NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23 – The Association of Registered Nurse Anaesthetists-Kenya (ARNA-Kenya) has urged the government to sponsor specialist training for nurses working with expectant mothers and infants to curb child mortality.
According to the association, a high number of deaths occur during surgical childbirth, primarily attributed to a lack of access to essential surgical care, particularly life-saving procedures such as caesarean sections.
Speaking during the first-ever Pan African Nurse Anaesthetists Conference (PANAC 2024), Mary Mungai, the Association of Registered Nurse Anaesthetists-Kenya patron, said the association, in collaboration with sister associations in Africa, will support individual government efforts to train nurse anaesthetists.
“PANAC 2024 is a significant milestone for nurse anaesthetists in Africa as it provides an unprecedented opportunity to unify our efforts in improving anaesthesia care, ensuring safer surgical outcomes for millions,” Mungai said.
“This conference is not just about professional development it’s about saving lives.”
Mungai noted that the presence of anaesthetists during general surgeries can improve the overall care system for patients.
She added that improved access to surgical and anaesthesia services can drastically reduce maternal deaths by addressing complications like obstructed labour, haemorrhage, and infections.
A survey by the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists (WFSA) revealed that Kenya had only 0.44 physician anesthesiologists per 100,000 people, including non-physician anaesthesia providers (NPAPs), far below the recommended 4 per 100,000.
This workforce shortage significantly reduces access to and safety of surgical services in many parts of Africa.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), over 80 percent of maternal deaths are attributed to poor quality of care, with maternal mortality after caesarean delivery in Africa being 50 times higher than that of high-income countries.
Despite measures put in place to curb this, Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains high at 362 deaths per 100,000 live births due to a lack of access to essential surgical care.
The two-day conference held in Nairobi brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to address critical issues in anaesthesia care across the continent.
