Written by Florence Mwaluda, Senior Nurse at Tabitha Maternity Home, CFK Africa.
At Tabitha Maternity Home, we are a true lifeline for mothers in need in Kibera, a place where access to maternal healthcare and delivery services remains out of reach for many.
Recently, a new mother, 22-year-old Tanya, arrived at Tabitha Maternity Home in distress. She had just delivered her preterm baby by herself at home. But the birth was not without complications; the placenta was still intact and attached to her baby. Tanya was exhausted, frightened, and concerned about whether her baby would survive. Our nursing team moved quickly, carefully separating the placenta while examining both her and her baby.
But then came an even greater challenge. The baby’s condition began to deteriorate. The newborn, named Tianna, was small and distressed, and we needed to place her on oxygen immediately. At one point, we even had to give rescue breaths. We knew that Tianna needed referral to a hospital facility for more specialized care. However, with the ongoing nurses’ strike at government-run hospitals in Kenya, and Tanya’s inability to afford the expense of a private facility, we had limited options for this mother in need. Securing a space for the baby in a specialized hospital’s Newborn Unit became a daunting task. Most units were fully booked, some lacked staff, and many were overwhelmed. It was not just a medical fight, but an emotional one, too.
Not only were mother and child in severe distress, but Tanya’s family and relatives, who had accompanied her, also needed reassurance from our CFK team. We were not only rendering medical interventions but also providing emotional support, holding their hands, hearing out their fears, and giving them hope when they felt everything was almost lost.
As a level 3 facility, we often feel stretched thin by our resources when compared with the needs present in Kibera, especially when it comes to preterm infants who require specialized care outside of our scope. This wears on us as nurses – physically, emotionally, and mentally. We carry the burden of responsibility, even when the odds are stacked against us. Yet, in the middle of the storm, we hold onto hope. We are committed to our patients and work diligently to achieve the best possible outcomes. So for Tanya, we pressed on. Through hard work, relentless effort, and numerous calls, we finally secured a facility where Tianna could receive the care that she badly needed.
Today, six weeks have passed since we treated Tanya’s baby. Tianna has returned to Tabitha Maternity Home to begin her immunization schedule. She appeared stronger, healthier, and was holding a healthy weight, just as we hoped. “This child is a miracle,” Tanya shared. Seeing a life that once hung on by a thread, and which is now flourishing, reminded me of why I chose my career as a nurse serving Kibera.
As we celebrate Tabitha Week, I hold onto hope that one day, our unit will grow into a full maternity ward, able to handle even the most delicate cases. But until then, I carry with me the pride that in each test, each long shift, and each tear shed, we are saving lives and shaping the future. Together, we are upholding our late co-founder’s commitment to maternal and child health.