Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Wafula has promised to improve child survival outcomes in line with the Universal Healthcare Coverage.
The CS launched the Comprehensive New-born Care Protocol and revised guidelines on the application of Chlorhexidine Digluconate 7.1% on new-born umbilical cord.
This is meant to demonstrate the ministry’s commitment to the survival and health of new-borns.
In Kenya, pre-term birth rate is at 12% translating to 193,000 babies being born prematurely every year while about 13,300 children under five die due to direct preterm complications.
During celebrations to mark the World Prematurity Day on Thursday, Wafula said the Ministry of Health has developed a host of interventions.
The Health CS was speaking at the Pumwani Maternity hospital and said that high impact interventions have contributed a lot in prevention of the same.
“Preventing deaths among babies born too soon is a public health priority. The most urgent action is to prevent, diagnose and manage preterm births," she said.
"We have solutions to improve the survival and health of vulnerable preterm and low birth weight babies.”
She said interventions such as Kangaroo Mother Care, use of corticosteroids in management of premature labour have played a role in the prevention.
In addition, the use of Chlorhexidine Digluconate 7.1% gel that gives optimal umbilical cord care at birth, has also taken part in the prevention.
She said that for the interventions to thrive, the Ministry of Health managed to scale up Kangaroo Mother Care centres across the 47 counties.
