A project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has
unveiled guidelines to complement the government’s efforts in improving
antenatal care.
The Uhai wa Mama na Mtoto project guidelines seek to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
They will enable nurses, midwives, clinical officers and other reproductive health professionals to share tasks for obstetrical ultrasound screening in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines.
Ushirika Wema, a charitable initiative, spearheaded the development of the National Obstetrics Point of Care Ultrasound Guidelines working closely with the International Centre for Reproductive Health.
WHO recommends one routine early ultrasound scan for all pregnant women.
Despite this recommendation, women seeking services at primary health care facilities and health centres in Kenya do not benefit from an ultrasound scan.
Speaking during the launch of the guidelines at a Nairobi hotel, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged the Ministry of Health to expedite the launch and implementation of the guidelines to ensure that our women reap the benefits of this initiative.
“The users need to be trained on how to use the guidelines, hence, the need to develop a simple but effective training and mentoring program that can quickly be deployed to all clinics and centres,” he said.
He added that a robust sensitisation and dissemination campaign is necessary to reach all beneficiaries and ensure that they embrace screening devices.
He further added that pregnant mothers have to be aware of when and where the ultrasound scan services will be available in their neighbourhoods.
“We must work together to reduce the high and unacceptable number of women who die from pregnancy and childbirth complications, which places Kenya fourth among African countries with the highest maternal mortality burden.”
Present at the launch were Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, the Director General for Health Patrick Amoth, the Director of Policy Advocacy and Communications, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Rachael Toku-Appiah and country Director, of International Centre for Reproductive Health Dr Susan Ontiri.
Barasa said the initiative is a crucial step towards improving maternal health in Kenya by expanding access to essential ultrasound services.
“The O-POCUS guidelines will help standardize care across various healthcare facilities, particularly in underserved areas, ensuring that mothers and new-borns receive the quality care they deserve,” the CS said.
The initiative bridges a critical gap in public health dispensaries and centres, where pregnant mothers miss out on early ultrasound scans due to a shortage of sonographers, radiologists and gynaecologist obstetricians.
These facilities are usually manned by nurses, midwives and clinical officers, who are not trained to carry out ultrasound screening.
Moreover, the facilities are not equipped with ultrasound machines as they are expensive and are not part of the essential package for public health centres.
The Uhai wa Mama na Mtoto project sought to facilitate the development of Ministry of Health National Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) guidelines that will allow nurses/midwives and clinical officers to perform ultrasound screening.
The guidelines are an essential and critical milestone in providing an enabling policy environment for the rollout of portable ultrasound.
Mudavadi said it is worthwhile that the guidelines were developed through the collaboration between the government and key stakeholders.
“Funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation enabled Ushiriki Wema to lead a high level and technical advocacy, working closely with the International Centre for Reproductive Health,” Mudavadi said.
He said the government needs to address the other challenges identified during the stakeholder engagement process.
“These include lack of ultrasound equipment in local clinics, the cost of such equipment and support infrastructure including electricity and internet connectivity.”
