NAIROBI, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Esther Ong'ayo cuddled her two weeks old infant at the Lengo Medical Clinic located in the sprawling Nairobi's Mukuru Kaiyaba slums, where new mothers congregated on Thursday to receive health kit donated by operator of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) commuter service.
The young mother who ekes a living through casual jobs in nearby factories was elated upon receiving the post natal health kit that contained essential commodities to shield her infant from infectious diseases.
Ong'ayo who has lived for many years in Mukuru Kaiyaba slums that is located in the vicinity of Nairobi's industrial heartland, hailed the donation saying it will boost survival of her newborn.
"I consider myself lucky to receive the gift of a box that has life saving devices given the fragility of the health of new born babies in this locality," said Onga'yo .
"The kit will help me save on the cost of seeking treatment for my newborn in public health facilities that are crowded and lack essential medicine," she added.
Ong'ayo and dozens of her colleagues who reside in the semi-permanent structures that dot Mukuru Kaiyaba slums, have a reason to smile thanks to the boxes donated by the SGR operator.
The SGR operator donated 100 boxes that contained disinfectants, anti-biotic, nappies, mosquito nets and beddings that are critical to the survival of a new born child within a period of 28 days.
Mo Kun, deputy general manager of Africa Star Railway Operation Company that manages Nairobi-Mombasa SGR commuter service, said donation of neonatal care package was in line with the firm's commitment to promote health of mothers and infants in disadvantaged settings.
"We hope the package will help reduce deaths of mothers and new born babies resulting from preventable causes," said Mo adding that the SGR is committed to support Kenya's maternal and infant health agenda.
The SGR operator partnered with Toto Care Box, a health promotion agency, to donate maternal and neonatal healthcare kit to new mothers in the densely populated Mukuru Kaiyaba slums.
Millicent Omaset, a 21 year old mother of two whose second born is only six weeks old, said she felt relieved upon receiving the comprehensive medical kit that could act as a deterrent against infectious diseases that blight slum children.
"At least now my child will now be protected against a host of diseases like cholera, malaria and pneumonia that are common in slum villages because of poor hygiene," said Omaset.
She lauded the SGR operator and partners for coming to the rescue of pregnant mothers and their newborns in slums amid exposure to fatal ailments linked to poverty and unhygienic surroundings.
"Lack of clean drinking water and proper sanitation has worsened disease outbreaks in this part of Nairobi hence putting the lives of our children at risk of untimely death," said Omaset.
"We are fortunate to receive the health kit from the SGR operator to treat water and disinfect our polluted surroundings in order to reduce the risk of our children contracting diseases," she added.
Maximilla Auma, a 35 year old housewife whose infant is two weeks old said that receiving the neonatal care package fulfilled her desire of bringing up a healthy baby despite financial hardships.
"It feels good to have devices that can help ward off infectious diseases that often attack children in this slum village. I am grateful to the SGR operator and other partners for coming to our rescue," said Auma.
She said that she looked forward to a future defined by reduced hospital visits that are financially draining now that life-saving commodities were within her reach.
Provision of life saving kit to mothers who had recently delivered in Nairobi's Mukuru Kaiyaba slums was made possible courtesy of innovative partnership with grassroots health promotion agencies.
Lucy Kaigutha, founder and director of Toto Care Box said the concept of providing cheaper but innovative maternal and infant health care intervention is gaining traction in Kenya thanks to support from government and industry.
"Through our partnership with the SGR operator, we are now able to address the plight of disadvantaged mothers who risk their lives and that of their newborns through unsafe post-delivery practices," said Kaigutha.
She said the health kit donated by SGR operator will boost prevention of four leading causes of maternal and infant deaths in Kenya that include malaria, neonatal sepsis, diarrhea and malaria.
