By James Mutua
Ushiriki Wema Foundation chair Tessie Musalia has called on legislators to consider extending maternity leave for mothers of preterm babies, saying the current 90 day period is insufficient for mothers whose newborns require prolonged medical care.
Speaking on Saturday during International Women’s Day celebrations and the handover of neonatal incubators under the Okoa Malaika Programme at Chuka County Referral Hospital in Tharaka Nithi County, Tessie said extended maternity provisions would help mothers care for premature infants who often require longer hospitalization and specialized monitoring.
She said the programme has now reached 28 counties since its launch, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in maternal and newborn health rather than charity.
Extending maternity leave for mothers of preterm babies is not charity but an investment in healthier children, stronger families and a more productive nation. ~Tessie Musalia
According to global health estimates cited during the event, prematurity remains one of the leading causes of newborn deaths worldwide. In Kenya, inadequate neonatal intensive care units and equipment have contributed to thousands of infant deaths recorded in health facilities.
Tessie noted that investing in neonatal care equipment such as incubators not only saves newborn lives but also protects mothers from the emotional trauma associated with losing premature infants.
When we invest in infant incubators, we are not only saving newborn lives, we are protecting mothers from preventable grief and strengthening families, she said.
The Okoa Malaika Programme, implemented by the Ushiriki Wema Foundation, is an infant preterm mitigation initiative that supports hospitals across Kenya with essential neonatal equipment to safeguard maternal and newborn health.
Tessie also praised government efforts aimed at improving maternal healthcare, citing initiatives by President William Ruto to expand health coverage for vulnerable mothers through the Social Health Authority.
She reiterated the need for collective action from government, the private sector, civil society and development partners to scale up access to quality neonatal care across the country.
As we give resources and support to this cause, we gain healthier communities, empowered women and a stronger Kenya, she said.
Okoa Malaika Brand Ambassador Njoki Mambo said the programme was established to ensure no family in Kenya suffers the heartbreak of losing a baby to prematurity.
When we give incubators, we are reducing preventable deaths among preterm infants by providing warmth, protection and support during their earliest and most vulnerable days, Njoki said.
She described each incubator placed in hospitals as a symbol of hope for mothers and families, noting that the initiative also recognizes the resilience of mothers and the dedication of healthcare workers who care for newborns in neonatal units.
Njoki said the programme remains committed to strengthening neonatal care systems across the country to ensure premature babies have a better chance of survival.
The event, organized by the Ushiriki Wema Foundation, saw the donation of state of the art neonatal incubators to referral hospitals in Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Meru counties as part of the Okoa Malaika initiative aimed at reducing newborn deaths.
Since its launch in November 2023 during the observance of World Prematurity Day, the programme has supported referral hospitals in 28 counties with incubators and other equipment.
