Dr. Supa Tunje, President of theKenya Paediatric Association (KPA), has called for urgent strengthening of newborn and child health systems, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach communities nationwide.
Speaking at a national health forum, Dr Tunje highlighted that Kenya’s newborn mortality rate has remained stubbornly high for years, reflecting gaps in service delivery, health workforce shortages, and unequal access to essential care.
She emphasized the need for coordinated advocacy, stronger county-level health systems, and targeted investments in human resources and affordable, effective interventions to ensure every child has a fair chance at survival and a healthy start to life.
“We cannot accept that too many infants and young children lose their lives from conditions we know how to prevent and treat,” Dr. Tunje stated. “A robust newborn health system is not just a service, it’s a foundation for a healthy and productive nation.”
Current Status: Newborn and Child Health in Kenya
Despite notable progress in reducing under-five mortality over the past decades, Kenya continues to face challenges in newborn survival. A significant share of child deaths occurs within the first 28 days of life which is often from preventable or treatable causes such as infections, complications during birth, and preterm birth issues. Access to quality maternal and neonatal care remains inconsistent across counties, with rural and marginalized areas bearing a disproportionate burden.
Shortages Health workforce, particularly of skilled birth attendants, pediatric nurses, and community health workers exacerbate these challenges.
Limited medical supplies, infrastructure gaps, and uneven county health system capacity further constrain efforts to deliver timely, high-quality care.
Benefits of a Strong Newborn Health System
Dr. Tunje outlined several key advantages of investing in robust newborn and child health systems:
• Reduced Mortality and Morbidity: Strengthened systems help ensure that births are attended by skilled health workers and that complications are promptly identified and managed, substantially lowering newborn deaths.
• Improved Equity: Targeted investments in underserved communities help close the gap in health outcomes between urban and rural populations, ensuring that geography does not determine survival.
• Stronger Workforce Capacity: Training and retaining health professionals improves service quality across maternal and child health services, from antenatal care to immunization and emergency newborn care.
• Economic and Social Benefits: Healthy children are more likely to thrive in school and contribute to economic growth. Reducing preventable deaths also eases long-term strain on families and health systems.
• Resilient Health Infrastructure: A focus on neonatal care strengthens broader health system components ,such as referral networks, supply chains, and data systems , that benefit all patients.
The Way Forward: Coordinated Advocacy and Investment
Dr. Tunje urged policymakers, health leaders, partners, and communities to rally around a shared agenda for newborn and child health. Key priorities include:
• County-Level System Strengthening: Ensuring counties have the leadership, resources, and accountability mechanisms to deliver quality maternal and newborn services.
• Human Resources for Health: Expanding training, equitable deployment, and continuous professional development for health workers, including midwives, pediatric nurses, and community health volunteers.
• Affordable, Effective Solutions: Scaling up proven, low-cost interventions , such as kangaroo mother care for preterm infants, neonatal resuscitation, infection prevention, and community-based health services.
• Data-Driven Planning: Using reliable health data to identify gaps, track progress, and tailor interventions to community needs.
• Community Engagement: Empowering caregivers and communities with information and support to use available services and adopt healthy practices.
A Shared Responsibility
Dr. Tunje’s call to action underscores that improving newborn and child health in Kenya requires more than medical interventions . It requires political will, sustainable financing, and collaboration across sectors. With focused effort and targeted investment, the vision of a Kenya where every child survives and thrives is within reach.
“Every newborn deserves a healthy beginning,” she concluded. “By strengthening our health systems, building our workforce, and serving our most vulnerable, we fulfill not only a health mandate but a moral one.”
About the Author
