Kitui nurse wins award for battle against infant deaths

Neonatal nurse champions. (From left) Christine Sammy, Anila Ali Bardai (Pakistan), Northern Ireland Health minister Edwin Poots and Netsayi Gowero of Malawi. 

By SIMON CIURI

IN SUMMARY
Efforts by Christine Sammy, the nurse in-charge of the neonatal care unit at the
Kitui District Hospital, saw infant mortality at the hospital reduce from 50 per cent in 2010 to below 10 per cent last year.

A Kitui-based nurse has won this year’s International Neonatal Nursing Excellence Award for her role in training mothers to curb infant mortality.

Efforts by Christine Sammy, the nurse in-charge of the neonatal care unit at the Kitui District Hospital, saw infant mortality at the hospital reduce from 50 per cent in 2010 to below 10 per cent last year.

Her training on handling newborn babies was awarded by Save the Children and the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN).

Ms Sammy, 31, and her counterpart, Anila Ali Bardai from Pakistan received the top award from Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Edwin Poots during the Eighth International Neonatal Nursing Conference held in Belfast last Friday. Also awarded was Netsayi Gowero of Malawi.

“Christine, Anila and Netsayi were selected for their unwavering leadership and passion for ensuring every newborn has a chance to survive and thrive,” said the Council of International Neonatal Nurses president Karen New.

The council aims at recognising nurses who exhibit commitment in saving mothers and newborns during delivery, especially in developing countries.
Neonatal nursing involves caring for infants up to 28 days after birth.

“All three women work in newborn care units in busy referral hospitals providing care to underserved populations. We can take good care for granted in rich countries but in these settings, it has to be developed and defended by committed professionals,” the citation read.

Save the Children country director Duncan Harvey congratulated Ms Sammy for employing basic but effective interventions to curb child mortality in Kenya.

The winners were cited not only for excellence in nursing, but also for their teaching and mentoring skills. The nurses ran trainings and supervision for newborn resuscitations. Previous winners were from Ghana and India.

Each year, three million newborns die during the first month of life, exclusive of the additional 2.6 million babies who are stillborn. Most newborn deaths are preventable and dependent on the skills and commitment of those looking after the infants.