricom, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for several years, offering audit and business advisory services to Companies in different industries during his stints in Kenya and United Kingdom offices. He left PwC as a Director in the Risk Assurance Services team focusing on the provision of Internal Audit and business Controls Advisory Services to clients across Africa.
Njeri Wahome delights in all things administration. With over 20 years of experience in operations management in the development sector, Njeri as hands-on experience in strategic planning, financial management, human resources management, administration and logistics planning. She has experience providing technical assistance to NGOs on institutional strengthening for growth and sustainability.
Fred Were is Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health specializing in Newborn Medicine. He presently holds portfolios of; Dean School of Medicine University of Nairobi (UON), Acting Principal College of Health Sciences (UON), Adjunct Professor of Newborn Medicine at the Aga Khan University (East Africa) and Executive Director/Chief Researcher of The Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium a wing of the Kenya Paediatric Association.
Dr. Lawrence Okong’o Owino is a lecturer at the department of paediatrics and child health at the University of Nairobi. He is also a consultant paediatrician at the Kenyatta National hospital as well as a consultant paediatrician and rheumatologist for all the major hospitals in Nairobi. He is a pioneer paediatric rheumatologist. His research interests are in the field of musculoskeletal health and immunizations. He has published papers in peer reviewed journals focussing mainly on childhood rheumatic disorders.
Thomas Ngwiri is Head Clinician at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital since February 2010. He is also Director of the Paediatric endocrinology training centre for Africa (PETCA) – Nairobi which trains paediatricians from sub-Saharan Africa in the field of diabetes and other endocrine disorders. He has been a member of the Kenya Paediatric association executive since 2010 and is the immediate former National Chair of the association.
MBChB (UoN), MMed (UoN) M.Phil-MCH (UCT)). Dr Osano is a Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, a consultant Paediatrician cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital. He has been the Program Coordinator for the NIH MEPI grant awarded to the University of Nairobi: Strengthening Maternal Newborn Child Health Research Training in Kenya. He has special interest in Maternal Child Health.
Dr. Joe Mbuthia is a graduate of the University of Oxford, with a specialty in Paediatric Infectious Diseases. He is an honorary Lecturer at the Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Nairobi as well as a Senior Technical Advisor to the HIV programme – Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium.
Dr. David Githanga is an accomplished medical professional with over 37 years of clinical practice experience. He holds a fellowship of the royal college of physicians of Edinburg (2021, a PhD in Medical Immunology from the University of Nairobi. (2019), Masters in public Health from the University of London (2010), He qualified in paediatric cardiology from the Royal Hospital for sick Children in Glasgow UK (1993), A Diplomate in Child Environmental Health from Athens Greece (2005, a Master’s degree in pediatrics from the University of Nairobi (1990) having obtained his MB,chB from the same University in 1984. Over the years he has demonstrated leadership capability and strategic thinking that has been instrumental in spearheading the growth, development and integration of the Kenya Pediatric Association (KPA) where he served in executive positions for a total period of 19 years.
Dr. Kibore received her bachelor’s degree in medicine and her master’s degree in Pediatrics and Child Health both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, she then went on and completed a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Washington, USA.
Dr. Makeba Shiroya Wandabwa is a Paediatrician and Public Health Specialist, with a strong health systems background having worked in various capacities to develop child health policies and guidelines, implement and monitor high impact child health interventions at the international, national, sub national and community levels. She has provided technical, strategic, evaluation and operational support for RMNCAH/HIVAIDS health programs funded by USAID, DFID, Global Fund and World Health Organization.
Dr. Doris M.W. Kinuthia is medical professional with expertise in paediatrics and adolescent medicine, nephrology and HIV. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with medical qualifications MB.Ch.B and M.Med in Paediatrics. She has Certificates in Tropical medicine and Immunology from the same University. She did her fellowship in Paediatric Nephrology at the hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, London.U.K. She has a post graduate diploma and Master of Business Administration from Sunderland University U.K.
Denish Osodo works at Safaricom Limited as the Internal Audit Director. He has wide and deep experience in Accounting and Audit with along progressive career in Assurance, Governance and Risk Services.