The partnership between the Universitätsklinikum Gießen\/Marburg, Germany, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Maseno University, Kenya, is promoting the neonatal resuscitation.
Problem: About 5 to 10% of full-term newborn infants and almost every premature baby need additional care in the delivery room. If the baby’s respiratory function is so severely restricted that it risks suffocating, the baby might have to be ventilated. In Kenya there is a lack of equipment to resuscitate newborn infants, and health professional are not taught resuscitation techniques.
Main activities: Interdisciplinary training is to be held for doctors, midwives and nurses in the resuscitation of premature babies. To bring the measures into line with conditions on the ground, the equipment and options in Kenya will first be analysed. Following the first training courses, data is to be gathered to document patient outcomes and a follow-up training course is to be organised. Joint final evaluation is planned during an exchange visit to Gießen by professionals.
Short-term results: Initial care for premature babies and newborn infants is improved through further training and procurement of materials and equipment.
Long-term results: The neonatal death rate is reduced on a sustainable basis.