In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, babies born prematurely in both countries rely on a Kenyan-manufactured breathing device, the Bubble Continous Positive Airway Pressure (BCPAP).
The minors are among those who can access medical services and facilities in the war had recorded 14,059 civilian casualties, with 5,767 people killed and 8,292 injured as of September 2022.
Emergency service providers indicated that the actual numbers are likely considerably higher. The majority of those injured cannot also access medical services and facilities as hospitals and clinics have been bombed and several areas are experiencing constant outages that affect life-saving machines.
One of the key features of the device, manufactured by Revital Healthcare (EPZ) Ltd in Kilifi County and a US-based Vayu Global Health Foundation, is that it does not rely on electricity.
It provides the baby with pressurized oxygen and respiratory distress to enable it to breathe. Water bubbles forming in a jar indicate that the baby is breathing well.
"You can adjust the oxygen concentration between 30-100 before delivery to the baby. The blended air can be filtered, humidified, breathed in by the patient, and breathed out.
"There is also a pressure generator jar which controls the pressure and keeps the baby's lungs open," said Revital's technical director Krupali Shah.
At least 25 facilities in Ukraine, were reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be using donated bCPAPs in August 2022.
The device has also been adopted by major hospitals in Kenya and at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in neighbouring Tanzania.
Belgium, the United States of America and 20 other countries in Africa also use the device. The device trades at Ksh48K.
According to the World Health Organization, child mortality is caused majorly by respiratory distress.
“Globally, infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria, along with pre-term birth complications, birth asphyxia, and trauma and congenital anomalies remain the leading causes of death for children under five,” WHO stated.
