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<\/a><\/p>\n29 December 2011<\/p>\n
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Plans are underway to increase the number of kangaroo mother-care facilities countrywide, after an assessment on the neo-natalogy services in all health facilities.<\/p>\n
This was disclosed by the Maternal and Child Health Officer in the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Felix Sayinzoga, in an interview with The New Times this week.<\/p>\n
Kangaroo mother-care is a technique whereby the mother places her newborn, usually premature, on her chest, between her breasts and ties a cloth around it.<\/p>\n
Sayinzoga stated that Kangaroo Mother-Services in Rwanda started in 2008 and has been an effective tool in reducing premature deaths.<\/p>\n
“There are 27 district hospitals currently using this system, 13 of which are well-equipped,” he added.<\/p>\n
Sayinzoga noted that neo-natal infant mortality rate is still high, at 54%, but this is likely to reduce with the improvement of neo-natalogy services which includes increase in the number of Kangaroo Mother-Care wards in health facilities.<\/p>\n
He added that the method is cost effective since incubators are expensive and difficult to buy them for every hospital.<\/p>\n
He added that they have so far trained Community Health Workers from eight districts on how the kangaroo method operates, recognizing the danger signs of the babies, checking weight and follow-up.<\/p>\n
According to Caroline Ikiriza, the in-charge for Neonatology and a nurse at Muhima Hospital, stated that the Kangaroo mother-care system should be implemented in all health facilities that have maternity wards, since it’s very vital for premature babies, especially those below 2.5 kilogrammes.<\/p>\n
Ikiriza added that they mostly consider low weight when deciding when a baby needs to be in an incubator. The baby’s health should however be in good health with good breathing, especially babies from the ICU.<\/p>\n
The Kangaroo mothercare system helps to regulate the neonate’s temperature more easily than an incubator.<\/p>\n
It also provides ready access to nourishment and allows for readily accessible breastfeeding.<\/p>\n
A mother who has used the system, who could only divulge her first name as Esperance, has been through this system for her 2nd born child and finds it very effective.<\/p>\n
“I was a kangaroo mother for three weeks and I prefer it to the incubator. As a kangaroo mother, you bond with your child and can quickly tell in case of any danger signs. I could easily feed my daughter since she was always close and onto my chest,” Esperance narrated.<\/p>\n
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