The event, held at KFH, brought together parents who previously delivered premature babies at the hospital, their children, neonatal specialists, and hospital leaders. It served as an opportunity to highlight the burden of premature births, celebrate success stories, and recognise the critical role of healthcare professionals in improving survival rates.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in every ten babies globally is born prematurely. At KFH alone, between 170 and 200 premature infants are admitted annually, all requiring specialised care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The unit provides respiratory support, assisted feeding, and monitored thermal regulation through incubators to stabilise infants until they reach appropriate developmental milestones.
Dr Nkuranga John Baptist, a neonatal expert at KFH, said premature births can be triggered by multiple factors, many of which are linked to maternal health and lifestyle.
'A mother who manages her weight, reduces work-related stress, attends all eight antenatal visits, and receives timely monitoring if she has conditions such as diabetes or hypertension significantly lowers the risk of delivering prematurely,' he said. He added that women carrying multiple babies require more intensive follow-up.
Parents who shared their experiences described the emotional and physical toll of caring for premature infants. Venutse Niyonsaba, who delivered quadruplets after 14 years without conceiving, said the period was one of the most difficult in her life.
'You can imagine the joy of finally having children after 14 years, only to find that all four need critical care, and their mother also requires surgery. It is a journey I would never wish on anyone,' she said.
Fridorine Sekiza, whose baby was born at 26 weeks and spent three months in the NICU, noted that many parents are unprepared for the experience.
'You return home after delivery, but leave your baby in the hospital. People don't know whether to congratulate you or console you. These are difficult moments, but we appreciate the doctors who help our babies survive,' she said.
Dr Athanase Rukundo, Acting Head of Clinical and Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said premature birth remains a recognised national concern, and efforts are underway to strengthen the referral and care system.
'We are aware of challenges such as the limited number of ambulances equipped to transport premature infants, and discussions are ongoing to address this. We are also working to ensure all hospitals receive essential equipment and to increase the number of specialised staff to reduce premature infant mortality,' he said.
WHO representative Dr Theopista Kabuteni encouraged parents to adopt Kangaroo Mother Care, a method involving prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the parent and the baby to stabilise temperature, promote breastfeeding, and improve survival outcomes.
UNICEF's Dr Manzi Emmanuel commended parents for their resilience and praised the strong collaboration between WHO, UNICEF, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), and the Ministry of Health in improving child health indicators.
As part of the commemoration, KFH offered training sessions for parents on breastfeeding, Kangaroo Mother Care, and other essential practices for managing premature infants.
Ministry of Health data shows that Rwanda records between 37,000 and 40,000 births annually, with premature babies accounting for about 10%. Complications related to premature birth contribute to 36% of newborn deaths in the country, while 60% of premature infants die before reaching one year. Overall, 45% of under-five deaths occur among children born prematurely.
The event concluded with testimonies from parents and a visit to families with infants still receiving care in the NICU, during which KFH distributed gifts to all mothers.
IGIHE
