15 Jun 2012

KENYA / MATERNAL HEALTH

The Child Survival Call to Action held this week in Washington, DC by the US, India and Ethiopia in collaboration with UNICEF aimed to identify the smart investments that can be dedicated to one ambitious, yet simple, goal – to end preventable child deaths. In Kenya, maternal shelters are part of a broad package of care designed to reduce child mortality. UNICEF

Posted at: June 15, 2012 4:28 pm

Duration: 03:15

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: KENYA / MATERNAL HEALTH
TRT: 3.15
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SOMALI / SWAHILI / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9 JUNE 2012, KENYA
 
SHOTLIST:
 
1. Med shot, Shagaa Issack outside the Maternal shelter in Garissa town
2. Med shot, women walking to maternal shelter
3. Med shot, arriving at the Maternal shelter
4. Med shot, nurse examining pregnant woman
5. Med shot, woman in hospital on way to operating room
6. Med shot, doctor adjusting the light
7. Close up shot, doctor and nurse
8. Med shot, newly born baby handed to nurse
9. Med shot, parents with new baby
10. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Mohamed Issach, father of Fatuma:
"We have been staying here for a month now. We are provided with everything like charcoal, sugar and even food."
11. Med shot, courtyard
12. Close up, woman with kettle
13. Med shot, women talking
14. Close up, mother with newborn baby
15. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Habiba Ero, mother of Faihan:
"I was referred here after I had five miscarriages. Every time, I conceive an abortion would occur. I came here to see a doctor who operated me and I was referred to the maternity shelter. I have been here for 5months now and I have given birth, I'm very happy".
16. Wide shot, Rayan Village in Garissa
17. Med shot, hut in village
18. Med shot, women and children in village
19. Close up, Dakan Billo talking holding her baby with children and women nearby
20. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Dakan Billow, Raya village:
"I'm grateful to the maternity shelter, if I see any mother around in similar problems, I would advise them to got to maternity centre because I know they will get assistance."
21. Close up, baby to mother
22. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Shagaa Issack, mother of Fatuma:
"I'm very happy because I came here empty handed but now I will go home with my baby. During the operation, I had problems that led to blood transfusion but now I'm feeling better. So as soon as I recover, I will go home."
23. Wide shot, village
24. Med shot, inside hut
25. Med shot, children outside hut
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Sheikh, Provincial Public Health Officer:
"The facility is a good thing to have yes, but we need to have a budget reallocation. We need this from the ministry especially for maternal shelter, so as to be able to take care of the hospital and to be able to take care of these mothers."
27. Close up, baby
28. Close up, mother
29. SOUNDBITE (English) Khatra Abdi, nurse in-Charge, Garissa General Hospital:
"This has the highest mortality rate in the country which is 1000 and above. When it comes to child health we have improved tremendously. We are talking figures of 80 per 1000 for what we call under 5 mortality compared to 7 (inaudible) per thousand."
44. Wide shot, woman outside the Maternal Shelter

STORYLINE:

At the Maternal Shelter in Garissa Town, North Eastern Province of Kenya, 25-year-old Shagaa Issack can hardly stand after a series of labour contractions. Her baby is arriving soon.

The caretaker holds her hand and, slowly, they make their way to the Garissa Provincial General Hospital - only 300 meters away.

Shagaa has had two previous deliveries through a similar operation. She will therefore need to deliver by Caesarian Section.

The doctors and nurses make the necessary checks before she is sent to theatre.

The operation is a success, bringing a bouncing baby girl weighing 3.75 kilograms, into the world."

After a few minutes in the Recovery Room, Shagaa is taken to the maternity ward. A
quick transfusion of two pints of blood puts her on the path to recovery.

Shagaa is one of the beneficiaries of the Maternity Shelter.  It is here, that she and her husband Issack Mohamed awaited the arrival of their baby.

SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Mohamed Issack, father of Fatuma:
"We have been staying here for a month now. We are provided with everything like charcoal, sugar and even food."

The Maternal Shelter, whose establishment was supported by UNICEF, serves as a home away from home for women with high-risk pregnancies – pregnancies that require close monitoring and quick access to medical attention.

For 21-year-old Habiba Ero, the birth of her son just a week ago was her crowning moment.  Habiba has suffered five previous miscarriages.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Habiba Ero, mother of Faihan:
"I was referred here from Elwork sub-district hospital in Mandera County after I had five miscarriages. Every time, I conceive an abortion would occur, so the doctor told me that I had a condition where my uterus could not hold the weight of the foetus. I came here to see a doctor who operated me and I was referred to the maternity shelter, where I was told to stay until I deliver my baby. I have been here for 5months now and I have given birth, I'm very happy".

Similar stories of successful deliveries after high-risk pregnancies abound across the vast North Eastern Province. About 13 kilometers from Garissa Town in Raya Village, Dakan Billo is now a proud mother.  Her pregnancy was risky after a disease left her partially deformed.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Dakan Billow, Raya village:
"I'm grateful to the maternity shelter,  if I see any mother around in similar problems, I  will advise them to got to maternity centre because I know they will get assistance."

Shagaa is now strong enough to breastfeed her baby and even sit up.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Shagaa Issack, Mother of Fatuma:
"I'm very happy because I came here empty handed but now I will go home with my baby. During the operation, I had problems that led to blood transfusion but now I'm feeling better. So as soon as I recover, I will go home."

To save the lives of more mothers and children, it will require further investment in initiatives like the Maternal Shelter – as well as investing in other strategies aimed at reducing maternal and child deaths.

SOUNDBITE (English) Khatra Abdi, Nurse in Charge, Garissa General Hospital:
"The facility is a good thing to have yes, but we need to have a budget reallocation . We need this from the ministry especially for maternal shelter, so as to be able to take care of the hospital and to be able to take care of these mothers."

Despite the challenges, maternal shelter is making a significant difference for mothers and children who otherwise could have lost their lives.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Sheikh, Provincial Public Health Office:
"This has the highest mortality rate in the country which is 1000 and above. When it comes to child health we have improved tremendously. We are talking figures of 80 per 1000 for what we call under 5 mortality compared to 7 (inaudible) per thousand."

As Kenya joins the rest of the world to launch the initiative of "Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed," the country must recommit towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals on child and maternal survival.