This archive report was first published on 29 August 2019.
At 22 weeks pregnant, Catherine Joy experienced bleeding and was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital. She was given an injection to help her baby's lungs function and put on bed rest for two weeks.
After labour pains set in, Joy delivered baby Jeremy Tubula, who weighed only 400 grammes at birth. Despite the challenges, Jeremy's parents were overjoyed when he left the hospital weighing 3.5kg after five months of care in the newborn unit.
Doctors at KNH said a baby born prematurely like Jeremy has formed organs, but they cannot function well, especially the lungs. KNH CEO Evans Kamuri noted that Jeremy is the second baby born prematurely at the hospital weighing 400 grammes since its inception.
Jeremy's parents, who live in Pangani but come from Narok, described their journey as draining both financially and emotionally. The bill for Jeremy's care stands at Sh3 million, but the father is hopeful that the insurance cover from his employer will help offset the cost.
As they left the hospital, the couple was advised to be cautious and avoid visitors for the next two months as the baby is still delicate and prone to infections.
Kenya is ranked 15th globally in the number of premature births, with causes including short intervals between pregnancies, malaria, malnutrition, low weight, and age of the mother. Most of these can be addressed when identified early, especially when mothers attend antenatal clinics.
