Explainer: How new machines have transformed newborn care at JOOTRH

By Peter Ochieng

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is one of the busiest public hospitals in the country.

JOOTRH reportedly serves a population of over 10 million people, drawn from various parts of Nyanza and Western counties.

Through a donation from the Vayu Global Health Innovation (VGHI), the hospital is now better equipped to save the lives of newborns, after receiving Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).

According to the USA's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, CAP is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while one sleeps.

These machines donated to JOOTRH are designed to assist neonates with breathing difficulties, and they are already making a significant difference in the hospital's newborn unit (NBU) and maternity wards.

JOORTH management started the partnership with VGHI in 2022, with a recent visit of the Vayu team highlighting successful implementation of the CPAP machines, as 81 babies in the NBU and 49 in maternity have already benefited.

Olivia Omondi, nurse-in-charge of the newborn unit said the machines have become a game-changer in neonatal care. "With CPAP machines, preterm babies who struggle to breathe on their own can now receive the support they need right after birth, greatly improving survival rates and long-term outcomes,” she said.

Dr. Maureen Muchela, head of the department, in her sentiments expressed gratitude for Vayu Global Health's benevolence, noting the machines' positive impact.

The VGHI team pledged continued support to JOOTRH, promising more devices and staff training to optimize user experience and maximize the benefits for newborns.

This partnership marks a turning point for JOOTRH’s newborn unit, significantly enhancing its capacity to provide comprehensive neonatal care, offer hope to families and drastically reduce child mortality.

According to UNICEF, the under-five mortality rate in Kenya fell from 102 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990, to 43 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2019, which means more has to be done to further reduce the percentage.

The CPAP machines play several critical roles, including providing a steady flow of oxygen, preventing respiratory distress in newborns with underdeveloped lungs and reducing complications like hypoxia – a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level.

That in turn leads to improved survival rates for preterm babies, who often face high mortality due to respiratory challenges. JOOTRH was among the first facilities to deploy the devices at delivery, a practice commended by the Vayu Global team.

The hospital is also among others, championing mental illness treatment.