Nurse wins global award for efforts in saving new-borns

By PAUL MUTUA

Having won two local nursing awards three years ago, Mrs Christine Mawia Sammy Kasyima has added another feather to her cap.

The 40-year-old nurse has won this year’s International Neonatal Nursing Excellence Award for her role in training mothers to curb infant mortality.

Neonatal nursing is specialised nursing of new-borns up to 28-days after birth.

Christine was crowned the district nurse of the year in 2010 before winning the Eastern Province nurse of the year in the same year.

“I was also feted with by the National Championship in New Born Health in December last year,” she said.

Christine of Kitui District Hospital exemplifies the dedication that neonatal nurses put forth to help improve survival of new-borns.

“When I was a young girl, I dreamed of becoming a nurse to help mothers and new-borns. The dream came to pass.”

She was recognised for her efforts in helping to reduce infant mortality at the hospital from over 50 per cent to below 10 per cent in 2010.

“When I started the new-borns unit from scratch at the hospital in 2010, I did know it would be transformed into an independent nursery. I am proud of my initiative,” Christine said in an interview at the hospital.

The nurse, who leads the neonatal care unit at the hospital, was feted for running training and supervision for resuscitation of new-borns.

Work places

The award, which was established in 2009 and organised by Save the Children and the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN), recognises nurses for their commitment to saving mothers and new-borns during childbirth in some of the hardest places to work around the world.

The Deputy Nursing Officer-in-charge at the Kitui District Hospital, Ms Celestine Mwaburi, describes Christine as aggressive and self-driven nurse who works without supervision.

Christine received the award at a ceremony held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on September 6, 2013 where nurses from around the world congregated for the 8th International Neonatal Nursing Conference.

She and her counterpart Anila Ali Bardai from Pakistan received the top award from Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots. The runner-up was Netsayi Gowero from Malawi.

Previous winners were from Ghana and India.

“Christine, Anila and Netsayi were selected over a number of outstanding candidates for their unwavering leadership and passion for ensuring every new-born has a chance to survive and thrive,” said COINN President Karen New during the ceremony.

“All the three women work in new-born care units in busy referral hospitals providing care to underserved populations. We can take good care granted in rich countries but in these settings it has to be developed and defended by committed professionals,” added the President.

Christine said her drive was fired up when she visited Pumwani Maternity Hospital new-borns unit and Kenyatta National Hospital for training.

“Most new-born deaths are preventable... Nurses provide the majority of care to sick new-borns in health facilities, yet there are very few nurses who dedicate themselves to care of new-borns. I can say this is God-given opportunity to help our mothers and the new-borns,” she said.

The mother of two daughters is married to Sammy Mwendwa Kasyima of Mutw’angombe location in Mwingi Central constituency in Kitui County.

Save the Children Country Director Duncan Harvey congratulated Christine for employing basic but effective interventions to curb child mortality in the country.

[email protected]