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Kenya

Has your newborn been screened and received these jabs?

Dr Syama is a Consultant Paediatrician at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She writes that newborn screening identifies conditions that can affect a child’s long-term health or survival. Early detection, diagnosis, and intervention can prevent death or disability. With a simple blood test, doctors can check for rare genetic, hormone-related, and metabolic conditions that can cause serious health problems. Dr Syama also says that vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to make antibodies which provide protection against many diseases. Vaccination is the safest way to protect children against infectious diseases. She notes that once children have been vaccinated, they should have the ability to fight off the diseases that they have been vaccinated against. Vaccines are therefore very important in reducing infant and child mortality.

Small device that might render stethoscope obsolete

A new device is being used at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, which may render the stethoscope obsolete. The gadget is the point-of-care ultrasound (Pocus) device. “It has been used by radiologists and obstetricians for a long time,” Dr Benjamin Wachira, an emergency care physician explains. But advancements have compressed the technology to such a degree that handheld, pocket-sized versions are now readily available in Kenya. For low resource environments, the World Health Organisation now recommends portable ultrasound devices as a primary diagnostic tool. The device uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. It is safe, non-invasive, and does not use radiation. “Every emergency department in any facility should have this,” Dr Wachira says.

In Tanzania, France and the Aga Khan Foundation join forces against cancer

Although infectious diseases remain dominant in developing countries like Tanzania, rates of cancer are also on the rise due to longer life expectancies and changing lifestyles. The number of new cases recorded every year – around 40,000 – is probably much lower than the actual figure. “It’s becoming a bigger public health issue,” assures Dr Zeenat Sulaiman, (then) Director-General of the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) in East Africa. Subsidiary of the development empire of His Highness the Aga Khan, the AKHS has partnered with the French Development Agency (AFD) in the ambitious “Projet global de lutte contre le cancer en Tanzanie (TCCP)” (Global Project to Fight Against Cancer in Tanzania). The four-year project was launched in 2020 with a grant of 10 million EUR from AFD and 3.3 million EUR from the Aga Khan Foundation. “It’s a great opportunity,” notes Stéphanie Mouen, AFD Tanzania Country Director. “They ensured that the programme was not limited to the Aga Khan Hospital, but also included public hospitals, and public awareness and improved diagnostics.” Heartened by preliminary results, the Aga Khan Foundation is considering expanding the TCCP to other countries in East Africa.

Kenyan breast surgeon to head regional cancer body

Miriam Mutebi, the first female breast surgeon in Kenya, has been elected to lead the largest continental organisation that specialises in the promotion of cancer care and control. She is the president-elect of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), a Pan-African, multi-disciplinary organisation that builds capacity for cancer advocacy, research, and training in Africa. Dr Mutebi, who is a breast surgical oncologist at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), will serve a four-year term, two as president-elect and the rest as president. “I am deeply honoured to be elected by fellow oncology healthcare workers from across Africa, to lead the advocacy and research work on cancer. It is a wonderful time for cancer control in Africa,” Dr Mutebi said. “Through AORTIC and other initiatives, we now have a dedicated, enthusiastic, continental workforce along the entire cancer continuum,” she added.

The Aga Khan Development Network donates PPE, equipment to Busia hospital

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in collaboration with the European Union has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Busia County Referral Hospital (BCRH). The multi-sector programme is helping to strengthen existing health responses and increase awareness of prevention strategies and support mechanisms; while also minimising the socio-economic impact of the crisis among the young and vulnerable. The project is also supporting the establishment of a digital online platform for use by the health workers to learn on Covid-19 response and management through procurement and installation of conference equipment. The e-health learning equipment donated to The County Referral Hospital include cameras, microphones, speakers, TV screens and desktop computers. "The PPEs and e-health learning equipment will go a long way in supporting the county's health workers to provide quality services to Covid-19 patients," said Kennedy Mulama, the Project Manager, Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu.

Aga Khan Health Services Boost Fight Against COVID-19 in Western Kenya

The fight against Covid-19 received a boost after the Aga Khan Development Network donated Personal Protection Equipment and e-health learning equipment worth to five counties in the western region of Kenya. Speaking at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital during the handing over ceremony, Aga Khan Chief Executive Officer Jane Wanyama said that the programme’s focus is on strengthening responses to the health, social and economic challenges Covid-19 continues to raise in Western and coastal counties of Kenya. “With the spread of the pandemic accelerating in recent months across the world and the emergency of the new Omicron variant many countries’ health systems will continue to struggle to keep up, particularly as the virus travels into more rural areas where access to health and up to date information on prevention is more challenging,” said Ms Wanyama.

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