By Dr. Angelo Tomedi | Project leader
Like many women receiving care at the Kisesini clinic in eastern Kenya, Joyce’s pregnancy progressed normally without problems. She delivered a baby boy who at first appeared very healthy. Later that day while at home the baby was warmer than usual and was not breast-feeding well. Joyce did not realize that this was the beginning of a life-threatening infection. Fortunately, the community health worker (CHW) in Joyce’s village paid her a visit, as he does for all newborn infants in his village. John is one of 20 CHWs who received training in a Global Health Partnerships (GHP) newborn home visitation project. When he found that the baby had a fever of 104°F he brought Joyce and her baby to Kisesini clinic, where the nurses immediately recognized the signs of sepsis (severe infection) and started high doses of intravenous antibiotics. Joyce and her baby were then transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital to continue the life-saving treatment.
In Kenya and other African countries many newborns die within the first week of life, usually from infection or other preventable causes. The CHW home visitation project, funded by your donations to GHP, can save the lives of newborn infants who often die quickly if an infection is not detected and treated promptly. The CHWs have visited more than 700 newborns during the first year of this innovative project, and the mortality rate for these infants during the first month of life is considerably lower than the average mortality rate in Kenya
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