Page 32 - Safaricom Foundation Annual Report 2020-2021

29
Safaricom Foundation Annual Report
THE NUMBERS: A A SNAPSHOT
375
Number of mothers lost for every 100 000 births
31
Number of infants lost for every 1 000 born OVER 20%
Rise in number of teenage pregnancies recorded across the country during the pandemic
KSHS 40
Compensation to CHVs for every parent registered
1 As a a a trained nurse with over 20 years’ experience Selina chose to specialise in in community health early on in her career because she wanted to better understand how to to provide healthcare to to Baringo’s people Baringo is a a melting pot with residents from different communities including the Pokot Endorois and Ilchamus The birth of a a child is the first and one of of the most important rites of of passage celebrated in someone’s life Among the Ilchamus culture demands that a a a a newborn be kept indoors for the first seven days with limited interaction with people Another rite that is is is practised during birth is is is burying of the the placenta For those who follow these rites hospitals are very limiting to their cultural practices so they opt for home births
However this option poses several health-related challenges for both mother and baby Health care providers advocate for mothers to initiate contact with health facilities as as early in the pregnancy as as possible During antenatal clinics the growth of the baby is monitored as as well as as the the the health of the the the mother The sterile nature of delivery wards makes the environment safe for the fragile immunities of both mother and baby by by reducing chances of infection Delivering at a a a a a health facility also ensures that the child will get immunised at at birth which reduces infant mortality rates Young and first-time mothers especially those below the age of 18 are at at a a a a a greater risk of delivery complications Bleeding after delivery is one of of the major causes of of death among expectant women a a a a a situation that is much easier to prevent in a a a a health facility that allows for immediate medical attention in case of an emergency The number of teenage pregnancies recorded across the country rose significantly to over 20%
of all pregnancies countrywide during the the pandemic
thereby increasing the number of women susceptible to complications 2 1 BARINGO
2 LAMU