CHAMPS Annual Workshop Highlights Vital Child Mortality Prevention Findings.

Key findings from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) programme reveal that malnutrition, malaria, HIV, pneumonia, and sepsis are the primary causes of death among infants and children under five.

Experts meeting last week in Kisumu at a review workshop, asserted that many of these conditions afflicting our children, are preventable with timely and quality healthcare interventions.

The comprehensive study further shows that stillbirths often result from maternal health issues such as hypertensive disorders, infections like chorioamnionitis, antepartum haemorrhage, and prolonged labour. Neonatal deaths, meanwhile, are frequently associated with complications related to labour, infections, and prematurity.

A significant revelation of the CHAMPS study is the threat posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae have demonstrated resistance to both first- and second-line antibiotics endorsed by the Ministry of Health (MoH), leading to severe infections and increased mortality.

These and other pivotal findings by CHAMPS were reviewed by experts during its annual steering and dissemination workshop held on Thursday, 31st October 2024. This event served as a platform for in-depth discussions and unveiled new strategies aimed at reinforcing the study’s influence on not just national, but global health policies that reduce child mortality.

Delivering a keynote address during the workshop’s opening ceremony, MoH, Director General, Dr. Patrick Amoth highlighted the importance of data-driven policymaking to reduce child mortality. “Most causes of newborn death require simple interventions that can be implemented at any level of healthcare delivery. Therefore, data from this study is crucial for us to make informed policy decisions going forward. This study speaks to our mission to ensure that newborns survive, thrive, and achieve their full potential,” Dr. Amoth noted.

Representing KEMRI’s Acting Director General, Prof. Nelly Mugo expressed her appreciation for CHAMPS’ work and the promising future impacts of its findings. “As of mid February 2024, the Kenyan CHAMPS site had enrolled nearly 1,300 cases of under-five mortality, with close to 1,000 of these cases thoroughly reviewed by an expert panel to determine the causes of death. The insights generated by this data have become an invaluable contribution to our scientific understanding of the challenges facing child health,” Prof. Mugo remarked.

Dr. Victor Akello, the leader of Kenya’s CHAMPS initiative, underscored the programme’s progress and community engagement. “It’s inspiring to see the progress we’ve made since 2017,” he said. “Equipping our communities with the necessary tools and information to prevent these deaths has been immensely fulfilling. Through partnerships, we are not only saving lives but also sparing families from the heartache of losing a child.”

The workshop drew a wide range of key stakeholders, including representatives from the MoH, the CDC, Africa CDC, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, HJF Medical Research International, and county health officials from Siaya and Kisumu counties. The discussions focused on positioning CHAMPS as an authoritative voice in shaping policies that can help curb child mortality.

Part of a nine-country consortium funded by the Gates Foundation, CHAMPS includes countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. The data and insights from this initiative are set to play a critical role in advancing scientific knowledge and informing preventive measures aimed at reducing childhood deaths.