Nairobi Hosts Neonatal Care Conference for 18 Nations
Healthcare professionals from 18 countries are training in newborn resuscitation and CPAP support at a four-day conference in Nairobi.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Children’s Health
The Tiny Feet Big Steps Neonatology Conference opened Monday, November 2, in Nairobi, bringing together approximately 250 healthcare professionals from 18 countries. The four-day event is scheduled to conclude Thursday, November 5.
Why it matters
Hospitals face shortages of specialised skills, limited resources, and the high cost of neonatal intensive care, which restricts access to newborn care for many families and facilities. The conference aims to strengthen clinical skills for treating premature and critically ill babies.
The conference gathers approximately 250 healthcare professionals from 18 countries over four days in Nairobi. The source does not provide comparative figures on newborn mortality or training outcomes, and the conference's effect on those measures has not been reported.
The players
Institute for Child Healthcare Africa
A organization focused on improving child healthcare across Africa, which co-hosted the neonatology conference in Nairobi.
Kim Rathjen
Board Chair of the Institute for Child Healthcare Africa, who made remarks at the conference.
Stephen Swanson
Executive Director of the Institute for Child Healthcare Africa, who made remarks at the conference.
The details
Participants are practicing neonatal resuscitation, CPAP support, feeding calculations, and glucose monitoring through hands-on simulations of emergencies involving premature and critically ill babies. Organizers Institute for Child Healthcare Africa Board Chair Kim Rathjen and Executive Director Stephen Swanson addressed the gathering, which emphasizes better use of available medical equipment.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Conference opened in Nairobi.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Conference scheduled to conclude.
Health Landscape
The Institute for Child Healthcare Africa is using this Nairobi conference to build neonatal clinical skills across the region, where specialised newborn care remains costly and scarce. The event targets the workforce gap that limits newborn survival in facilities across the continent.
Families with premature or critically ill newborns may see improved emergency care as health workers refine resuscitation and CPAP skills. The conference's focus on feeding calculations and glucose monitoring targets practices that directly affect infant treatment.
The takeaway
Skilled personnel and well-used equipment are central to newborn survival, not only expensive facilities. The conference illustrates how targeted training can strengthen care where resources are limited.
Further reading
Explore more on Children’s Health to see how newborn care challenges are addressed around the world.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news..
