JOOTRH partners with global health researchers to tackle maternal mortality

KENYA—Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kenya has hosted a delegation from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) programme.

The team visited the hospital’s Newborn and Maternity Units to assess ongoing partnerships and identify new support opportunities.

Dr. Victor Akelo led the visiting group, which included representatives from the National Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RAMNCH) programme.

Teresa Okiri, JOOTRH’s Senior Director of Nursing Services, received the delegation and guided them through the facilities.

The visitors toured the units to observe daily operations, engage with healthcare workers, and evaluate how collaborative efforts can improve service delivery.

Through its partnership with JOOTRH, CHAMPS works directly with clinicians in the Paediatrics and Maternity Units to advance research that improves outcomes for mothers and newborns.

The hospital also serves as a crucial site for enrolling participants in ongoing health studies.

Partnership delivers tangible benefits beyond research

Okiri emphasized the strong working relationship between the hospital and its research partners, noting that collaboration has significantly enhanced patient care.

The partnership extends beyond research activities to include capacity building, infrastructure development, and knowledge exchange.

These initiatives have strengthened laboratory services and improved clinical decision-making, enabling healthcare workers to deliver better care.

During the visit, officials highlighted ongoing support for laboratory systems, including efforts to boost molecular diagnostic capacity at JOOTRH.

Such improvements will enhance the hospital’s ability to conduct advanced studies and support regional research initiatives.

PRISMA Study reveals critical health challenges

The visit occurred one day after researchers released interim findings from a major health study in Western Kenya.

The Pregnancy Risk, Infant Surveillance, and Measurement Alliance (PRISMA) study, a collaboration between the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and George Washington University, tracked more than 2,700 women in Siaya and Kisumu Counties.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds the research, which follows participants from early pregnancy through one year after delivery to identify risk factors for illness and death.

 The data reveals several alarming trends affecting maternal health in the region.

Approximately 32% of pregnant women in the study experienced anemia, while researchers also identified cases of HIV, malaria, parasitic worms, and syphilis.

Maternal hypertension disorders, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, are reportedly increasing.

These conditions contribute to dangerous complications such as preterm birth, postpartum hemorrhage, and early neonatal death.

The study found that postpartum hemorrhage affected 5.0% of women, while gestational hypertension occurred in 6.6% of participants.

Gestational diabetes appeared in 2.8% of cases, pre-eclampsia in 2.2%, antepartum hemorrhage in 1.6%, and chronic hypertension in 1.3% of women studied.

Researchers also discovered that breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of birth remains just above 50% across monitored facilities.

The PRISMA team actively supports county health officials by providing ultrasound machines, blood pressure monitors, and equipment to check newborn oxygen levels.

The next phase, PRISMA v3, will launch in 2026 and expand the study’s scope to include AI-enabled imaging and environmental exposure assessments.