Nairobi Hospital Hosts Free Training on Safe Maternal and Child Care
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 – The Nairobi Hospital on Saturday 30th August 2025 hosted a free training on safe maternal and child care dubbed “Daddy, Mommy and Baby fair ” which benefited more than 300 mothers ,expectant mothers, fathers and nannies, the training aimed at equipping trainees with knowledge on pregnancy, labour, childbirth, lactation, breastfeeding, immunization, nutrition and related issues.
Mr. Nicodemus Odongo, Director Strategy and innovation at The Nairobi Hospital noted that Maternal health is not just a medical issue but a societical imperative.
“We cannot reduce maternal without confronting the myths, fears and inequalities that surround childbirth, events like this show what’s possible when hospitals, communities and partners come together, Every conversation we spark, every myth we dispel brings us closer to a future where no woman dies giving life”, said Mr. Odongo.
The one-day training addressed pregnancy-related challenges by creating a safe inclusive space for families, fathers, mothers and nannies to learn ask questions and engage with healthcare professionals.
“I am here today for this fair wellness awareness on taking care of kids, how to take care of the pregnancy, it has been a very interactive session we have learn a lot on breastfeeding, immunization, How to exercise during pregnancy and maternal, our kids have really enjoyed the session and have interacted well we thank the Hospital for this and hope it keeps going on”, said one of the Parents.
The Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mr. Felix Osano in his speech delivered in absentia stated that yearly thousands of women and girls lose their lives due to pregnancy-related complications.
“Over 80% of these deaths are linked to issues such as inadequate training of healthcare professionals lack of adherence to clinical guidelines and poor patient management practices “.
“We have made a deliberate decision to be intentional about the types of preventive actions we put in place, Today’s free training is part of that action a step forward in equipping families with life-saving knowledge “, added Mr. Osano.
The training comes at a critical time as Kenya continues to grapple with one of the highest maternal rates in Sub-Saharan Africa with UNICEF reporting that Kenya recorded 530 deaths per 100,000 birtin 2023.
While this is marked a 11% improvement from the previous year the figure remains alarmingly short of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
However, Kenya over the past decade has achieved significant progress in maternal healthcare through collaborations with NGOs, faith-based Organizations and private sector partners existing gaps continue to jeopardize these advances, harmful cultural beliefs, stigma surrounding Caesarean sections and dependence on traditional birth attendants still contribute to avoidable maternal and newborn deaths.
Margaret Njuguna, Unity Manager Anderson Specialty Clinics in the Nairobi Hospital focusing on promotive health highlighted that maternal and child deaths are an issue by doing this fair we aim to educate parents, society and some of the things we can do to ensure we have a healthy baby.
“A lot of time when we talk of maternal health and babies we forget the fathers, Fathers play a crucial role in suport for example emotional support coming hand in hand when you have a sick baby you have someone to talk to or bring to the clinic, fathers are credible in this and can be able to support the mother because after deliverying a mother can be tired and may experience body changes so fathers come hand in hand and are able to support the mothers”, She said.
Dr. Sylvia Mruttu, Nairobi Hospital’s Obstetrician and Gynecologist emphasized that more organizations should provide mothers with quality antenatal care and more importantly preconception care to help end preventable maternal and perinatal deaths.
“Pregnant women shoud have at least four antenatal visits during their pregnancy, the visits are important to diagnose the mother if she has any conditions or assess her to determine whether she is at risk for anything and preventive measure in good time”.
Through the Daddy, Mommy, Baby fair awareness , East Africa’s premier healthcare facility continues to reinforce its role as a trusted partner in safeguarding the lives of mothers and children, continuously striving to provide quality and accessible healthcare.
