Kenya’s efforts to reduce neonatal deaths and achieve Universal Health Coverage are under serious threat due to a critical shortage of nurses in public hospital newborn units. The shortage has left many facilities struggling to provide quality care for sick and premature infants, creating a health crisis that undermines progress in maternal and child health.
In several public hospitals, staffing levels have fallen to alarming lows, with some newborn units reporting ratios of one nurse for every 25 babies. This imbalance means nurses can dedicate as little as 30 minutes to each infant during a 12-hour shift, far below international standards for safe and effective neonatal care.
Neonatal nurses play a vital role in monitoring babies, administering medication, ensuring proper feeding and hygiene, handling emergencies, and guiding mothers. Yet extreme patient loads and chronic understaffing have led to exhaustion and burnout, heightening the risk of lapses in essential care. Many mothers in these facilities have also reported experiencing stress and confusion due to limited communication with overstretched staff.
Beyond staffing, newborn units face additional challenges, including overcrowded wards, makeshift structures, and the absence of private spaces. These infrastructural constraints compromise both hygiene and safety, while also affecting the emotional well-being of mothers and infants.
Recent interventions tested in county hospitals show promising pathways to improvement. Increasing the number of nurses in newborn units, introducing ward assistants to support with routine tasks, and strengthening communication skills through specialized training all contributed to better outcomes. However, experts stress that ensuring adequate nurse staffing remains the most urgent and impactful solution.
Improving nurse-patient ratios is seen as central to advancing the quality of care. Without more frontline health workers, the ability of hospitals to deliver consistent, safe, and compassionate newborn care will remain severely limited. At the same time, improving hospital infrastructure and fostering collaboration between health workers and mothers are essential steps in creating supportive care environments.
Strengthening the health workforce and upgrading hospital environments are critical to reducing preventable newborn deaths. Ensuring that every infant receives the attention and medical support they deserve is not just a health priority but also a national goal that aligns with Kenya’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage.
